AUDIO and BOOK BLAST
Book Title: Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts
Author: Sarah Whelan
Publisher: Mascot Books
Narrator: Charles Robert Fox
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Pairing: MM
Tense/POV: First person, past tense
Genres: Historical
Tropes: Forbidden love
Themes: Prequel to classic story, redemption, recovery from loss
Heat Rating: 2 flames
Length: 344 pages
Audiobook Length: 9 hours and 29 minutes
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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In this retelling of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge recounts the defining moments of his life, revealing his love affair with business partner Jacob Marley, the reasons why he hates Christmas so much, and what turned him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well.
Blurb
A Christmas Carol shows us one terrible day in Ebenezer Scrooge’s life, but have you ever wondered what came before his fateful encounter with the ghosts of Christmas time? What happened to turn him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well?
There is so much more to this character—possibly more than Charles Dickens himself could ever have imagined.
Scrooge has compelling reasons for hating Christmas, for rejecting his fiancée and his precious nephew, and for employing Tiny Tim’s father, despite his obvious incompetence. He is a doting uncle, beloved brother, successful businessman, and passionate lover, but a dark secret puts both him and his loved ones at risk. Scrooge struggles to embrace his true self and live in defiance of the Victorian era’s repressive moral standards. Soul-crushing losses and his own destructive choices shape his fate into a twisted path of sorrow, frustration, and uncertainty—but also happiness, fulfillment, and love.
Scrooge’s own words sum it up best: “How delightfully queer life is.”
Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE
MERCY
1850
The phantom looms over my deathbed, his skeletal form shrouded in the same hooded cloak as the first time he appeared to me, on Christmas Eve some seven years ago. He is silent, as before, but his mission is a different one. Instead of the redemption he and his fellow spec- ters offered on their previous visit, he has come to collect and deliver me to the spirit world.
“Do not take me yet, Phantom.” My voice is as shaky as my resolve.
A tear trickles down my cheek, but I lack the strength to wipe it away. It lingers there, stalled halfway through its journey, just as I remain teetering at the edge of a desolate chasm between life and death.
It is not the fear of dying that keeps me here, for I know what awaits me in the afterlife. I redeemed myself after Jacob Marley and his ghosts left me with a soul churning in regret. I embraced my penchant for com- passion, loved and was loved in return, and undid some of the damage I had inflicted on the souls of others, as well as my own. It took the better part of my life to amass the courage needed to reject the moral constraints society imposed and overcome the obstacles I had embedded in my own path. True happiness came only when I gave myself completely to the person I loved most.
I earned my rightful place in eternity, and my heavenly sanctuary awaits just beyond the mortal realm. But I choose to endure, despite the agony, as spasms tear through my body and I shiver with cold, though the blankets weigh heavily upon me. I offer this suffering willingly in ex- change for the opportunity to revel in the memories of my seven decades on this blessed earth.
In my final moments, I wish to honor those who walked beside me through a lifetime comprised, in turns, of misery and happiness, selfish- ness and altruism, isolation and kinship, bitterness and love.
On my knees, hands clasped against my chest and head bowed to the towering shadow figure, I beg, “Grant me time enough to remember. Then I will surrender my soul. I will offer no resistance. Will you have mercy on your old friend Scrooge?”
A single nod is the phantom’s response.
Grateful for his gift of a temporary reprieve, I grip his bony hand.
“Lead on, generous spirit. Let us journey to the past.”
STORY -- 3.5 STARS
PERFORMANCE -- 5 STARS
OVERALL -- 4.5 STARS
It was a good book and I enjoyed it. The performance was amazing and brought the characters to life. I love the thought of getting to know Scrooge before and after the ghosts a little more. There were times that it dragged on, but overall, it was a well-written story with great character and plot development. However, there were a couple of times when I had to nudge myself to keep listening. It was a brilliant start and at the end, it sort of fell off. It needed more to really push it over the top and give us the Scrooge who truly was Scrooge. The end felt a little muddled to me. That said, it is still a good story and one I recommend!About the Author
Unlike Scrooge, SARAH WHELAN loves Christmas: the decorations, the music, the traditions—everything. She is excited to make her own contribution to the holiday with a new twist on Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Sarah is a full-time professional writer, and her nonfiction has appeared in a variety of magazines. Her first novel, The Struggle Within, was published in 2018. She lives in Connecticut and loves spending time in her favorite city of Boston.
Social Media Links
Audible Profile | Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram
About the Narrator
Charles Robert Fox is an experienced professional narrator, performer and general storytelling wizard. He has over 100 titles listed on Audible. Location: England, United Kingdom
