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    The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus
    The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus
    The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus
    Audiobook3 hours

    The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus

    Written by Tim Slover

    Narrated by William Dufris

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In his debut novel, Tim Slover offers the real story behind Santa Claus, separating fact from legend and revealing the truth behind many long-held secrets: Why did Santa start making toys for children? Does he really climb down the chimney? How did he and Mrs. Claus meet? And most important, how is he able to deliver gifts to children all over the world in one night? This is a book that will be enjoyed year after year, sure to charm listeners of all ages and anyone who wants to celebrate the spirit of the season.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 2, 2010
    ISBN9781400188659
    The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus

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    Reviews for The Christmas Chronicles

    4/5

    45 ratings42 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Tim Slover does a great job of giving explanations behind the legend of Santa Claus. A father out in the woods looking for the family's Christmas tree finds The Green Book, Being the True Authorized Chronicle of Klaus. He starts to read, and so the story begins.It was a light, fanciful, quick read where good triumphs over evil. A great read to put you in the holiday spirit.
    • 4/5
      Looking for a book that would help me get into the spirit of Christmas, I picked up The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover. Professing to be the true story behind the legend of Santa Claus, this small book within a book quickly draws one in and definitely has plenty of holiday magic. Managing to be sweet and charming without becoming overly-sentimental, the life and times of Santa Claus are revealed, nicely wrapped up in a beautiful small book and giving the reader hints of peppermint and maple sugar cookies.This would be a perfect read-aloud story for the family. Children that are ready for the next tale beyond The Night Before Christmas would certainly enjoy this charming story. The author dishes out magic, flying reindeer and an epic battle between good and evil. Perhaps my only quibble is that although the author has Santa evolving through the years, he keeps the whole story firmly planted in Christian values, and never gives recognition to any pagan traditions that have been incorporated into the Santa Claus myth. If you need a slight kick-start to get into the magic of the season this whimsical short book would be a perfect way to do it, just add a glowing fire and a cup of steaming hot chocolate.
    • 3/5
      I recieved this as an early reviewer book. I decided to read it with my daughter (10).It seemed like it took us a long time to read as neither of us could stay interested in it.It's more like an outline than an actual novel.Everytime we start to care about something happening to the characters we are whooshed away to something else.I feel like a Grinch for not liking this more but I feel like the characters could have been developed more and the story told more in depth.
    • 3/5
      It's a fairy tale that expands the story of how Santa Claus came to be. The struggle is between good and evil. We need believers, people! Which side are you on?
    • 3/5
      New holiday classic? I think not. Yet another version of the legend of Santa Claus. This one is okay but I really long for a truly original old-fashioned Christmas story.
    • 4/5
      Good Christmas story.
    • 4/5
      The Christmas Chronicles is the biography of Santa Claus. I know. It can't really be a biography if the person isn't real. But that is the easiest way to describe it--it is the biography of the man, the myth and the legend that was once so vividly real to most of us at a young age.Slover creates the timeline of our dear Kris Kringle with the details of Santa we all knew as a child (the reindeer, coming down the chimney, etc.) and the tidbits of "legend" we heard about a real man that could have existed as a Santa Claus of sorts in his time and infuses into the story the things we've never heard about Santa. Clover convincingly fills in the holes for us. He takes us through his childhood and how he became a toymaker, his courtship with the future Mrs. Claus, how he got to the North Pole and where he is now. There is even an epic battle at the end! Did you know Santa had an enemy? We learn all the specifics--how those reindeer fly, how the big guy gets down the chimney and *gasp* what if there is NO chimney. The detail is incredible and the book is so short!Slover creates this refreshing take on Santa Claus but does not lose the familiarity of the Santa that we all knew and love. He makes me truly want to believe in Santa again. On a deeper level, I liked the dialogue around rekindling belief and Christmas spirit. I know it sounds hokey. I'm not saying I'm going to go believing in Santa again or anything..because the underneath of my tree would be hella empty if I did that..but what I'm saying is that sometimes we need something to believe in to make us forget about the weariness of the world--the bills, finding a job, tough decisions, etc. We need hope and I think this book does what the legendary Santa was supposed to do for us -- "heal the world of its hopelessness. Curing it of its grayness. Year by year helping the world remember that it has a heart." We might not find it in a man named Santa who scarfs down cookies and creeps in our houses but we can find it in something.My final thought: Read this if you are looking to be taken back to your childhood belief of Santa but more grown up and a complete story. Read this if you want to "know" Santa. It's quick and the perfect length. It's not mind blowing or anything but it's a really good story of the "man" who is a part of some of our most cherished childhood memories.
    • 3/5
      This is the perfect audio book for all you crafters who, in the heat of summer, are busy making Christmas gifts and decorations. This well-executed dramatic reading by William Dufris will certainly entertain you and put you in a Christmassy mood while you are busy toiling on your crafts. Crank up the AC and drink some hot chocolate to complete the faux feeling of the season. It is an interesting tale but hardly a new Christmas classic. Save the true classics for December, when you really want to immerse yourself in the Spirit of Christmas.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderfully new Christmas story that is destined to become a Christmas classic. In 1343, orphaned Klaus is adopted by the Craftsmen Guild to become a master woodcarver with a true gift for making toys for children. He meets Anna, the woman who will become his wife. But it's not all snowflakes and candy canes: envious Rolf Eckhof shadows Klaus ready to subvert him at every turn. In the end, it's a battle between good and evil fought under snowy skies which unleashes Santa's true magic to the world.This is truly a sweet Christmas story which I loved for its portrayal of Santa Claus. I give it an A+! It's very like A Christmas Carol in its portrayal of the Christmas spirit. A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite holiday stories
    • 3/5
      I love a good Christmas Story and have spent many an hour reading them (sometimes many times each!), but The Christmas Chronicles sputtered along in fits and starts; sometimes carrying you away in the story, other times floundering and seemingly searching for a place to go. I will probably not re-read it nor recommend it as a good read. to my friends.
    • 3/5
      “The man whom legend calls Santa Claus was born simply Klaus. He was the first and only child of a skilled carpenter and his good wife, both of whom, I am sorry to say, died when the Black Death came to their village at the foot of Mount Feldberg in the Black Forest in 1343. Little Klaus, barely out of babyhood then, had no other family, and so he was adopted by the Worshipful Guild of Foresters, Carpenters, and Woodworkers.” – From The Christmas ChroniclesHave you ever wondered how peppermint became associated with Christmas, Klaus entered the toy business, or where he met Mrs. Klaus (called Anna in this book)…or how red and green became the “official” colors of the holiday? And what are elves, really? Do your children ask how “Santa” enters houses without chimneys or delivers packages all over the world in just one night? Why, it’s all found in The Green Book!Offering a new holiday mythos in his book The Christmas Chronicles, author Tim Slover weaves a tale that begins with the narrator driving through snowy mountains, scouting for pine boughs to decorate the family home. Suddenly, a straight sheet of icy road materializes out of thin air, connecting the ground before him to a place high in the sky. A speeding sleigh drawn by a talking scarlet reindeer careens onto the glassy road, and out bounces The Green Book—a magical tome recounting the “true” history of Santa Claus. I enjoyed the explanation of Klaus’ early years, and how he sought to alleviate the post-plague suffering of his fellow villagers with kindness, compassion, good humor and handcrafted gifts. Introducing a jealous fellow Guildsman named Rolf Eckhof was a clever way to provide a tangible enemy for Klaus, as well as an explanation for holiday despair. I also appreciated the subtle reference to the Holy Family, but especially the inclusion of other spiritual traditions and practices (for example, Paganism, Astrology and Buddhism).The first part of The Christmas Chronicles stitched together charming details of village life, toy construction and a grand entrance from a woman destined to become Mrs. Klaus (who knew Dasher was her faithful companion first?) However, what should have been the most delightful part of the tale—how Klaus became a “saint”, the creation of Truth North and Castle Noel, the yearly deliveries—flagged a bit for me (despite some inventive explanations for common holiday questions like Christmas List Protocols).What particularly disturbed me and shattered the “magic” (that, although losing its luster halfway through, was still there) was Anna’s obsession with stitching battle scenes on holiday accoutrements (such as the elves’ stockings)—including the Crusades. Worse, is the following passage from the book:“About the subject of dangerous playthings, Anna grew quite excited. She instantly began planning a range of toys that would recreate in full working detail, but in children’s sizes, the armor and weapons of the Roman Ninth Legion. ‘Think what fun my children would have with their own real swords and shields!’ Anna exulted, her eyes glowing. ‘And we could make a line of working catapults…!” And then Klaus wondered aloud if parents would object to toys that might lead to loss of blood, and Anna declared indignantly that was all part of a happy childhood.”Huh? These aren’t plastic weapons, mind you, but actual miniaturized weapons of war! Geez. It’s great that the author wants to (apparently) make Mrs. Klaus feisty and adventurous—but a lover of violence? Yuk.Other than this glaring, unfortunate juxtaposition against holiday cheer, wintry sparkles, maple sugar cookies, generosity and forgiveness (yes, Mrs. Klaus is merciful, even to the point of forgiving her would-be killer), The Christmas Chronicles presents a fanciful re-imagining of the origins and practices of Santa Claus—and may even make a good movie in the right filmmaking hands. However, I think the book could have been better by expanding descriptions of what *must* be the stunning surroundings of Truth North, as well as a tweaking of Anna’s character…as well as a more realized narrator and family. -- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot
    • 5/5
      I so enjoyed this book. It is a complete and fascinating celebration of all that goes into the spirit of Christmas. Slover offers several new twists to the history of Santa Klaus, blending several truths, stories and myths together (including the Nativity) to create a lovely piece of entertainment that could, and should, be loved by all.
    • 3/5
      A sweet little Christmas book about the true origins of Santa Claus, or as he should be known, Saint Klaus. Apparently Klaus started as a carpenter who just wanted to make toys for the children in his village. Then he met a beautiful seamstress named Anna who had a reindeer named Dasher. They fell in love and started a Christmas Eve tradition of bringing toys to children as far as they could reach. Throw in an evil villain and things get a little silly, but it was still a pretty fun read. Recommended, but not must read.
    • 3/5
      This book could be classified as mystical and fantasy. Slover is very imaginative in this biography of Santa Claus and other Christmas beliefs and rituals assoicated with him. This is almost a serious book and not a book for young children. At times, I found the book a little dry and slow, but I was always wondering what this creative writer would come up with next to explain the story of Santa.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful book to add to your annual reading for this season.Weaves the legends of Santa that you grew up with into an amazingly believable tale. I still believe in Santa!!!
    • 5/5
      A perfect Christmas story about Santa Claus (Klaus) and how all of the magic started. I loved this book and, you know, it's very close to how I have imagined it all my life! Wonderfully written. I know I will go back to this book with my grandchildren every holiday season. I do believe :)
    • 3/5
      One day, a man drives up into the Colorado Rockies to collect boughs for Christmas decorations. His car gets stuck, and as he's trudging along he smells the scent of peppermint and sees a man in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer, Ranulf. A grey fog chases them, but can't quite catch them as they manage to get onto a road that appears out of nowhere, leaving behind a green book. Though engulfed by the fog and momentarily despairing, the man manages to grab the book and take it home. Perusing it that night, he finds the true story of Klaus, a carpenter in a small village, who carves toys and gifts them to children in his village after it is decimated by the Black Plague.This holiday story reads quickly, taking me a mere three sittings to finish it. It's a cute story, playing on the conventions of Santa Claus and giving a different spin or explanation for many of the legends surrounding the Jolly Old Elf, sometimes to humorous effect. Even so, I found it overly sentimental, like it was trying too hard to be inspirational (and this is coming from someone who reads A Christmas Carol every year). Cute and sweet, but not very challenging, The Legend of Santa Claus is a story I enjoyed alright while I read it but it won't stay in my mind long.
    • 4/5
      THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES (THE LEGEND OF SANTA CLAUS) by Tim Slover is an inspirational Christmas contemporary fiction. It is told as a narrative, is well written with depth and details.This is this author’s debut novel. It has legend, myth,destiny,envy,magic, committment, faith, adventature,good vs evil, a love story and is destined to be a holiday favorite. It is inspiring and heartwarming.It starts with the finding of THE GREEN BOOK, which is apparently the biography or a history of Santa Claus.Then we see the story entailed in THE GREEN BOOK. What an adventure is book will tell. This is an enduring story set in 1343. It tell the story of Klaus(Santa),his lovely wife, Anna, Dasher, the reindeer and how it all came together to become the story of Santa Claus. If you enjoy magic, love, and the Christmas spirit you will enjoy this one.
    • 5/5
      I received an Early Reviewer copy of this book. I started reading it, and I guess life happened and I forgot about it. I recently found it again, and started reading it to do my review. Reading a Christmas story in June, this time I couldn't put it down. The mix of history and fiction makes for a magical Christmas story. This autobiography of Santa Claus will be a family favorite for years to come I'm sure. I am already planning a family tradition of reading it aloud to the grandkids. The scent of peppermint which is explained in the book to be the magic of Christmas will always bring this story to mind.
    • 4/5
      This was a cute story about how the legend of Santa Claus developed over time. The end gets a little preachy about the meaning of Christmas and how greed and commerce have taken over the season but it was a fun story overall. A short book, it can easily be read in a day or two.
    • 5/5
      I thought it was a great book. Very original and such a cute story. I plan to read it to my kids at christmas time.
    • 5/5
      This was one of the best Christmas stories I have read to date, and is a sure-fire classic! From Klaus' humble beginnings as an orphan to his remarkable gift of immortality, this book explains it all in a believable and spirited story that is just as good read curled up with a cup of a hot cocoa as it is read aloud to the whole family. The Christmas Chronicles is a read I plan on adding to my yearly Christmas traditions!
    • 4/5
      I normally avoid Christmas-themed books, because they can be cheesy, sentimental drivel. this book, however, was none of those things. Well, maybe a little, but in a good way. It's hard to put a believeable villain against Santa, but I think Slover did that well. I found it imaginative and heartwarming. I wish it had been alittle longer, though
    • 4/5
      A heartwarming holiday tale about the origins of Santa, "the Mrs", the elves and the reindeer. I enjoyed this short book and I'm sure many others will as well. I don't know that it rates up there with some of the most cherished Christmas stories but I think it will find a following in the coming years. Slover incorporates the age-old idea of the forces of good battling the forces of evil. There is also the sweet love story of how Santa met and married Mrs. Klaus. Original, humorous and sure to get you into the Christmas spirit!
    • 4/5
      Delightful retelling of the Santa Claus story, imaginative and refreshing. Surely this is the way it happened, of course.Well, isn't it?
    • 3/5
      An enchanting tale and biography of one of the most famous legends in the world, but here we learn how Santa does get all those presents to all the children of the world on Christmas Eve. We learn the term for this and for how he gets into any house regardless of whether there is a chimney or not. And we are told how it came to be that a mortal born man becomes immortal and how he flies with a sleigh pulled by reindeer. We also come to know how the world has become so cynical and has somehow lost the true meaning of the Christmas season.Enjoy and Merry Christmas and may you keep this holiday no matter what tie of yer it is.
    • 5/5
      This is a magical story of Santa Claus. One where you can decide for yourself if you believe. I still do! It is wonderfully written Christmas tale of how Santa came to be. How he met his wife and the man who tries to stop him. As quoted on the book "An inspiring story of commitment and faithe, and a moving love story, The Christmas Chronicles is a beguiling tale destined to become a holiday favorite for the ages."
    • 4/5
      I sometimes think Christmas stories are kind of lame. But I won this free from LibraryThing and it did look kind of interesting. If I understand it correctly, this story was an 8 part radio show at some point on KBYU...so I think the author is LDS.I actually really enjoyed this fictional account of how Santa Claus came to be. I wasn't that fond of the opening and closing chapters, but the main section of the "green book" was really quite entertaining and I could picture reading it to my kids when they are a bit older.
    • 4/5
      Further character development would have been nice -- the characters seemed a bit two-dimensional -- but I still enjoyed it. The writing was somewhat awkward at times -- particularly a dialogue between Santa Claus and a group of saints, with forced jokes that just missed being funny (it almost seemed like the author was trying to take up space with the conversation). It probably won't ever attain the status of a classic; overall, however, it was a fun Christmas read and a creative children's book.
    • 4/5
      The book starts out with a narrator full of the Christmas spirit whose family is not too keen to join him in going into the woods to pick pine boughs, so he sets off on his own. After going further up the wooded road than he has ever been able to go (as it's not full of snow as it usually is), his car ends up rather stuck. With no cell phone reception, he decides to get the boughs, then walk down the road until he is able to telephone for help.As he is going through the woods, he hears bells and sees a road open before him that he had never seen before. Suddenly, a crimson-red reindeer appears driving an old-fashioned sleigh. The rider and sleigh appear to be in a hurry, and as they make a sudden turn onto the road, a book falls to the ground and the road suddenly disappears. While the narrator is pondering, a physical gray cloud full of despair suddenly overwhelms him and seems to howl in frustration at the area where the road USED to be. Once the cloud leaves, and the narrator is able to shake off the bleakness engendered in him by it's arrival, he picks up the book and walks back to his car, which is now no longer stuck, facing the correct way on the road, and has a trunkload of fresh pine boughs packaged and bundled in the trunk.That is the prelude, which is rather good. The green book is the history of Santa Claus, as written by the official Court Historian of Castle Noel.In this magical book, you will learn so much about Santa Claus that you will wonder why no one ever told you his real story. Klaus, orphaned by the Black Death of 1343, was adopted by the Worshipful Guild of Foresters, Carpenters, and Woodworkers, where he became a Master at a tender young age, earning the jealousy and ire of Rolf Eckhof, whose own talents are minimal at best (he will NEVER be a Master). His own hand-carved toys, blessed by the local priest, begin the Santa tradition. You will found out how the false notion of naughty behavior being a cause to receive no presents began, and why toys are delivered through chimneys (as well as the real method of delivery, which is also magical). I found out that elves is a shortened name for Elevated Spirits, and that the Green Council (who appointed Klaus to Castle Noel), although made of saints, squabble with each other over minor details.Anna, Klaus's wife, adds such a lovely breath of romance to the story. She is a surprisingly marvelous, well-drawn addition, with her own strong character and her ingenuous plans for nabbing her man. Rolf and his vengeful plots add exactly the right amount of intrigue and suspense, and each time he causes trouble, you just want to slap him in the head (not that I'm an advocate of violence, but he deserves it .. read it and you will see).This is a book that is going on my keeper shelf. Right now, I am re-reading it with Bebe Boy James (a bit each evening until Christmas), and he is enjoying it too. QUOTES (may differ slightly from the finished version, as these are from an ARC):Look. I'm going to be revealing so many wonders over the course of this account that you might just as well get used to contemplating them. I've had to. So I shall stop hesitating and trying to prepare you for the incredible. I'll just assume you're keeping up.A great longing suddenly grew up in him to rest, to sell his tools and move with Anna into the retirement house next door and spend his days holding her hand in the sun.Only a very special person, one who is almost an Elevated Spirit already, may see Klaus or his reindeer on Christmas Eve - and then only as the barest flicker that teases their imaginings. Charles Dickens was such a person, as were Clement Moore and Mr. May - but once again I'm getting ahead of this chronicle.BOOK RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars