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169 reviews for:
The Autobiography of Santa Claus: A Revised Edition of the Christmas Classic
Jeff Guinn
3.62 AVERAGE
169 reviews for:
The Autobiography of Santa Claus: A Revised Edition of the Christmas Classic
Jeff Guinn
3.62 AVERAGE
I listened to 3 hours of this book and I was semi-interested, but now that Christmas is over I probably won't finish it. I picked it up because Andrew Luck's Book Club chose it for December for the children's book. I don't think my kids would like it; there is quite a bit of history described and it was a little dry.
It's the perfect book for anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is such an imaginative take on how Santa Claus (or Father Christmas, or St. Nicholas) can visit every child on Christmas Eve and why no one has found his base on the North Pole yet! It's funny, easy and quick to read, and I honestly learned some new and interesting bits about world history (read: European and American history). Can see myself revisiting this book in the years to come, why not with my own kid one day :)
Good read. More history than I typically enjoy but it was fun to read about all the major historical events that never would have happened if it wasn't for Santa Claus and his band of helpers.
medium-paced
The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to: Jeff Guinn. Guinn is known as a great biographer, and as this actually reads like it’s a real biography, I’ll give him that. However if this was really at all enjoyable, than I would have had it finished before Christmas. This dragged. It spent an unbelievable amount of time in the “pre-Santa” timeframe and it cuts out right when it’s getting good. I think I’ve always personally looked at Santa Claus as an aside to Christianity, or like Christmas’ capitalism cousin. But this biography really doubles down on Santa, or “Saint Nicholas” really really being tied to Christ. Which is fine really, that’s not what I disliked overall anyway. But what I find the most disturbing here is the gross misrepresentation of world history. Whereas Santa Claus is mostly known as mystical or magical and therefore whimsical and silly, this is written as a TRUE story and biographical piece and therefore it is truly adult. Therefore, I cannot forgive the way history is told. Instead of elves, Santa recruits real people. These people are hardly ever nobodies and the book just reads like a weird, and stupid name-drop piece. Not to mention his choices aren’t even saintly people or good people? One of them is Attila the Hun?? Also at one point the good Christian St. Nick calls Charlemagne a “good and just leader” and didn’t he drown hundreds of thousands of people for not converting? The onus is not on you Santa to support Christians who are bad… To me it just read as a really weird, misleading story rather than an uplifting and whimsical one. Which is honestly, all Santa Claus ought to be.
Personally, I did not like this, and the closest I’ve been to a DNF in a long time.
Personally, I did not like this, and the closest I’ve been to a DNF in a long time.
My biggest regret is, I didn't start this book much earlier in December.
Santa Claus tells his story. How he started off as Nicholas, gave gifts at night so his neighbors would have dowries. He became bishop and noticed he could travel faster than most and without getting tired. He stopped ageing. He collected friends, including Attila the Hun, King Arthur, Ben Franklin, and his wife, Layla (Mrs. Claus). The story is magic and glimpses of real history.
p. 262 (on being the 1st to the North Pole) Peary leanted an American flag, which the wind promptly knocked don and blew away. Then we turned around and headed back.
Santa Claus tells his story. How he started off as Nicholas, gave gifts at night so his neighbors would have dowries. He became bishop and noticed he could travel faster than most and without getting tired. He stopped ageing. He collected friends, including Attila the Hun, King Arthur, Ben Franklin, and his wife, Layla (Mrs. Claus). The story is magic and glimpses of real history.
p. 262 (on being the 1st to the North Pole) Peary leanted an American flag, which the wind promptly knocked don and blew away. Then we turned around and headed back.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very enjoyable and full of historical tidbits. However, the pace can be slow.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No