A Christmas Carol is one of the best known holiday stories and still one of the best. Dickens perfectly unfolds his characters and gets the reader into the Christmas mood. He also does the unthinkable by making us sympathize with the moody, unfestive Scrooge. The original version is the one to get, though, as the abridged version makes Scrooge's exciting encounters with the spirits (especially his meeting with Marley) far too short. This book is certainly affordable and will get you into the Christmas spirit, as well as help you rediscover the true meaning of the holiday.