Helpful Score: 3
Excellent fictional account of the adult life of Timothy Cratchit. A crippled hero for the youngsters involved in sinister child sex trade during the 18th century. Wonderfully written.
Helpful Score: 3
The mystery is action packed and Timothy's analysis of his relationship with his father and ultimate acceptance of his death is poignant. Very enjoyable
Helpful Score: 3
A really interesting twist on "A Christmas Story." It was a very fast read and very enjoyable.
Helpful Score: 2
This is a novel about what happens to Tim Cratchit, 'Tiny Tim", as a young adult living in mid-19th century London. The story line is very interesting - Tim is a grown man, trying to make a living on his own while also trying to distance himself from his longtime benefactor, "Uncle" Ebenezer Scrooge, after the death of Bob Cratchit. Rather than a polished fantasy, you find that while the Cratchit family's fortunes improve after Scrooge's change of heart, a dose of realism is inserted in that not everyone lives happily ever after. Tim himself is somewhat haunted by his past as he eeks his way through the underbelly of 1860's London, trying to make a living and find purpose in life. The depiction of life in that era is fascinating - raw and realistic, you really get a feel for what it must have been like during that time. Part of the story delves into the subject of the child sex trade, which to me felt just a bit too gratuitous. This novel could have been just as effective without pursuing this specific storyline, but it still was an interesting book. AT first I found it a bit difficult to get into, but in the end I actually read the entire book in one day, and it is one that I will remember as it really stirs the imagination.
Helpful Score: 2
It's another take on a Dickens character. More in-depth, more saucy, more intriguing. If you want to feel like you're back in Dickens' London, this is the book for you. Timothy Cratchit is all grown up and solving crimes.
Normally I'm not a fan of books where authors co-opt a famous literary character, but I enjoyed this book. (Tiny) Tim spends a lot of time trying to speak to his dead father and deal with the fact that his siblings have drifted off into their own lives. The author displays a real affection for nineteenth century language.
Helpful Score: 1
I tried several times to read this book but I just couldn't get into it, from the back of the book it sounded like a great read. To me it seemed to jump around and didn't flow very well I only read the first 100 pages or so and had to throw in the towel.
Helpful Score: 1
It's the Christmas season, and Mr. Timothy Cratchit, not the pious child the world thought he was, has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple, and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by loosing himself in London. A different kind of Christmas story!!
Helpful Score: 1
Louis Bayard is a very talented writer who continued the story of Tiny Tim from The Christmas Carole and weaved a very exciting tale.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful mystery. Begins when you least expect it!
Did you ever come to the last page of a book, close the covers, sigh, and wonder what happened next to an unforgettable character or two?
Louis Bayard did. And he now shares his imaginings with the rest of us about, "Whatever happened to Tiny Tim?"
It's the Christmas season, and Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets.
Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela, to save her from the fate the others suffered at the hands of a dangerous and powerful man.
A different kind of Christmas story, this breathless flight through the teeming markets, shadowy passageways, and rolling brown fog of 1860s London would do Dickens proud for its surprising twists and turns, and for its extraordinary heart.
Louis Bayard did. And he now shares his imaginings with the rest of us about, "Whatever happened to Tiny Tim?"
It's the Christmas season, and Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets.
Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela, to save her from the fate the others suffered at the hands of a dangerous and powerful man.
A different kind of Christmas story, this breathless flight through the teeming markets, shadowy passageways, and rolling brown fog of 1860s London would do Dickens proud for its surprising twists and turns, and for its extraordinary heart.
I really enjoyed this book, it did take me awhile to get into it but it was so worth it. If you like the Dicken's style of writing you will come to really like this book. Story has lots of substories within each of the characters you meet. Stay with it and you will be rewarded with a great thriller.
This book was so much better than I thought it would be! And the scrapes that Tim got into! Tho I have to warn a person, it is NOT the innocent little book you might expect! Oh no, it shows the gore and messyness of the backstreets of London of the 1850's and is quite honest about it!
As a sequel to A Christmas Carol, I wouldnt really call it that, its as if Dickens had Oliver grown up (of Oliver Twist) and what his life would be like as an adult. Very well written, you get sucked up into the story quite quickly and it is hard to let it go.
As a sequel to A Christmas Carol, I wouldnt really call it that, its as if Dickens had Oliver grown up (of Oliver Twist) and what his life would be like as an adult. Very well written, you get sucked up into the story quite quickly and it is hard to let it go.
A New York Times Notable Book--finely crafted; great writing and complicated but wickedly enjoyable murder mystery and 3 wonderful main characters: Timothy, Colin and Philomena. What a romp! 2/3 of the way through I couldn't put it down and had to keep reading until my eyes got blurry:)
An interesting exploration of the possible continuation of Timothy Cratchit from A Christmas Carol. I found it interesting to see the back story and Tim's complicated relationship with his father. His pursuit of the mystery in the story serves as a secondary backdrop to the other characters who are reasonable facsimilies of Dickensian characters but none of them have quite the depth of pathos that Dickens was such a master of. Still an interesting read.
Fast paced tale about illegal activities investigated by grown Tim Crachit. As convoluted as Dickens, but I found some of it too violent/macabre/far-fetched to believe. A good tale, but not as enjoyable (to me) as the Black Tower or School of Night by same author.
Could not get into this, very disappointed as I had really wanted to read it-it dragged in many places for me-like I said, disappointing. Seemed to take a long time to get moving.
This is a really good book that I had a hard time putting down. Well written with just enough new words to increase ones vocabulary. Tiny Tim at the age of about 21.
