You won't want to miss this.
You know that sudden and jarring juxtaposition of feelings you experience when you finally realize that something you were certain was a parodic mash-up turns out to be absolutely sincere? There oughta be a German word for that. The Awl
Coming to theaters near you this December 10th, Glenn Beck will host a live viewing of a taped version of his "Broadway-style" stage recreation of his "deeply personal" fictionalization of his Very Special Christmas Story.
http://www.glennbeck.com/...
The evening will begin with glorious holiday music from one of New York’s premiere choirs. Then, before a live audience, Glenn will tell you about the real life events that inspired him to write The Christmas Sweater, and he’ll share stories of the overwhelming response he received about the how tale’s message of redemption literally changed people’s lives, bringing many back from the brink of collapse and restoring family relationships. Then, Glenn will show a brand new, re-mastered and exclusive version of The Christmas Sweater taped live during his 2008 cross-country tour. Afterward, Glenn will introduce you to some of the people who were touched by the story, and through inimitable interviewing style you’ll experience their intimate journey of transformation through the simple gift of redemption. In closing, Glenn will be joined once again by the choir to end the evening with more rousing and uplifting Christmas music.
This incredible Christmas celebration will simulcast live to HD movie theaters all over the country. Join Glenn for the next evolution of The Christmas Sweater and see for yourself while critics and audiences alike are heralding it as a new American classic.
Critics have raved about the book! Well, you know that left wing media-entertainment complex.
From Publisher's Weekly:
In Beck's debut novel, the conservative radio and TV host (An Inconvenient Book) makes a weak attempt at a holiday classic in the vein of It's a Wonderful Life. Despite his single mother's financial hardships, 12-year-old Eddie is certain this Christmas he will receive his much-desired Huffy bike. To his dismay, what he finds under the tree is "a stupid, handmade, ugly sweater" that his mother carefully modeled after those she can't afford at Sears (one of four places she keeps part-time jobs). Eddie tosses the sweater and insults his mother before the two go visit his grandparents at their farmouse. On the drive home, though, Eddie's exhausted mother falls asleep at the wheel and crashes, dying instantly. Sent to live with his grandparents, an increasingly bitter and angry Eddie lashes out at his accommodating guardians, engages in typical teenage angst and grapples with belief in God. For all his focus on traditional family virtues like respect, love and forgiveness, Beck's lightweight parable cruises on predictability, repetition and sentimentality.
The customer reviews are entertaining. Such as this one:
http://www.amazon.com/...
Neither heartwarming nor inspirational - the best lesson is 'how not to write a novel', December 15, 2008
By Mark J. Strudwick (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
I begrudgingly read this book as it was part of the holiday selection in my wife's book group (and she left it in the bathroom when there was nothing else to read).
After reading the opening, where Mr Beck draws parallels with his own life and the story (carefully stopping short of ever saying that the book is truly autobiographical) I was drawn to the narrative that follows in the same way as one is drawn to catch a glimpse of a nasty car crash on the freeway.
To say that the writing is clunky, poorly edited, overtly embellished with sweetness and faux moralizing is putting it mildly. Not once in the history of my dear wife's book group have I laughed so much at one of their selections. Glenn Beck obviously has a devoted following as the only reason I could see for any publishing house to put its name to this drivel is if he could guarantee a spot on the NYT bestseller list simply by putting his name on a Christmas-y cover.
(SPOILER ALERT)
I read on, admittedly fascinated by the sheer chutzpah Beck shows in writing something so antithetical to his on-air rantings. I was, then, completely unsurprised by the 'And-then-he-woke-up-and-it-was-all-a-dream' ending (I actually told myself that there was no way he could possibly have the stones to end it this way, but, yup, he did).
Shallow, cynical, saccharine and ultimately pretty funny (if you read it as a ironic comedy), the Christmas Sweater should be consigned to the same Holiday hypocritical sin bin as 'Jingle All The Way'. Ugh (shudder)
Is there no end to the ways Glenn Beck is willing to manipulate the emotions of his gullible followers and relieve them of their money? He's also asking them to post their personal tragedies on his new website, so he can share them with the world at this Very Special Event.
What is going on here? Glenn Beck, Rodeo Clown, who last week staged a Health Care Town Hall featuring the racist doctor who circulated the Obama as witch doctor photo, is now morphing into Father Christmas? With a "heart warming," pseudo- autobiographical work of fiction ghost-written by not one, but two co-authors? A book he not only encourages fans to buy, but after they've shelled out twenty bucks he then wants them to watch his STAGE version of the story, in a movie theater, for another twelve bucks, after which Beck will explain to them the importance of what they've just seen by exploiting vulnerable people who've agreed to share THEIR stories, live. It boggles the mind.
And he calls Obama the "Messiah."
That's the Beckian Christmas Spirit.
Aside from fleecing the gullible, exploiting their emotions and enlisting them in the Cult of Glenn Beck as Teary, Maudlin Super Hero of the Right, is there any reason for this thing to exist?