Winter 2020 (December);

Part of the round of this years' new seasonable classics.

I was so deeply delighted by this book.

I was sold the second I realized it was Tolkein writing to his ow children as Father Christmas every year as they were growing up. I was so deeply attached so quickly to the kind, compassionate, understanding voice of Father Christmas (as well as Polar Bear and our elf, both later on). I was poignant moved at each point where the letter's references which children were getting to old to write him, or to get stockings, and the one where his daughter had come into the world.

I'm so glad these were kept and that they were published. My heart was warmed all over by them. ( )

Na jornada de ler Tolkien além do Senhor dos Anéis e do Hobbit. Uma coleção de cartas do papai noel para as crianças. Não especialmente inventivas, nem na linguagem infantil nem nos acontecimentos do Senhor Natal e seu inseparável amigo o Urso Polar. A edição que tive acesso, em audiobook, substitui possíveis desenhos fofos por músicas natalinas pastichentas, o que certamente não ajuda nem um pouco. Não recomendo, mesmo aos filhos. ( )

This collection of letters that Tolkien wrote to his children as Father Christmas is endearing. I smiled throughout, caught up in the adventures of Father Christmas as he battled the goblins and the misadventures of the Northern Polar Bear. My mental perception of Father Christmas (or Santa Clause) is now forever altered in the most positive way. There is a spiritual dimension to the fact that I was reading these letters as his children did, undoubtedly so precious to them, and gaining biographical glimpses into Tolkien's life in doing so. The war begins to creep into his later letters, and, as the reader watches as the names of the children drop off of the letters as they grow, beginning with one and ending with one, the final closing signature of "your old friend, Father Christmas" is unspeakably poignant.

I do not know as much of Tolkien as I do the other Inklings, and had no idea that he was such an artist. I laughed throughout at his illustrations of Father Christmas' adventures.

I bought this as an ebook, but will certainly be purchasing a paperback copy. The illustrations alone make this worthwhile. This is a must-read for any Tolkien fan...a precious collection for the holidays.

Először is meg kell jegyeznem, hogy sehol, a fülszövegben sem árulják el a titkot, így a varázslat nem romlott el az önállóan olvasó tízéves számára sem, de ha most idejön, és beleolvas, én megnyúzom.

Az első levelek (úgy emlékszem) semmilyensége után egyre több részletet tudhattunk meg Karácsony apó világáról, egészen a titkosírásos levélig, amit egyelőre nem sikerült megfejteni, de majd visszatérünk rá. Szóval egyre jobban tetszett, kíváncsian vártam, hogy fog megjelenni a második világháború a levelekben, előtte pedig jó volt követni, hogy lesznek a gyerekek egyre többen, majd egyre nagyobbak, akik már nem írnak szegény Karácsony apónak. Szuper lehetett Tolkien-gyereknek lenni, minden évben levelet kapni. Bár a kedves gyerekek, békés, vidám karácsonyt, megpróbáljuk kiirtani a koboldokat, ne maradjon élve egy darab sem nekem kevéssé fér össze egymással. A gyerekek viszont azt mondták, tetszettek nekik a koboldháborúk.

Azt rettenetesen utálom, amikor szándékosan rossz a helyesírása egy szövegnek, szóval J.M. részeit nem olvastam túl lelkesen. Az eredetire csak néha pillantottam rá, mert nem olyan könnyű elolvasni, de a végén nagyon kíváncsi voltam, miből lett a "macskanyelv". Az utolsó levél utolsó bekezdése teljesen más, mint az eredetiben, itt nagyon szabadra sikerült a fordítás. Olyan van két szó, ami az eredetiben is feltűnik fajtára. A korábbiakról nem tudok egyelőre nyilatkozni, majd ha nagyon ráérek, megnézem talán. ( )

★★★½☆

I wish I had a father like J.R.R. Tolkien :C
Lovely book!! ( )