by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 07, 2010

No one would publish "The Christmas Box," so Richard Paul Evans had to self-publish it himself in 1993. Within a year, it was on the New York Times best-seller list, according to Wikipedia, and became the first book to reach the #1 spot simulatenously for both its paperback and hardcover edition. After receiving a multi-million dollar publishing contract, Evans used his money to found a nonprofit that helps abused children find shelter. And in 2008, Richard Paul Evans published another long-awaited holiday follow-up - a book called "The Christmas Candle."

But this book is illustrated, with beautiful oil paintings by Jacob Collins. He's considered one of America's foremost realist painters, according to the book's jacket, yet this was the first time illustrating a book. The success of "The Christmas Box" led the publisher to take extra care in creating "The Christmas Candle," and these illustrations resemble the work of a classical master. Collins paintings shimmer with beautiful light - with photorealistic paintings of both still lifes and faces. And they subtly match up to the story, with  the light on a man's face suggesting goodness and compassion, while an ominous red sunset suggests a strange and powerful magic.

"On a snowy Christmas Eve a young man made his way along a dark, deserted cobblestone street," the story begins. The man ignores a beggar on his way to a candle shop, but he's warned that "The Christmas candles are of no good to you." Soon the candle is lighting the young man's way home - where he discovers his mother is a beggar in the alley. He offers her his cloak, only to discover that the candle was misleading him. And soon it's shining a light on a sick man outside a tavern - who appears to be the young man's brother!

He ends up offering his knapsack to save his brother - only to learn that the candle's tricked him again. "Penniless and cold, Thomas trudged onward, hardly glancing at the familiar houses of his childhood." He ignores a starving child who resembles his sister, but has a change of heart when he reaches his family. "And as he left the warm, fragrant house for the cold night, Thomas's heart was warm with joy..."

It's a simple story, maybe reminiscent of stories you've heard before, and its dark twist might cast some guilt over the glow of your holiday shopping. But Evans is trying to make a point - that we're all part of the human family. That's the real message of "The Christmas Candle," and Evans succeeds in delivering it. This time, with some colorful illustrations...

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