The Christmas Train Author:David Baldacci Tom Langdon, a weary and cash-strapped journalist, is banned from flying when a particularly thorough airport security search causes him to lose his cool. Now, he must take the train if he has any chance of arriving in Los Angeles in time for Christmas with his girlfriend. To finance the trip, he sells a story about a train ride taken during t... more »he Christmas season. Thereupon begins one of the most hilarious-and heartwarming-journeys ever told. Along the way, Tom encounters a ridiculous cast of characters, unexpected romance, and an avalanche that changes everyone's Christmas plans. As the mighty Southwest Chief chugs along, Tom learns what really makes the holiday special in a remarkable novel that will charm all who read it.« less
This book was a sappy, inane romantic mystery with shallow & unlikeable characters. If you want to read something GOOD by Baldacci, then read Wish You Well.
I enjoyed this book and read it for a book club. Others didn't like it because they expected more suspense. I thought the characters were very amusing.
I wasn't too sure about this story when it 1st started. But it got really good. Full of suspense & romance. With a totally surprising ending. Highly recommend this one!
Great book! This was my first David Baldacci book recommended by a couple friends. It was well worth the read. David is a good writer and easily draws you in making you want to know the ending. The story is a great one with a few twists and turns I totally wasn't expecting.
This a sweet story to read for Christmas. It's about a man who makes a promise to his dying father to take a train ride cross country. He does this and much more during Christmas. It's very uplifting and dare I say it but magical as well.
This is a story with HEART. I started to listen to it while I was painting a room. My husband joined me sometime after the first CD. When we stopped for lunch and then resumed painting, my husband asked "where is the story about the train?" So we both ended up listening to the story and we both liked it a lot.
I read some reviews from other sources that complained the story was not like the others that David Baldacci had written but since I haven't read any of his other books I really couldn't comment on that. All I know is that the book kept my interest and my husband's, and I will probably listen to the story again. I definitely would recomend this audiobook to anyone looking for a good story ....
Second time reading this; read for book club; its always good to read something again to discover things you missed the first time. Loved it; differed from the Hallmark movie but great read all the same.
After a disturbance with airport security, War Correspondent Tom Langdon is put on the no-fly list and must take the train in order to meet his girlfriend in Los Angeles for the Christmas holiday. Tom decides this is the perfect time to write a story about his cross-country journey and the people he meets on the train. Shortly after leaving Union Station in Washington, D.C., Tom discovers that his first love, Eleanor, is among the passengers on this train. He wants to use this time to talk to her and discover why she walked out on him years ago.
If you're a fan of David Baldacci's suspense thrillers, watch out...this is nothing like them. This is a cute little Christmas story, sometimes humorous, sometimes cheesy, where you know there will be a happy ending for the quirky characters on board the train. I listened to the audiobook which Tim Matheson narrates. He does a great job with the many characters. I loved Agnes Jo, a feisty older woman who is in the sleeping compartment next to Toms. My rating: 3 Stars.
