Dinca’s review of The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover
Holiday Classic published by Bantam 2 Nov 10
Quite frankly, Tim Slover lost me in his prologue. His grammar choice was clumsy introducing his wife and sons into the story, and I have a few questions for the narrator in the prologue.
Why would a man drive up a mountain road until he gets stuck in the snow just to rip off pine boughs illegally from federal land? Why state it in a book designed to be read to children? And why write a prologue that read like something out of a psychology 101 class? If you are reading this to small children, you may want to skip the prologue.
The rest of the book is a biography of Santa Claus, same take as the others but with a few variations. The periods of his life are separated in chapters.
The first chapter of his youth and the loss of his parents is well written, but, again, the author is telling the tale of someone else’s writing, a book written by Dustan Wyatt, ES. As an aside, Klaus was his given name, but during this time period he would have been referred to as Klaus ap ‘father’s name’, not just Klaus. Anyway, he is adopted by Worshipful Guild of Foresters, Carpenters and Woodworkers. After a plague in his village, he decides to make toys for children. Word spreads year after year and soon Klaus is in the toy business. As the book continues, a wife and a reindeer are mixed in with a lot of magic in getting the toys delivered and last but not least the blasted Grinch.
There are a lot of surprises in this story and twists and turns in the tale between good and evil and the miracle of Christmas. I did enjoy Mrs. Klaus. It would have been a blast to have her in the family.
However, if the book would have been given to me, I would read it as I did. I just don’t think I would drag it out every Christmas to torment my grandchildren.
This review is supposed to be about the story. But, come on, it’s about Santa Claus and who can give a bad grade to Santa?
Grade: B
Summary:
The magic begins in 1343, when the child Klaus is orphaned and adopted by a craftsman’s guild. The boy will grow to become a master woodworker with an infectious laugh and an unparalleled gift for making toys. His talent and generosity uniquely equip him to bestow hundreds of gifts on children at Christmas and to court the delightful Anna, who enters his life on a sleigh driven by the reindeer Dasher and becomes his beloved wife. Still, all is not snowfall and presents. Klaus will be shadowed by the envious Rolf Eckhof, who will stop at nothing to subvert him. By the end, Santa’s magic is at last unleashed; flying reindeer come to his aid, and epic battle between good and evil is waged in the frosty Christmas skies.
At once an action-packed adventure, an inspiring story of commitment and faith and a moving love story. The Christmas Chronicles is a beguiling tale destined to become a holiday favorite for the ages.
Read an excerpt.
