Editor’s Note: Roger Bakes, a retired film critic and English professor in Canada, has taken a look at Freeline Media’s holiday novel A Christmas Eve Story by Michael Freeman, and is sharing his thoughts with our readers.
In his refreshing contemporary take on one man’s Christmas Eve experience, author Michael Freeman concocts a tale with touches of A Christmas Carol – yes, we are talking ghost – and a little of The Turn of the Screw’s ambivalent reality and its questionable narrator and a little piquant Freud for good measure.
Think you have had some tough festive seasons? This story commences with its ambivalent protagonist, Tadeusz Lipman, dealing with personal trauma and a near death experience and this memory understandably haunts the short novel.
No Holiday Cheer for Tadeusz?
While Christmas is essentially a celebration of life, Tadeusz struggles with social isolation and memories of death. But none of this is experienced by the reader as a dismal experience as much of the story has hilarious dialogue, engaging characters, the pleasure of Christmas feasts, a playful analysis of Freud’s projection and vicarious experiences of Tadeusz’s ghostly encounters and assorted actual ghost stories.
Dip into this engaging mix of Christmas celebration and personal renewal to possibly revisit your own Christmas experiences and to enjoy a Christmas tale well told.
Roger Bakes is a retired English professor, professional librarian and videographer. He has also worked as a personal historian recording life memories and wrote movie reviews for several years for very little money.
What is the novel A Christmas Eve Story?
Freeline Productions has released the holiday fiction novel A Christmas Eve Story by Michael W. Freeman, right in time for the upcoming holiday season. The book is available in a paperback edition on Amazon and as a Kindle eBook.
Since it seems like Christmas sneaks up on us faster and faster as each year goes by, there’s nothing more enjoyable than a Christmas book to help you begin enjoying the many pleasures of the holiday season. While there are lots of classic holiday stories available for kids to enjoy, this is really a Christmas novel for adults. So, grab some hot chocolate, relax on the couch next to your Christmas tree, and enjoy the spooky and uplifting world of A Christmas Eve Story.
Published by Freeline Productions, author Freeman notes, “Surprisingly, it was a hot July day when I got the inspiration to write my first Christmas novel. Based loosely on actual events that happened in my life, that became the basis for the story of Tadeusz Lipman and his harrowing, deeply despairing Christmas Eve. How his life changes a year later is the focus of the book, which I hope you enjoy.”
Freeman added, “It will be up to each reader to decide if the mix between ghostly forebodings and sentimental nostalgic emotions work. So, Season’s Screamings!”
Contact Freeline Media at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
