Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Book Review: The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover

Get ready to take a magical journey into the legend behind the jolly man in the red suit when you pick up a copy of The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover.

One day a father leaves his wife and two teenage sons to their duties while he drives up into the mountains to cut pine boughs needed for decorating the house for Christmas. That's where he hears the sound of silver bells jingling and his life is changed forever.

A mysterious road opens up and a man in a sleigh led by a scarlet reindeer disappears up the road, but not before a book drops from the sleigh. The father discovers that this book is known as "The Green Book" and it is the, "True and Authorized Chronicle of Klaus," compiled by Dunstan Wyatt, Court Historian and driver of the sleigh.

So opens The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover. And in this mystical, magical tale this father unfolds the story of Klaus, whose parents died when the Black Death came to their village in 1343. Little Klaus was adopted by the Worshipful Guild of Foresters, Carpenters, and Woodworkers, where he would become a master at his craft. His work would be well-sought after and his generosity led to his sharing his toys with children at Christmas.

Despite the fact that Klaus finds love with his beautiful wife, Anna, his life is not easy. Rolf Eckhof is jealous of the master woodworker and is determined to sabotage his good work. Eckhof's jealousy leads to an epic battle between good and evil on a frosty Christmas Eve.

I love Christmas almost more than my kids do. Ask my husband who usually has to suffer through nearly every room of the house being decorated and who was forced to string icicle lights on our gutters this year in the wind and cold.

I'm always on the lookout for a good Christmas story. A couple of years ago I found The Santa Letters by Stacy Gooch Anderson. This year, Random House contracted me to promote a book I know I will read over and again. The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover is composed of many elements, such as: the magic of Christmas, faith, and love. It is an adventure, an inspiration, and a love story blended together with many of the symbols we have come to associate with Santa Claus and Christmas.

You will laugh and you might cry--I did in a couple of spots--and when you are done, you'll want to read it all over again, sitting by the fireplace surrounded by your family so that you can share with them the legend of Santa Claus as told in a masterful way by Slover. The author has woven so much of what we've come to know about Santa Claus into his story, that you are certain every word of what is written is true. I would almost be bold enough to defy anyone who doesn't believe in Santa to read this book and see if it doesn't change his mind.

A beautifully told story that is destined to become a Christmas classic is what you'll find in The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover.


Title:  The Christmas Chronicles
Author:  Tim Slover
Publisher:  Bantam Books
ISBN-10: 0553808109
ISBN-13: 978-0553808100
SRP:  $16.00

Disclosure: I was not paid to review this book. I received it free of charge to provide my honest opinion.


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