Rating: 3 stars
Cover synopsis: Santa shares his story with readers for the first time. Nicholas was born in the Middle East, and as a child share his wealth with those in need. His generosity and gift-giving spread, with the help of a little magic.
I like the premise of this book more than the execution. Santa takes us on a journey through history, back to the beginnings of the real Saint Nicholas. The book boils down to a history of Christianity and the celebration of Christmas -- which is fascinating. And it had me hooked until about halway through the book. Then the writing got repetative, and I felt more like I was reading a history book than a story.
It got to be the same old tale -- Santa and his companions made and delivered gifts, they found many influential person in history to share their story with, and they joined us in our mission. The storytelling got duller and duller as the book dragged on. I also didn't like the characters very much -- even Santa himself. The dialogue between characters seemed to consist of snide remarks and grumbles. And Santa seems really sensitive about his weight. Really? Come on. He's supposed to be jolly!
Still, it's Christmas, and I appreciated the logical approach to Santa, the myths, the legends, and the celebration of the holiday through time. The imagination in the story was believable and magical at the same time.
