Host An Unforgettable Book Club Party

In anticipation of Christmas, I wanted to repost this sweet novel about the first gift of Christmas.

Richard Paul Evans has written several books about Christmas.  It all began in 1993 with The Christmas Box, a story about the first gift of Christmas.   He wrote it for his daughters, but it became such a hit with friends and family that soon bookstores were calling to get copies of it.

The Christmas Box is about a young family that moves in with an elderly woman, MaryAnne Parkin, to help her with meal preparation and to care for her old mansion.  They develop a deep friendship with Mary who teaches the overworked Richard about the first gift of Christmas.

Book Club Ideas

A little angel statue will remind your guests what the first, and most important, gift of Christmas is.  It is speculated that the original angel statue was destroyed, so Richard Paul Evans commissioned a new one in response to requests from readers of the book.  Every year on December 6, a candlelight ceremony is held at The Christmas Box Angel and white flowers are left at the base of the angel statue.  In The Christmas Box, the family left a white lily at the feet of the angel.

Music

Paul Cardall, a pianist, created a musical adaptation of the book.

Book Club Menu

One of Richard’s favorite scents at Christmas is the smell of  Hot Wassail, a spicy drink that can me made with juice or wine.

MaryAnne Parkin and Keri, Richard’s wife, enjoyed spending time together and drinking Peppermint Tea.

To welcome the family into her home, Mary made Roast Beef and Gravy and freshly Baked Rolls.

After dinner she brought out a tray with crystal bowls of steaming Chocolate Christmas Pudding.

Book Club Resources

Ratings at the time this post was published

Book Club Discussion

The website of Richard Paul Evans has an excellent book club reading guide for The Christmas Box, with such questions as:

• What is the meaning of the recurrent angel dreams that start haunting Richard’s slumber once when he moves into the Parkin home?
• How do you think Richard’s life will change now that Mary has helped him to see that “in my quest for success in this world I had been trading diamonds for stone”?
• Why do you think so many readers of The Christmas Box have described it as a heartwarming story that not only touched their emotions but actually transformed their lives?

Purchase The Christmas Box at your favorite bookseller

About the Author

Richard Paul Evans founded The Christmas Box House International which builds shelters and provides services for neglected and abused children.

For other books by Richard Paul Evans, click here.

The Movie