For the Love of St. Nick [Paperback]

For Garasamo Maccagnone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2008

Two boys who have lost their mother tragically, worry they'll never see their father,a Naval Commander, after he embarks on a secret mission with the United States military. After the boys are advised by their nanny to seek the help of St. Nick, the boys are shocked by an early Christmas visit.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Garasamo Maccagnone is the authorof the novel, "St. John of the Midfield, as well as the childrens book, "The Suburban Dragon,"and a collection of short stories entitled, "The Affliciton of Dreams." Born in the wake of the Korean War, Maccagnone's stories derive from his life and his experiences from the last half of the 20th century. Today Maccagnone lives in Shelby Township with his wife and three children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 46 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439210128
• ISBN-13: 978-1439210123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,369,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Treasure Book of Nostalgia, November 2, 2008

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For the Love of St. Nick (Paperback)

Garasamo Maccagnone - even the name is musical! - has created a tender, simple novella that should become one of those books we bring out every holiday season. But then the quality of the story should not be saved only for the spirit of Christmas it conveys: this is a story that rings of familial love and commitment and deserves to be read as a reminder of what is important - our sense of belonging to family, both birth and extended forms.

The story of FOR THE LOVE OF ST. NICK is narrated by Tiger, the older of two sons in a single father family: the mother died during childbirth of the younger son Johnny leaving the US Navy Commander father to raise his two boys with the help of the maternal grandmother. Life is complicated by the fact that Johnny is delicate - not of mind but of body - and much of Johnny's life is spent recovering from his physical maladies. Tiger and Johnny are devoted brothers and all goes well in their California home until the Commander is reassigned to Michigan. Adjusting to the change in climate and the other changes in environment affect the boys but they are resilient and soon find the varying seasons of Northern Michigan reasons for exploring new ventures. The Commander receives orders to participate in a secret mission shortly before Christmas and the boys are left in the care of their housekeeper. Johnny undergoes a near tragedy forcing Tiger to abruptly become a man, turning to prayers to his favorite saint, St. Nicholas, who makes a 'visit' and alters the consequences in a way that leaves the little family (and the reader) caught up in the giving spirit of the Christmas season.

The pleasures of Maccagnone's writing are many, but not the least of them is the quiet simplicity of the language he uses to relate his story. This may be told as a memory (in retrospect) by the adult Tiger, but the essence of the tale is centered in a child's vision - full of wonder, devotion, and love. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 08

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars St. Nick Saves the Day, December 12, 2008

By 

Bryan Carey "Bryan Carey" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For the Love of St. Nick (Paperback)

For the Love of St. Nick is a tender, heartwarming children's book about a family of men: A father, his two young sons and the struggles they experience following the death of the boy's mother and then the near death of the younger brother. Told from the perspective of the older brother, Tiger, this book focuses on family togetherness and the spiritual aspects of the Christmas season- aspects that are often forgotten during this time of giving and receiving.

This story is unique in some ways and what I found most striking at first is that it seems like a non- fiction personal memoir when you first start reading. It seems like a true story told from the perspective of a concerned older sibling who is now a grown adult and is reliving a past experience with fondness. The story isn't far- fetched (until you get to the end) and this keeps the book on a realistic level as you read.

Family togetherness and loyalty are among the important themes in this book. The boys have already lost their mother and now their father is about to leave right before Christmas on a military mission. What if he never returns and the boys lose another parent? This thought crosses the mind of the oldest son more than once, but he is able to keep faith that his father will return safely. He doesn't want to miss out on a Christmas without his family, but his attention quickly changes direction when his little brother begins to experience seizures in the midst of a blizzard and he must rely on his own instincts to save the day.

For the Love of St. Nick includes plenty of references to religion and potential readers need to keep this in mind if they decide to read. The story reaches its climax during the Christmas season, even though much of the actual story takes place during other times of the year. Still, this book is serious about the religious component not only of Christmas, but also of life in general. Thus, its message may be one that not all can relate to.

This book offers a pleasant little story about family tragedy, faith, togetherness, and miracles. The story isn't completely predictable, and therefore it does stay interesting. The writing isn't perfect and even though it does contain a few typos, it is still a nice, warm story about a family, its struggles to overcome tragedy, and the role of spirituality in overcoming serious problems.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the love of hope and miracles, November 3, 2008

By 

A. Pohren (IA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For the Love of St. Nick (Paperback)

For the Love of St. Nick may be short, but it is huge on impact. The power of love and wonder of miracles are front and center in this delightful and heartwarming tale.

After their Mother's death, during the birth of Johnny, he and his older brother "Tiger" live a simple life with their father and nanny. They must endure many battles with Johnny's frequent illnesses. Then, one fateful evening, while their father is away on a top secret mission for the United States military, and their nanny has gone home to get a few things, to hold her over until the end of a terrible snow storm, a miracle is needed to help Johnny survive. That miracle comes in a most wonderful and unforgettable way.

I have to say that I was feeling a bit on the glum and "burnt out" side of life, when I picked up For the Love of St. Nick. Once I started reading, I read through until the last page and felt such a wonderful and refreshed feeling. Not only do I think that this is a perfect story for the holidays, but one to help revive anyone's day, throughout the entire year. With a much needed lesson of hope, love and miracles, this little book is a must for everyone's library. What a marvelous gift - not only to a friend or loved one, but to oneself. I greatly look forward to reading Mr. Maccagnone's other works!