This is my favorite of Dicken's Christmas stories so far! Not nearly as long-winded as he is apt to be, hilariously funny and witty, and very dramatic and surprising!
I loved seeing Dot and John so happy together. Tilly made me laugh my head off; she's so clumsy and ridiculous. The dear blind Bertha with her misconceptions of the world and her poor father are a sad and sweet couple of characters. I loved their story-line! And I liked how it is all tied together by the Cricket's magic of hearth and home.
Just a delightful little story!

....SPOILERS.....
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I did not like the last line where Dicken's basically says it was all a dream or something. Why ruin a great story like that?
Also I didn't like that Tackleton has a sudden change of heart at the end. That is totally unbelievable in his character. Far more likely that he really WOULD poison the cake, or at least make everyone miserable as much as he could. He was just jilted at the altar! You think he's in a generous, forgiving mood?!? Stupid ending.