Author: Jostein Gaarder
Publisher: Moyer Bell
Release Date: 1st January 2010 (Original 1992)
ISBN: 9781559213950
Synopsis
A boy called Joachim acquires a strange old Advent calender - and uncovers from it the story of a girl called Elisabet, who disappeared from her home fifty years earlier. Elisabet has been taken back through time and right across Europe to Palestine, to see the Holy Family in Bethlehem. Two thousand years of history flash by, and angels, shepherds and wise men join her on her joyful pilgrimage. It is Joachim who, through the Advent calendar, makes it possible for her to come home.
My Review
I was recommended this by my colleague at work, she used to read this to her children and thought I would like it. Even as an adult i admit to still buying an advent calender every year, the simple pleasure of opening those little doors every day. So what better could you get than a book Advent Calender. This book is divided into 24 chapters, one for each day. You simply read a chapter each day as your advent. Each chapter is short enough to fit in short time but gripping enough to make you want to come back for more.
Set in Norway, Joachim goes to a book store with his father and comes away with an old advent calender, behind each door he doesn't find chocolate but a neatly folded piece of paper with fragments of a story on. Day by day he pieces together the tale and discovers more about the magic of Christmas as he goes.
This book does follow the story of the birth of Christ on Christmas day. A young girl Elisabet, travels back through time meeting angels, shepherds and wise men along the way, learning the true meaning of love, hope, faith and friendship, all coming together to celebrate the real reason of Christmas. The mystery of what happens to the odd group and in particular Elisabet keeps you hooked and Joachim's eagerness to discover more also pulls you in.
This book withstands it's years and still captivates the true magic of Christmas. Well worth a read.
My Rating
No comments:
Post a Comment