Christmas Eve, 1914

Beautifully "illustrated"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in the personal aspects of historical events, especially war.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The necessity of each character is well-balanced, which makes it difficult to choose. I think the young boy who brought it all together with his song, is the one that comes to mind first.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was touched most at the end when the narration slipped into the end of a letter written to the mother of the boy whose voice had such a positive influence in such a negative venue.

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written and executed. This may become our annual Christmas "listening."

16 of 18 people found this review helpful

"maybe war takes a holiday today"

This isn't too sentimental (nor too gruesome) and convincingly recreates the possible development of one possible truce situation in the 1914 trenches. It doesn't directly address any BIG questions, other than the very powerful one posed by the truces themselves. I liked that it highlighted the conditions in the trenches, again without being too gruesome for family listening. I'm so happy to see commemoration of the centenary of the Truce since so many battles are so well remembered.

35 of 42 people found this review helpful

Spirit of Christmas

Where does Christmas Eve, 1914 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Christmas Eve is a wonderful story of life in the trenches during WW I. Outstanding description of the harsh conditions and the utter fear of the men. As well as the levity and bantering amongst the officers jockeying for command and to allay their own fear. The interaction with the German soldiers proves we are all human beings. Although maybe not that civil.

Which scene was your favorite?

The new Lieutenant singing Silent Night and the Germans responding by singing back.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Teared up at the prospect the enemies on the battlefield could find common ground and become conversant for at least 24 hours.

Any additional comments?

Hard to believe the war continued for another 3 years.

36 of 44 people found this review helpful

I was just reading about this in my news paper

What made the experience of listening to Christmas Eve, 1914 the most enjoyable?

When I turned on to Audible and saw this offering I was thrilled. Since just reading about "Flanders Fields" in my Sunday newspaper, it was just a wonderful gift to your loyal customers for this time of year.

What other book might you compare Christmas Eve, 1914 to and why?

What happened that Christmas of 1914 one hundred years ago can not be compared to anything that I know of. Truth is often stranger than fiction.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

This was done beautifully with a full cast. I usually don't like sound effects in my audio books but it was done with style and class. There were many times I laughed out loud at the British dry humor. I also felt emotional about the deaths from war.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was easy enough to do that is was just over an hour long. I didn't know where that hour went it had me so engrossed listening to the story.

Any additional comments?

I love that the story is coming from one of the officers writing to a mother of one of his comrades who died and served with him ......the letter is written ten years after, to the mother. I can't imagine a mother not knowing about her son because no one bothered to contact her that he had died in the service of his country. Yes this is fictionalized about that time but it none the less shows that we are all human, Thank you Audibe for this wonderful gift.

40 of 49 people found this review helpful

Telling not showing

It’s a short snapshot into a historical event rather than a full on story, so the amount of time you have to connect with characters and begin to care about them is limited. Each character gets one or two defining characteristics rather than a full fledged personality.
The story relies highly on telling rather than showing, and this unfortunately makes the emotional points less heart wrenching, it becomes more about seeing someone else’s sorrow or fear rather than sharing it. That being said, for such a short story it does manage to do a lot, and a lot of it works well. The story itself would not benefit from being dragged out, the shortness is effect full as a glance into a world none can relate to but those who’ve been there, but the emotional side lacks something for the reader/ listener to hold on to on their own without being told to do so.
Other than that it is quite clear that story telling techniques were used, and without knowing the story it is based on in detail I will say I strongly doubt it went like this. In short I like the idea behind this project, however the execution of it is a bit too “Hollywood” for my taste and falls short or my expectations. It is Christmas however, and a time to focus on the good parts instead of the negative, so I’ll give it 3 stars for the idea.
The performances and the sound effects however add greatly to the immersion, and I feel like without them I would have enjoyed the book far less. Therefore, five stars for putting me in the trenches with the soldiers, even if I was there more as a robot being told what to do than a human feeling the fear and terror of war.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Brilliant Retelling of the Famous WWI Xmas Truce

What made the experience of listening to Christmas Eve, 1914 the most enjoyable?

Hearing this version of the famous Christmas truce was an inspiration, taking listeners onto the battlefield with all the horrors of the war and the sounds of the war all around. I became so immersed in the story that I was in tears.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Christmas Eve, 1914?

The young boy's singing was so remarkable that it seemed no wonder the German troops took notice.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

None of the voices were familiar, but all the performances were excellent and I am looking forward to more stories like this one

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Moving story and performance: hope in midst of war

What did you love best about Christmas Eve, 1914?

The story, language, dialect, performances and sound really evoked the confusion, fear, comradery, despair, strength, and bravery of the men and the time in the midst of the horror of the war. And then the hope and the humanity. The sharing of pain across lines, the release of joy and laughter -- such an amazing moment during the Christmas of 1914.

Which scene was your favorite?

So difficult to say. The tension of the machine gun being prepared combined with the uncertainty of what the Germans were doing as they came with lanterns? The burying of Beecher? The reading of his letter? So many choices.

If you could take any character from Christmas Eve, 1914 out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Zac. He remained grounded, thoughtful and strong in the midst of a dehumanizing time.

Any additional comments?

The performance of the character Swinburn was amazing -- such a complicated personality. And I really enjoyed the character Zac and that performance as well. Charles Olivier captured elements of the war of which I'd been unaware, and I really enjoyed the language. Well done!

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

Awesome!!!

If you could sum up Christmas Eve, 1914 in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, breath taking, sit on the edge of your seat

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

they was all interesting

Any additional comments?

I am a avid reader and this is the first audible book that I have listened too but it will not be my last. Loved using audible

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

WWI Christmas

Would you listen to Christmas Eve, 1914 again? Why?

Next Christmas for sure. Audible studios did a masterful job telling the story.
Since is was a drama it was more like a movie in my head.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The young lieutenant who goes on his first mission and sings Silent Night

Which scene was your favorite?

The singing in the book

Any additional comments?

Great Audible Drama that I thoroughly enjoyed.

10 of 12 people found this review helpful

Fascinating Story

This was a great audio drama about the Christmas Truce in 1914 I have always been fascinated by this story and this audio drama was very well done! Highly recommend!

10 of 12 people found this review helpful