THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN

The Christmas Train
by David Baldacci
Paperback $19.95
Warner Books
260 pages
ISBN : 0446525731

Tom Langdon, a journalist, managed to cause enough trouble with airport security that he was banned from flying in the airplanes. For a journalist then, that becomes a problem since you need to be able to travel anywhere, and Tom needs to be with his girlfriend for Christmas so he decides to travel by train while writing about the experience. “Over almost three thousand miles of America, he was going to see if he could find himself. He was doing it during the Christmas season because that was supposed to be a time of renewal and, for him perhaps, a last chance to clean up whatever mess he’d made of himself. At least he was going to try.”

In The Christmas Train, Tom is attempting to redefine his role as a journalist since he is now writing for a decorating magazine which is dramatically different for a writer that had won two Pulitzer Prizes for his stories in dangerous places. He plans to relate his journey to that of Mark Twain who is one of his ancestors and who also rode a train across the United States. The journey here is the focus, not getting from one place to another.

To complicate matters also on this train is Ellie, Tom’s first and only real love. These two ended their relationship years earlier with many unanswered questions and unresolved situations between them. Ellie’s employer, Max, has a similar idea for a movie that he is directing.

Tom learns to get along with numerous unusual and realistic people in this journey. The Amtrak personnel each have very different and delightful personalities which add warmth of all the characters.

The experience of the train is the lovable theme throughout this book. When one of the former Amtrak employees is asked about fast air travel, he responds. “Oh sure, if you’re into the destination only as opposed to the trip itself. It’s been my experience that most folks who ride trains could care less where they’re going. For them it’s the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello. That’s why trains are so popular at Christmas. People get on to meet their country over the holidays. They’re looking for some friendship, a warm body to talk to. People don’t rush on a train, because that’s not what trains are for. How do you put a dollar value on that? What accounting line does that go on?”

With a retired priest on board who believes and looks for miracles, a wedding, a thief, a romance, the delightful Amtrak employees and with a twist that resembles O. Henry, this small book possesses a wonderful gift for everyone, especially during the Christmas season.

A criticism of The Christmas Train is that once reading this book, you’ll want to purchase a train ticket across America immediately.

David Baldacci was a lawyer for years before becoming a well-known author. With television and movie writing now in his background, he continues to write memorable mysteries with delightfully realistic characters.