The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus

What is it that makes me finish even the worst books? Don't even start it, your brain will thank you.

I first experienced "The Christmas Chronicles" last year when it was played as a radio program. It was a fun, Christmas-y thing to listen to in the evenings, and having a book of the program brings back those delightful memories of Tim Slover's creative version of the Santa Claus origins. Will this story become the accepted version of things? I have no idea if it will affect that many people....more

I first experienced "The Christmas Chronicles" last year when it was played as a radio program. It was a fun, Christmas-y thing to listen to in the evenings, and having a book of the program brings back those delightful memories of Tim Slover's creative version of the Santa Claus origins. Will this story become the accepted version of things? I have no idea if it will affect that many people. Is it a sweet Christmas tale? Certainly, and should be accepted and celebrated as such. Tim Slover begins his account as he goes out to find pine bows and instead finds a magical green book which contains the biography of Santa Claus, which he then retells for the public benefits. Here comes the story of Klaus, a woodcarver living in the Black Forest around the time of the Plague. He's a generous, helpful person whose idea of carving toys for children who had otherwise lost everything in the plague eventually comes to the more mystical and magical tale of Santa Claus. It's a good, solid story, quick-paced, charming, and heartfelt, with a lovely dash of science and world religions. It's a quick read, with likable writing perfect for being read aloud (aka the radio program I first heard). My own critique is that this doesn't particularly stand out from any other particular Santa Claus myth. Now Santa Claus mythology is great for making up and I certainly applaud Slover for this version. But while it's no less wonderful than many other Santa stories, nothing in it makes it especially unique or excellent. Still, if you're not searching for the ultimate Santa story but just a nice one that's creative, well-done, with plenty of heart, this should fill the niche nicely.   hide