Christmas Jars

What a touching story! Some pages, I had to read through tears because I was so moved.

I've heard many stories about change jars and what people have done with them but this story had a beautiful element of paying it forward and the good karma it may generate in many lives. I will definitely be sharing this book and it's life lesson!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed the book and found it inspiring; I now have my own Christmas Jar started.

I found the subject matter of this book to be inspiring and worthy, with maybe a bit too much of a feel-good nature to it. To elaborate, picture someone writing a book that detailed how a number of really good people won the lottery, got that big promotion or found true love while several bad people all received the bad fate that they deserved....it's all a bit too idealistic. Life isn't usually that just. Although that sounds like a bad review of the content of this book, it isn't. And this book isn't as over-the-top sunshine and lollipops as my example. I found the book to be very uplifting and it has a way of cheering you up and making you feel good; like there's still good in this world. And in a "pay it forward" kind of way, even though I never received this type of a random act of kindness, I was inspired to start my own Christmas Jar. I lent the book to a coworker and she also started her own. I decided to do it a bit differently than the book portrays - I'll do a little research to ensure that the recipient is truly needing and deserving (I hate the thought that I could randomly leave the jar to a child molester or a drug dealer) and I'll also deliver it about 10-15 days before Christmas. That's to allow time to shop if it goes to a parent who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford gifts for the kids. Also, 10-15 days before Christmas would help someone enjoy that much more of the season. I also decided to seek out someone in a battered women's shelter, someone needy found through my church or possibly someone found through a local Veterans group who may know of a needy elderly veteran. I don't know yet which way I'll go, but the point is, this book is inspiring me to want to do good. Can a book get a better review than that??? Buy it, read it, but more importantly....LIVE it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This novella changes lives

This book will change your life! You will no doubt go out and buy a copy for all your friends and family when you are done reading it. It will become a tradition to read this every holiday season and give away a jar to a person in need. It will become the gift that you give to someone new each and every Christmas! Become part of the Christmas Jar magic and read this story this holiday season. You will be forever changed!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A New tradition

This book kept my attention on a four hour drive home from skiing. I could not put it down. I cried for the characters and felt the lesson this book offers is huge. After reading this book, I went out and got my own Christmas Jar and explained to my kids the relevance to collecting change. The whole family is in on this new tradition.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Christmas Jars by Jason Wright

Christmas Jars is a warm, moving story that will remind you of the true joy of giving at Christmas time. It would be a great read for any time of the year. I recommend it for all ages.

I also recommend Christmas Jars Reunion by the same author. It is a great book as well.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great

After hearing about the book and author on Glenn Beck, my husband and I purchased 5 books - 1 for ourselves and 4 as gifts.

It was a quick read, and we started "our Christmas Jar" as a new tradition for futre Christmas'.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best Book Ever

The story in this book is so amazing that it has started a Christmas tradition for my family. After reading it, I purchased a book for each of my children, siblings and close friends. I took jars and wrote "Christmas Jar" on each one and put both the book and jar in a gift bag and gave as my gift for that year. I placed a note inside of each jar stating they would have to read the book in order to know what the jar was all about. Everyone has called to tell me it was the best gift they had ever received. My family's Christmas Jar is sitting on our counter, getting ready for Christmas 2010. A MUST READ for everyone!!! It stays with you every day, all year long!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read and share!

What a touching story of faith, hope, love and kindness! The spirit of the Christmas Jars is somethig we should all have in us, it would be a better world. I received my book for Christmas, have read it and already passed it on with a jar. This is a tradition that I plan to continue each year. A great gesture to instill in children!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Heart Warming

This book reflects the true spirit of Christmas, the season of giving. I love how the story comes full circle and shows how one act of kindness and sacrafice can make such a difference in many lives. Great story to read to your children and grandchildren.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a heartwarming and touching book

I had never heard of this book until I Googled what I had found on my porch Monday evening. Yes, the other night I was busy trying to list some things on Ebay so we could get our girls some things for Christmas, when I heard a knock on the door. Imagine my surprise when I found a jar full of coins and paper money with a bow tied around the jar and a "Christmas Jar" poem attached. Who was it from? Why were they so giving? Who would be so selfless and thoughtful to do such a thing?
Not very many people come to mind, but immediately one person dominated my thoughts and I just knew it had to be her....you know, the only friend you know you could call and would jump to help you; the one who you would never in a million years have anything negative to say about. The only one who you know is capable of such a compassionate act.
Yes, the book will have you shed a tear, but imagine being on the receiving end of a jar. It's a real tear fest. You know you will pass it on when you can. God bless you D.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Looking for a Short Yet Touching Book, Here You Are

Very touching and interesting. Not good for fantasy readers.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A tradition that could change your life.

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright is a novel that speaks through the realm of fiction to that of reality. Wright develops a beautiful story interweaving the lives of three families throughout the span of twenty-five years. This "family connection"- a girl and a jar full; of change will surely inspire you to start your own "Christmas Jar."
A newlywed couple, short on money, decides to start a "Christmas Jar," saving loose change that at Christmas will be used to purchase gifts. Twenty five years later a mid-twenties woman working her way up in the news reporter world has a terrible year. Broken and lost she stumbles over a "Christmas Jar" on her front doorstep. Determined to find out who the secret giver is and longing for her own front page story she tracks down the family behind this tradition that has turned into so much more than even they imagined.
There are twists to this story that will drop your jaw and make you wonder how you can impact others lives. News stories of Starbucks' customers paying for the next customer's drink, the movie pay it forward, and Christmas Jar's website full of stories proves that humanity does care.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

inspirational

can't wait for the movie if it's coming out...true meaning/celebration of Christmas modeled...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Giving all year long...

This Book is wonderful and very touching. It sure puts reality in your face and at Christmas time, it shows how important it is to give.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An Inspiring Christmas Story

This was a really great Christmas read. I picked this book for our December Book Club party because it sounded like a nice story and it was pretty short. I sat down and read it in one night. I really enjoyed this story. The writing is more a storytelling style than what I am used to reading fiction. There were a lot of narrative sections but it really played into the type of book it was.

This is the story of a young girl orphaned as an infant and taken in my a kind housekeeper who doted on her belated Christmas gift. Holly Jensen grows up to be an ambitious reporter for the local paper. When Hope receives an unexpected gift on the heels of an awful event she sets out to find her benefactor and write the best feature story yet. Through the course of her investigating she meets and falls in love with a wonderful family and finally discovers the origin of the Christmas Jars. The discovery throws Hope off balance and suddenly she longs for something other than an ambitious career.

Like most Christmas movies and stories this heart-warming tale is a little unbelievable, but that is what makes the Christmas season so magical. We have an opportunity to believe in the good of mankind and happy endings for people who truly deserve them. I cried like a baby when I finished this book. It's only 122 pages but it is a great read and a very inspiring story about the true spirit of Christmas.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!

This book was so inspiring and beautiful! What a lovely concept and gift! This inspired my family to make a Christmas Jar and I hope that someone will be blessed by it because I feel that I have been blessed by this book!

OMG-Awesome Book!

First of all I'm in 5th grade and my teacher is reading this book to all of us. It is a very touching story because Louise find a baby at Chuck's Diner on Christmas Eve and there was a note left with her. The last line said,"All I have is this baby and a little hope." So Louise named the baby girl Hope. When Hope Jensen turned 21 her "mother" informed her that she had cancer. A few months later she dies.... to find out more I guess you'll have to read it! The last thing I have to say is I hope you can read it and Merry Christmas/Happy Hannakah/Happy Kwannza! I think whoever reads it will be touched at the end.

Amazing. Absolutely Amazing.

I just finished this book and I can honestly say it's a little book with a big, powerful message. You will never look at the loose change in your pocket the same way ever again. I'd also like to thank whoever recommended another book called "When God Stopped Keeping Score," that book has changed my life for the better. Read it and you will understand why!

What a concept, selfless gifting at Christmas...

I listened to this book on CD on my ride to and from work. It is such a simple idea and such a good one that from this date forward it will be a Christmas tradition for me and many whom I have spoken with. I originally started with just one jar to the Petit Foundation but now I have decided that there is another someone who truly needs the lift this jar will give her... Thank you to the author. I hope this book goes viral. This country needs it!

Fantastic & Moving Story!

I just finished this novel by mr. Wright. He is a great writer. I have really enjoyed his work. Christmas Jars was a very touching story, very well written. I love his books. I fell in love with his writtings when I read Wednesday's Letters. I love this Christmas story.