DNFing The Girl Who Saved Christmas

I hate DNFing audiobooks. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It's like when I DNF eBooks in some respects. But audiobooks, it makes me feel... it's hard to describe.

Now, like some of you would be aware, I would pretend this didn't happen. I would keep it a secret. But earlier this year, I decide to tell you guys every time I DNF something - whether be book, ebook, audiobook, etc - because I wanted to be honest with you, dear reader. Sometimes, you just don't click with a story and it's ok to put it down and each of you go on your merry way.

But what is more annoying about this DNF is the fact that while I didn't like this and had to stop over an hour into the story, I LOVED the prequel.

So, why did I DNF The Girl Who Saved Christmas?

Now, if I can answer that question honestly, this post would be so easy to write. But, in fact, it's not. There was nothing wrong with the story. I've seen people read/audiobook this and LOVED it. So... why didn't I?

It's a mix of reasons. I wonder if it's because I listened to this so quickly after finishing the audiobook of A Boy Called Christmas. I fell in love with that story and it's so rare for me to read/listen to the second book in a series so quickly after finishing the first. I usually give it a few weeks and a book or two before I go back. I only gave it around 3 days...

The second is the reader. There is nothing wrong with Carey Mulligan. But I couldn't connect with her reading. I just couldn't gel with it, and I have no idea.

The third is the story - ok, this is a weird one but it was little things in the story that didn't work with me. Because I had listened to The Girl Who Saved Christmas so soon after A Boy Called Christmas, I kept comparing characters who featured in both and kept going "That character wouldn't have behaved like that in the previous story so why are they acting this way now?"

I kept nitpicking. I had no rush to return to the story (whereas now, with the audiobook I started a few days ago, I am blitzing through it and I have that itch to go back and listen to some more chapters). Nothing nagged me to get my iPod and listen.

So, as much I don't like DNFing audiobooks, am going to with this one. I might come back... one day... maybe... but it's not the end of the world if I do or don't.

#YAXmasTour - A Boy Called Christmas

And on the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me -

- a review of a Christmas audiobook. ... really?

Ok, before you go all "YOU FAILED US!!!", hear me out. It's Christmas. It's meant to be peaceful, happy, joyful. And after the year we've all had, damnit, I want this last few weeks to have happy, feel-good stories before I go on my Christmas break!

So, before I go any further...!

Ok, happy now I got that out of my system! Now, I can begin...

Do you know the true story of Father Christmas? No...? You don't know the story about snow, kidnapping, flying reindeer, elves, magic and a boy called Nikolas who, one day, went to the north...? No? Well then, let's get comfortable and I will tell you...

I was very lucky to be given the audiobook version from the lovely people of Midas PR and Audible, in exchange for an honest review, of course. That goes without saying. But thanks you guys for the Xmas treat...

This story is bewitched with Christmas magic. I fell under its spell and enjoyed myself immensely. This is a little younger than I usually read (this is middle-grade), but it has a simple lightness in the writing which works.

What works even better is Stephen Fry narrating the audiobook. I remember listening to the first few chapters and getting the same reaction as I did when I first heard Stephen narrating Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Stephen's voice and Matt's writing work beautifully.

There were one or two scenes that did grate on me (this is me. Of course I will find something to be negative on), but these moments are kinda important for Nikolas so I forgive them.

But like I said, filled with Christmas magic and I can't wait to start audiobooking the sequel, The Girl Who Saved Christmas (which I believe is narrated by Carey Mulligan)!