Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the book 'A Boy Named Christmas' by Matt Haig. As always, I'll be honest about my impressions, the good and the bad, and show you some photos along the way.

I have to say, I'm left with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I loved the atmosphere. On the other hand, some parts felt unnecessary, and the author's jokes left me scratching my head.

But let's get into the details.

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This is the real story of Father Christmas. You might know him by other names - Father Frost, Santa Claus, Julenisse, or the weird fat guy with a white beard who talks to reindeer and gives presents. But that's not always how he was known.

Once upon a time, in Finland, there lived a boy named Nicholas. Despite being dealt a tough hand in life, Nicholas believed in the magic of the world. And when his father went missing on an expedition beyond the Arctic Circle, the boy didn't give up hope and set out to find him.

Nicholas couldn't have imagined what lay beyond the veil of the northern lights - a meeting with elves, trolls, mischievous pixies, and magic. In the vast expanse of snow, he would have to learn to believe that nothing is impossible.

Where I bought it: "Chayka" bookstore

Direct link to the book

Price: 595 rubles

I managed to get it with a 30% discount, so it was cheaper.

Number of pages: 228 pages

Publisher: AST

Format: Hardcover

Age restriction: 12+

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What's it about?No spoilers!

This is a retelling of the story of how Santa Claus became who he is today.

Nicholas always believed in the magic of the world. He lost his mother, lived in poverty, and ate mushroom soup for dinner. But on Christmas, he got a turnip doll. Despite the hardships, the boy never lost hope.

One day, his father goes on an expedition, and Nicholas is left with a cruel aunt. He has to endure bullying and hatred.

The boy runs away from home to find his missing father. Along the way, he experiences incredible adventures - finding the elves' village, meeting pixies and trolls, and making new friends.

For kids?

"The Boy Who Wouldn't Narrate Christmas" has a 12+ rating, which essentially means it's a book for kids and teens. But I wouldn't give it to them.

First off, there are some pretty harsh moments. Like, who's the cute little pixie who loves blowing up heads? Or killing for the sake of killing? It's some pretty dark fairy tale stuff. I get that kids are desensitized these days with TV and the internet, but that doesn't mean we should shove such motivations into a storybook.

Secondly, the never-ending focus on toilet humor. Like, auntie's got a number two on her nephew's face, or the pixie's peeing from laughing, or the deer's leaving presents on people's heads. Is that really what's going to get the younger generation excited? I don't have kids, so I'm clueless. My 11-year-old brother stopped laughing at toilet jokes years ago.

AtmosphereThe atmosphere here is lovely. Snowy drifts, pixies, elves, and magical deer - it's a real Christmas wonderland.

If you ignore all the contentious bits, the book's got a great festive vibe going on.

CharactersWe've got:

A) Nicholas, the kid who grew up in poverty. He loves his dad, adores Christmas, and hopes to find the elves.

B) His dad, who abandoned him. I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

C) Auntie Nicholas - the worst of the bunch. She's got no love to give, makes her nephew sleep on the streets, and starve.

D) The elves, some of whom are decent, others not so much. There's a clear irony and metaphor at play. Like, the main elf publishes only bad news in the only newspaper to scare the others, or he creates a rulebook banning joy and doing good.

IllustrationsI love these adorable illustrations.

Here are a few:

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Quotes:

Nobody is perfect - that's neither here nor there. What's important is that you're willing to learn and grow.

You don't have to be rich to be happy. What matters is that you have a rich imagination.

Kindness gives people hope. And hope is the most wonderful thing in the world.

It's the people you love who make the world feel safe and real. And when they're gone, you're left with nothing but uncertainty.

How to be happy even in tough times:

1. Eat more cookies, chocolate, jam, and pie

2. Repeat the word 'Christmas' a lot

3. Give someone a gift. It could be a toy, a book, a kind word, or just a big hug

4. Laugh, even if there's no reason to. Especially if there's no reason to!

5. Remember something good. Or imagine something good happening.

6. Wear something red.

7. Believe.

(Excerpt from 'A Guide to Happiness by Father Christmas')

If you keep climbing up a mountain, you'll eventually reach the top.

You don't always have to deliver bad news. Sometimes it comes on its own.

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Presents a festive atmosphereHas some wise thoughtsHas cute illustrations____________________

Too many harsh momentsToilet humor____________________

Conclusion:

I'll sum it up: the toilet humor and excessive harshness ruin the book for me. Without them, I'd give it 5 stars. The story is predictable, but interesting. The atmosphere gives a festive vibe. And the ending is sweet and warm. The book is easy to read and finishes quickly.

I'm torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars. I'd have loved to give it 3.5, but unfortunately, there's no option for that. So, I'll settle on 4, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it. It's a weird rating, but I guess that's what I'm left with.

I hope my review was helpful. Until next time!

My book reviews (more in my profile):

"The Atlas Six", Olivia Blake - the biggest disappointment of the year. I bought it after reading rave reviews from foreign book bloggers. I was expecting a Dark Academia vibe, but what I got was a weak plot and flat characters. The publisher's work is appalling - a terrible translation, full of typos.

"The Kingdom of Sin", Kerry Maniscalco - a story about sunny Italy, witches, and demons."The Hunger", David Mitchell - a unique horror story."The Little Friend", Donna Tartt - a novel that feels like a stifling summer day when nothing's happening.

"Rose and the Seven Brothers", Louisa May Alcott - a warm and cozy read."Later", Stephen King - a novel that captures the atmosphere of New York, with ghosts and secrets."The House of Salt and Sorrow", Erin Craig - a dark, atmospheric gothic tale.