The Christmas Train

Rating:
Summary: The Christmas Train
Review: David Baldacci is usually known for his thrilling novels filled with fast-paced action and adventure. However, in The Christmas Train, Baldacci presents a heartfelt holiday story about people and the second chances that one can be lucky enough to receive. Reading this book around Christmas, I enjoyed the tale.
The story is centered on a middle-aged journalist, Tom Langdon, who is taking a train ride across the country to reach his girlfriend for Christmas. Many events happen during the ride, including re-meeting the love of his life, Eleanor, an avalanche, an elopement, train robbery, movie making, and much more. Certainly, the plot was always moving. There were always new characters being introduced, or new plot twists changing the dynamics of the story. However, at times I felt that the plot was moving a little too fast for my liking. I felt that the author had plenty of good material without all the extra twists, and all the different aspects of the plot prevented some character or relationship development. My senses were overloaded - - I could only absorb so much information, and at times the information was excessive. Also, I felt like the ending was a little forced and unsatisfying. Apparently, Tom and Eleanor's relationship was set up by everyone around them without their knowledge. This particular plot twist seemed very unnecessary - - although it added an interesting surprise, it lessened some of the "magic" of the story.
Although there seemed to be a surplus of characters, overall, they were very realistic and well represented. Each character has admirable qualities, but also, each has faults. Colorful characters like Agnes Joe and Roxanne added just the right mix of wisdom and uniqueness to the story to keep me smiling and wondering what would happen to them in the next chapter.
Between the quirky characters and the engaging, if overloaded, plot, an overall message for the story emerges. It does not follow the traditional "scrooge" plotline of many holiday stories, but instead shows that holiday miracles do happen, and that second chances can happen, and when they do all the forgotten or unachieved dreams of the past can be fulfilled. This message, if presented in a slightly unbelievable format, comes through very strongly and leaves the reader feeling good and ready to achieve his or her dreams and conquer past hurdles.
Taken as a whole, The Christmas Train is a good book. It has an enjoyable storyline, likeable characters, and a positive theme. I also enjoyed the author's style of writing. He really captured the feeling of being on a train. Herrick Higgins, a former railway employee, says, "You see, every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello" (122). Baldacci has great ways of phrasing things that really resonated with me. He can be very descriptive, like when he describes the snow. "The darkness grew deeper outside, the only sounds those of the wind and the snow falling against the roof and tinkling against the windows" or very matter of fact and eloquent. For example, Father Kelly, the priest onboard the train conveys his wisdom and one theme of the story when he says, "They say that during the week of Christmas any miracle is possible" (181). Baldacci has created a world inside of this story - - a world on a train that is just as real as any other.

Rating:
Summary: Second chances and dreams do come true!
Review: <P>
Tom Langdon is a journalist and a man determined to change the world. Although Langdon also has a bad temper, which erupts during a security check at La Guardia Airport. Before the magistrate, Langdon receives stern warning, instructions to enroll in anger management classes, and two-year banishment from all air carriers within the U.S.

Langdon makes the best of his situation, using the opportunity to take the train to LA and write a story about it. However, his motivation is much bigger than meeting his West Coast girlfriend Lelia Gibson for a holiday ski trip in Tahoe.

Once on board readers will meet a fascinating cast. Such as Agnes Joe who loves trains. Drusella Pardoe a palm reader. Julie and Steve who have eloped and planned their wedding while riding train. Father Kelly a retired Priest. Mark Powers a famous film director and his entourage. And the one person Langdon would never have expected, Eleanor Carter, his one time girlfriend and the one he let get away.

Things heat up when Lelia decides to surprise Langdon - on the train no less! Bad weather also stirs things up along this adventure. Thus, making one wonder, will the passengers make it home for the holiday?

Having ridden on Amtrak a few times this book brought back fond memories of cross-country travel.

The Christmas Train is a wonderful novel that is filled with humor, mystery, romance, adventure, as well as memorable characters that are sure to entertain and not easily forgotten. David Baldacci has created an excellent heartwarming story, guaranteed to put spirit back into your holiday season!

Reviewed by Betsie


Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Little Story
Review: I bought this book in November, because I was hoping to find the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, I did not have time to read it until Christmas Day. While the book did not really give me the feel of a "Christmas" story, I thought it was a charming and heart-warming tale. There were many references to Christmas, but I think I was just more interested in the characters and development of the story than I was to the holiday overtones. It has made me want to pack my bags and call Amtrak right away. I have added a cross-country train ride on my "things to do list." It definitely gives train travel a romantic and nostalgic air. I was routing for star crossed lovers, Tom and Eleanor from the beginning. They were both very likable characters and very real, they could be someone that you already know. This story is chock full of great characters and it was fun to see each one develop. There were some surprising twists and turns along the way, and that made it all the more enjoyable. I think this would make an excellent film, I am having fun thinking of what actors could play each part. I would definitely be on line to see it!

Rating:
Summary: Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Read!
Review: I have always wanted to travel across the country by train and I love the Christmas season, so this book was an absolute joy to read. It is filled with plenty of simple "feel good" moments. It is warm and filled with the true spirit of Christmas. The story offers something for all readers. It has mystery, romance and a sense of adventure. This would make a great Christmas movie.

Rating:
Summary: Soothing change of pace
Review: I've been reading a lot of espionage and fast-paced novels lately. When December hit, I thought it a good time for a change for a bit. I decided to pick this up for a nice quick read. I'm pretty thankful I did.

In all honesty, when reading this book, I found myself jumping on-line and seeing how practical the prices were for train rides! What this book did for me, was slow me down a little bit and tell me to remember to enjoy everything thrown my way.

I liked the main character, Tom Landon, and found this a very cute read. The character development wasn't bad, and the pace was steady. The pace of some of the dialogue was a bit wavy, but on the other hand, I found myself letting out audible chuckles here and there.

I have no real complaints about this book, and would recommend it to anybody looking to slow down the pace of there lives and have them look around.

Rating:
Summary: Coincidence?
Review: The Christmas Train has romance, mystery, humor and danger. The central character of the story is Tom Langdon, an investigative reporter who has relegated himself to writing about furniture following his more adventurous existence with his longtime girl friend, Eleanor, in foreign lands covering wars and such. He decides to take a cross-country train trip partly to fulfill a request from his now deceased father and partly to reflect on his own life and to see a friend on the West Coast. The Capitol is the train to Chicago where he changes to the Southwest Chief for the rest of the trip. There are colorful characters on the train and one gets a good insight into the domain of travel by rail. Tom is very surprised to find that Eleanor is on the same train. He has never forgotten her but has not seen her since she left him while overseas. He is overwhelmed by the coincidence and does some checking to try to verify that it indeed was a coincidence. Eleanor is on the train with her boss Max Powers, a movie producer as he is considering a movie with a train setting. For Eleanor seeing Tom was certainly not love at second sight. Two other travelers are planning to get married on the train as they go from Chicago to Los Angeles. Max decides to give them a great wedding and film it as well. After being snowbound in Colorado, the train continues to L.A. where mysteries are solved and some surprises revealed.

Rating:
Summary: Very Romantic
Review: This Christmas Train is an enjoyable romantic read throughout the winter season. I've traveled by Amtrak a couple of times and love it. You could almost picture the train and the interesting characters in this Christmas classic. The characters are real and well developed and the storyline is fun and exciting. The twists will keep you guessing until the last sentence. I picked it up as a cheap paperback at a gift shop and know I will treasure this book forever. Overall it is a quick read. My only problem with this book is the characters dialogue. I know the author is a professional but the conversations between characters were occasionally somewhat choppy and forced. This slight miscue is not enough to knock it down from 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Good things happen during Christmas time
Review: This is a wonderful story filled with romance, humour, wonderful people and holiday joy. This is my first book by Baldacci and I was very happy to read it.
The story reveals the magic of Christmas time. A magic or not is a debate, but Christmas time definitely brings happiness, brings good spirit, and gives the warmth and joy to people. This books reveals all of it happening in the Christmas train journey of Tom Langdon from Washington to L.A.