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"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas..." How many time have you hummed or sung this song over the years? Both Holiday Inn (the movie that first featured the song) and White Christmas are holiday classics. I know we watch each film at least once in our house each holiday season.
When I saw an entire book about this one song, I wondered how so much could be written about one tune. I read on to learn that the Bing Crosby version alone has sold 31 million copies, how this song inspired a number of nativity-free carols and how it was born from the songwriting genius, Irving Berlin, a former cantor.
Jody Rosen weaves historical references into his prose, summing up the mood of the nation as this song found its way into play. For anyone who enjoys a glimpse into a songwriter's notes, this book provides a look into Berlin's original lyrics, the first sixteen bars of which were rarely sung!
The story begins with the story of Irving Berlin, but travels much further as the song's popularity gained momentum. For any fans of holiday music, or classic beloved songs, this book is a must.
May you have a white Christmas, wherever you are, even if it is just watching snow fall in a movie. If you want to give more than a book, here are some gift suggestions to pair with this (though I am sure you can figure some of these out alone): A CD of Bing singing this classic, videos of White Christmas and Holiday Inn, or a snowglobe of one of your favorite snowy holiday scenes.
--- Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald
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