I thought I'd start a thread for this, in case anyone starts reading it and is ready to discuss.  I've got it on the way to me from the library.

A dear friend I met here just sent me this book!~ I love PBSers!

That's awesome, Theresa!  I think the good you do always comes back to you. :)

I have read the first 68 pages, and I am really enjoying the book. I can identify with the older couple whose children are not coming home for Christmas, as it is going to be a very quiet Christmas around our place this year...

I'm determined to start on it this weekend! Maybe when we get more into it we can put something like **spoiler** to warn people if they don't want to know something pertaining to book.

Theresa, it's awesome that you are already to pg 68! I think the book is only about 180 pages or something LOL. She's almost halfway there and I haven't even started yet.

I started the book this morning, but then my mom called to tell me my cousin's husband had died.  He was fairly young--early 30's at most.  Please include her in your prayers!

So anyway, my point is that I didn't get very far into the book, and then I had to go shovel our driveway and our neighbor's (who are both elderly ladies).  It's enough to make me want to move back to California.

Oh no. That is awful. I will say a prayer for her. I get what you mean about snow. Luckily ours didn't stick.

How's everyone doing so far on this one?  I think I'm only about 20 pages in.  I've been too into reading Safely Home, and I gotta finish that one before I move onto The Christmas Bus. 

I have to say, though, so far it kind of reminds me of the Mitford books.  (Well, I've only read about half of the first one, so I can't say all the books, but just that one)  Kind of about a small town, with mostly older people.  I've had a hard time trying to finish the first Mitford book--I'm on my second try, and haven't been moved to pick it up for a couple of weeks.  I know everyone loves the series, but I just can't get into it.  It's cozy, and nice to read, but just too slow for me.  So, back to The Christmas Bus, it seems a little slow, so I'm hoping it picks up.

Bumpin this up.  Is anyone reading this?  Or finished?  I finished it a few days ago, and thought it ended really well. 

I have read it. I liked the characters and liked the fact that Myrtle doesn't have the personality that you would typically ascribe to an angel.

Melissa

I finished the book last night. It is a wonderful read. It gets you thinking about what our lives should be all about.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Kathy

I finished it as well. It goes to show you that sometimes those who are least angelic may actually BE angels! :)

A good thing to think about--we should probably treat everyone as if they were angels, no matter how they treat us. :)

I just finished this yesterday. One good thing about an ice storm and no power. I had time to ready by battery light! :-)

I got through the book fairly quickly. I thought it was an easy read, yet had many thought provoking points. I agree with the other member that appreciated Mrytle wasn't the stereotypical concept of an angel. A lot of the people mentioned in the Bible weren't the "best" society had to offer. But, again and again, this people who were rough around the edges were shown that they had something of value to contribute.

I think this book was a nice opportunity to step back and reevaluate how busy our lives have become. If Myrtle came into my life today, how would I have treated her? We've had a lot of stressors lately so I probably would have been pretty impatient with her this week. That would have been a definitely loss for me and those around me. I'm trying to put a more preceptive cap on today! :-)

I would've helped the kids on the bus. That's just me. But Mrytle would've been a challenge for me.

I would definitely suggest this to friends to read.

Rhonda

I'm about halfway through. Myrtle reminds me of a great aunt that I cringe seeing at family gatherings.  (My great aunt is much, much worse though) I think the bus on the cover is kind of cool. Not one that I would point and make a big fuss about.  Is there really a Christmas Valley?

I guess there is a Christmas Valley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Valley,_Oregon