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El misterio de la Navidad by Jostein Gaarder, Jesús Gabán, Asunción Gabán, Kirsti Baggelthun
annatsp's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a Gaarder in years... I loved this enough to tell a few friends that they *need* to read it, but not quite enough to make it a 5-star book, mainly because I probably won't be enticed into re-reading it very much (unlike Maya and Sophie's World).
Joachim finds a very old homemade Advent calendar in a bookstore which was left there by an eccentric flower-seller called John. When he opens the first little door on the calendar on the first of December, he finds a piece of paper with a story. Soon the story of seven-year-old Elisabet Hansen, who runs out of a Norwegian store in 1948 after a little toy lamb who came alive, consumes Joachim and his family. Who is this girl who sets out on a journey through time and space to reach Bethlehem in time to witness Jesus' birth?
The Christmas Mystery is written rather like Sophie's World, with two different stories intertwining and finally merging at the end, though it is much less complex and very much more childlike. The ending is also a little open ended, which really does add to the mystery.
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First read: 2014
Re-read: 2016.
I tried to split this reading by day, but soon got annoyed because each chapter is quite short. This method would probably work for reading with younger kids.
Joachim finds a very old homemade Advent calendar in a bookstore which was left there by an eccentric flower-seller called John. When he opens the first little door on the calendar on the first of December, he finds a piece of paper with a story. Soon the story of seven-year-old Elisabet Hansen, who runs out of a Norwegian store in 1948 after a little toy lamb who came alive, consumes Joachim and his family. Who is this girl who sets out on a journey through time and space to reach Bethlehem in time to witness Jesus' birth?
The Christmas Mystery is written rather like Sophie's World, with two different stories intertwining and finally merging at the end, though it is much less complex and very much more childlike. The ending is also a little open ended, which really does add to the mystery.
---
First read: 2014
Re-read: 2016.
I tried to split this reading by day, but soon got annoyed because each chapter is quite short. This method would probably work for reading with younger kids.
bk_gjendem's review against another edition
3.0
It was fun to read with the kids each day during advent. Translation sucked, but we also have the Norwegian version. Publisher also messed up, leaving out several chapters (which we discovered later were actually IN the book ... just not in the right place). All that said, though, typical Jostein Gaarder ... detailed and complex story that builds up to the meaning of the mystery.
bk_gjendem's review against another edition
Started reading this with the kids for Christmas. We have one copy in Norwegian and one in English.
brisingr's review against another edition
2.0
I really thought that I won't make it, that I won't get to read this book this year either. It was a present I received last Christmas, and then I didn't manage to finish it and this year's it's been my winter goal to finish this book on Christmas Eve. And it's almost 8pm and I finally did it. I am not sure if I'd have liked to keep it only halfway read.
The idea was promising. I really liked it and until I've first started reading this book, I didn't know about the existence of advent calendars, so I was double-excited about this book especially because of this.
It started really cutely, but I feel like the simple style didn't exactly helped, because at some point it was tiredsome to keep reading "he said, she said" and seeing a lot of uneeded dialogue lines. I get that it's targeted for the younger audience, and usually this doesn't bother me, but this time it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I thought that the mistery was pretty cool and it was nice how it was brought up and how the author dealt with telling us bits and bits of the story, but the fact that some things kept repeating was... again, not my cup of tea. Also, I didn't like any of the characters that much, which was a huge turn-off about this story. I also get what this story wanted to do, stay spiritual and somewhat with intelectual advices and religious preaches, but I feel like it kind of failed, because those things didn't fit with the general feeling of the book: young and innocent and too little for how much it wanted to give.
The idea was promising. I really liked it and until I've first started reading this book, I didn't know about the existence of advent calendars, so I was double-excited about this book especially because of this.
It started really cutely, but I feel like the simple style didn't exactly helped, because at some point it was tiredsome to keep reading "he said, she said" and seeing a lot of uneeded dialogue lines. I get that it's targeted for the younger audience, and usually this doesn't bother me, but this time it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I thought that the mistery was pretty cool and it was nice how it was brought up and how the author dealt with telling us bits and bits of the story, but the fact that some things kept repeating was... again, not my cup of tea. Also, I didn't like any of the characters that much, which was a huge turn-off about this story. I also get what this story wanted to do, stay spiritual and somewhat with intelectual advices and religious preaches, but I feel like it kind of failed, because those things didn't fit with the general feeling of the book: young and innocent and too little for how much it wanted to give.
lauraeydmann82's review against another edition
3.0
A festive book about a little Norwegian boy, Joachim, who discovers an unusual Advent Calendar in his local bookshop. The advent calendar has a little slip of paper behind each window, which tells the story of a little girl called Elisabet.
Elisabet is travelling through time and through the world back to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ, and picks up the 3 wise men, shepherds, angels, lambs and more on the way. Along the pilgrimage we find out about the different towns they travel through, and more about Jesus and Christianity.
This was a very festive Christmassy book, but a little bit too religious, I felt a bit preached at at times. I really like the idea behind the book, but I did get a little bored here and there. I am not sure if this is because it is a translation, but I found the writing a little dull sometimes. However, if you try not to take the religious aspect too seriously, it’s, in most places, quite a gripping read. I read Sophie’s World about 10 years ago and loved that, but this didn’t seem as good… (but then would Sophie’s World stand up to a second read for me now?)
The only thing that is slightly weird is the story of Elisabet herself. It’s a little dark, and I’m not sure what you are supposed to take from it… but I don’t want to ruin the story, so I’ll leave you to read it for yourself… definitely worth a read at this time of year.
Elisabet is travelling through time and through the world back to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ, and picks up the 3 wise men, shepherds, angels, lambs and more on the way. Along the pilgrimage we find out about the different towns they travel through, and more about Jesus and Christianity.
This was a very festive Christmassy book, but a little bit too religious, I felt a bit preached at at times. I really like the idea behind the book, but I did get a little bored here and there. I am not sure if this is because it is a translation, but I found the writing a little dull sometimes. However, if you try not to take the religious aspect too seriously, it’s, in most places, quite a gripping read. I read Sophie’s World about 10 years ago and loved that, but this didn’t seem as good… (but then would Sophie’s World stand up to a second read for me now?)
The only thing that is slightly weird is the story of Elisabet herself. It’s a little dark, and I’m not sure what you are supposed to take from it… but I don’t want to ruin the story, so I’ll leave you to read it for yourself… definitely worth a read at this time of year.
saravannan14's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, this is the 4th Jostein Gaarder’s book that I’ve read. Just like the other books, it has philosophy content throughout the book. If it’s Gaarder, it’s philosophy, no denying that. But the difference in this book is that it also contains religious content (Christianity that is), mainly development of Christianity over the two thousand years.
There’s 2 type of Gaarder’s book.
1) Books that have a STORY, things happening, characters doing things, story unfolding, and philosophy sprinkled on top of the story, that kind of stuff. (think Solitaire Mystery)
2) Books that concentrate more on philosophy, doesn’t really have a story, just trying to convey a message in a straight way. (think Through a Glass, Darkly)
Having said that, I love the 1st type and not the 2nd type. So what type is this book? I should say somewhere in between. It has a story, what really happen to Elisabet? Who is John? All that is discussed in the end, which is interesting. But little Elisabet’s journey doesn’t really interest me. Religion doesn’t really interest me (not being a Christian doesn’t help either!), and the journey’s purpose is just to get more and more people joining the pilgrimage. (quoting Joshua “To Bethlehem! To Bethlehem!)
So as a conclusion, this book is not a complete letdown. It is okay, I liked the ending. If you’re the religious type, you might like it better, but for me 3 stars are more than it deserves!
PS: I forgot to mention something. I think the illustration in the book for each chapter/ day is totally creative! I mean, books are not just about letters, a lot of letters. Illustrations like this do make the book interesting to read.
There’s 2 type of Gaarder’s book.
1) Books that have a STORY, things happening, characters doing things, story unfolding, and philosophy sprinkled on top of the story, that kind of stuff. (think Solitaire Mystery)
2) Books that concentrate more on philosophy, doesn’t really have a story, just trying to convey a message in a straight way. (think Through a Glass, Darkly)
Having said that, I love the 1st type and not the 2nd type. So what type is this book? I should say somewhere in between. It has a story, what really happen to Elisabet? Who is John? All that is discussed in the end, which is interesting. But little Elisabet’s journey doesn’t really interest me. Religion doesn’t really interest me (not being a Christian doesn’t help either!), and the journey’s purpose is just to get more and more people joining the pilgrimage. (quoting Joshua “To Bethlehem! To Bethlehem!)
So as a conclusion, this book is not a complete letdown. It is okay, I liked the ending. If you’re the religious type, you might like it better, but for me 3 stars are more than it deserves!
PS: I forgot to mention something. I think the illustration in the book for each chapter/ day is totally creative! I mean, books are not just about letters, a lot of letters. Illustrations like this do make the book interesting to read.
dudamiranda's review against another edition
4.0
Like the other titles from this author, the book has stories that meet each other throughout the book. It is very engaging and presents an interesting point of view.
It is the first book I've read from this author with a religious approach, but at the same time he proposes reflection on the ways stories can be told and viewed.
I found this one to be lighter than the other titles I've read, and I would recommend it as a Christmas activity to do with children.
It is the first book I've read from this author with a religious approach, but at the same time he proposes reflection on the ways stories can be told and viewed.
I found this one to be lighter than the other titles I've read, and I would recommend it as a Christmas activity to do with children.
kinosthesia's review against another edition
5.0
A literary advent calendar its one i try to read every December one chapter a day. Travelling in time and distance from Norway to Bethlehem it is intriguing and fascinating to watch the strands of history unravel and the story tie up neatly.