From the Bookshelf of J.R.R. Tolkien…

Letters from Father Christmas

J.R.R. Tolkien,

Baillie Tolkien (Editor)

Start date: December 11, 2017

Finish date: December 31, 2017

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: Enjoy the Christmas season with this delightful book written and illustrated by our beloved Professor for…more
[close] Enjoy the Christmas season with this delightful book written and illustrated by our beloved Professor for his children.

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Group Reads

* Group Read September 2021-January 2022 (No Spoilers)
By Michael · 21 posts · 118 views

last updated Jan 31, 2022 11:38AM

Group Read January-March 2015: The Silmarillion
By deleted member · 5 posts · 127 views

last updated Apr 18, 2023 01:00PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 22, 2012 Michael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, illustrated, cold-snow-ice, tolkien-2012-reading-challenge, fantasy, humour

Reading this as an adult, what comes across most strongly is Tolkien's love and affection for his children (which is, of course, what one would expect of all parents for their children, but which sadly is not always so) and his delight in writing and drawing these little Christmas stories each year.

Due to the very young age of his eldest son when the first letter was written in 1920, these early missives are very short, but in 1925 we get a longer message which introduces us to the North Polar B ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Fran rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books, own-tolkien

Dear HarperCollins,

I don't know why on page 160 you've written 'can't decipher' in red, when the picture of the letter clearly reads 'Not mine Ilb' which is quite obviously 'Ilb' for 'Ilbereth' and the other clear visual clue is that it's written in his hand. It's very simple, and therefore totally bewildering why whomever produced this book was, for some reason, unable to decipher it. Or why all the other people who, presumably, cast their eyes over it to try and read it also couldn't get it. ...more

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Dec 24, 2016 Ebster Davis rated it liked it

This book is really sweet, Dad Tolkien obviously put a lot of effort into making Christmas a magical time for his kids, but it ends on a downer because (view spoiler)

I particularly liked the illustrations, and my favorite character was The Polar Bear. ...more

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Dec 24, 2013 Lisa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, tolkien, childrens

Letters from Father Christmas is a collection of letters purported to be from Father Christmas (actually J. R. R. Tolkien) to his children throughout the years. It's a really cute idea and the letters are more imaginative than what you'd expect – but it's also clear that Tolkien never intended these to be seen and read outside of the family. As such, while Letters from Father Christmas has its moments of excitement, it lacks the polish and the thrills that Tolkien's other childrens' stories poss ...more

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Jan 30, 2022 Kristianna rated it it was amazing

A heartwarming and charming book; a lovely collection of letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien as Father Christmas and given to his children at Christmas time each year. Most of the letters were written in response to the childrens letters to Father Christmas.
Each of the letters tell a story about the going ons in the North Pole. They are humorous, adventurous and delightful.
Also, his drawings and paintings are beautiful.

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