Customer Reviews

SANTA & PETE: A Novel of Christmas Present and Past

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I ordered this book when placing an order for Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. I ordered Santa and Pete thinking it was written by the same Christopher Moore who wrote Practical Demon Keeping, Blood Sucking Fiends, Coyote Blue, etc. I've never been so disappointed just opening a box - in fact, Santa and Pete is still in the box. Santa and Pete is written by a different Christopher Moore. I feel very mislead by ..... as this book was suggested along with all of the above mentioned books by Christopher Moore (I do own all of the previous books by Christopher and truly believed I was getting a Christmas story he was involved in writing). Bad marketing ..... - misleading and dishonest - really helped shake the confidence I had in you. You might like to research your authors more before pulling a stunt like this - doesn't do much for your good-will.
......

What a treasure! Finally, there is a book that tells the "true" story of Saint Nicholas. I had long known that St. Nick was a real person, born in Turkey and who lived at the time of the 4th century Nicene Council, which decreed the Divinity of Christ through the Holy Trinity. St. Nick also lived at the time the Christian church first established December 25th as the annual celebration of the Festival of the Nativity. Reportedly seen even after his death, St. Nick became the universal symbol of the Advent of the Christmas season. That he was joined a few hundred years later by Pete the Moor to spread the message of Christ's birth and coming resurrection, is a wonderful story that circulated throughout Holland, Belgium and many other European countries. Though even in Europe the meaningful story of the St. Nick, Pete, and the Nativity have been commercialized beyond recognition. It is truly marvelous that in 1999 we have rediscovered this dynamic duo. Congratulations to Moore and Johnson! The television movie, based on the book, which aired December 5th on CBS was also delightful, but I look forward to reading the book every Christmas season. Telling the Christmas story with a brilliant and historic American spin that includes Dutch, Africans and Native Americans makes this book a Christmas treasure for all Americans. How proud can all of our children be to know we are all part of a great celebration.

Santa and Pete is a wonderful story that reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas. Bags of coal to the reviewer who felt St. Nick was diminished. And two bags of coal to the reviewer who would keep such a great story from black children. I will repeat what others have said, this book is a Christmas gift in the best sense of the word. It is almost unforgiveable what our culture has done to the incredible story of the real St. Nicholas. Sinterklaas and Piet the Moor is the story we should be telling all of our children each and every year. I would recommend this delightful book to everyone. And my deepest thanks to the dear friends who gave their 30 year old friend this precious little book for Christmas.

This book has touched me. Not since "Tuesdays with Morrie" have I been so moved. "Santa & Pete" is the perfect book for anyone raising children and also anyone wanting to get the Christmas spirit back. It teaches and inspires us to transcend race, cultural issues, religion, age and any other prejudice we may knowingly or unknowingly harbor. It teaches us to value our family and friends. It teaches giving and charity. And it does it all in the very very entertaining story format involving a grandfather and grandson. This book could be the start of a better world! It should be required reading. Thank you Christopher Moore and Pamela Johnson!

Santa & Pete is actually three stories in one; the authors move between the present day, the fifties, and the early days of New York. I was especially moved by the present day story detail of the family using "grancestor" ornaments for their Christmas tree. So much so, in fact, that I have adopted this as a new Christmas tradition for my own family next year. It will be a wonderful way for my child to learn about and remember his ancestors, as the family in Santa & Pete do every year. I found the fifties story of the grandfather and grandson touching, and the story of the original Santa & Pete a hopeful one. I would highly recommend this book

I read this book for what it was...a wonderful book of fiction, about mythical characters. But on another level, Santa and Pete is a story about family, giving, closeness....values anyone, black white or whatever, must treasure. I sincerely wish those who would blast the book for being "historically inaccruate" would recognize it for what it is -- a "novel of Christmas Past and Present" loosely based on historical events -- and get over their own insecurities/prejudices/attitudes.

This is a great book with a lot of historical fiction (about New York City) and some mythological fiction about Santa and his traveling companion, Pete. There is some historical reference to Pete and of course, the man who is believed to be inspiration for the real Santa. I would recommend this book for children of all ages. It's sweet, it's charming, and it has a lot of character. Highly recommended.

Rated PG for theme (but really, it's G because it's great for all ages).

A VERY, VERY NICE CHRISTMAS TALE---CONCERNING A BUS-DRIVING GRANDFATHER
AND HIS GRANDSON IN NEW YORK ((NEW AMSTERDAM)). A BIT DRAGGY AT TIMES--BUT--
A NICE LITTLE ((VERY QUICK)) FAMILY READ.

This is an excellent book to share with children. Even people, like me, who want the holiday season to pass as quickly as possible, will enjoy the story. It imbues Santa's giving of gifts with spiritual and philosophical meaning that, one hopes, will encourage children to see the holiday as more than a once-a-year opportunity to indulge in unabashed greed. It will also help children to understand the magic and the miracles in our families, in giving and sharing, in survival under adversity, and in love. The story expresses and illustrates concepts that can begin many wonderful and important conversations that will be of more lasting value to many children than the latest Barbie doll or Playstation video game. The writing is the wonderful and rare kind that stimulates the imagination through all five senses. The only reason that I have given it less than five stars is because I wanted it to be longer and more detailed.

Moore and Johnson have crafted a new holiday tradition in this little book. An extremely engaging tale, Santa & Pete enables the reader to see and feel the story. Christmas in New York is a magical time. This story, though, waves a wand over the island of Manhattan and sprinkles it with snowflakes of fairy dust. Santa & Pete should be required reading for historians, theologians, and, perhaps most of all, parents who read to their children.