This week, we feature an endearing collection of letters revealing a father’s loving bond with his children and an anthology of timeless English poems for the next generation.
Fiction
‘Letters from Father Christmas’
By J.R.R. Tolkien
For those craving Christmastime nostalgia and for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, this gorgeously illustrated volume will be one to cherish. Spanning more than two decades, from 1920 to 1943, the author, best known for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” penned letters to his children each December. His creative handwriting, beautiful drawings, and inventive tales from the North Pole introduce a caring and humorous Santa with a Polar Bear friend. Readers young and old will be charmed.
William Morrow, 2020, 208 pages
Fiction
‘Bright Lights, Big Christmas’
By Mary Kay Andrews
Having recently lost her job as art director for an ad agency, Kerry Tolliver travels north from the Carolina mountains to New York City with her rough-hewn brother Murphy to sell their family farm’s Christmas trees. Camped out in her father’s vintage trailer, Kerry endures the hard, cold work, renews acquaintances from her childhood, makes new friends, and develops feelings for Patrick, her brother’s friend. A sparking tale of family dynamics, romance, and the spirit of the season.
St. Martin’s Press, 2023, 288 pages
Science
‘How to Find a Higgs Boson—And Other Big Mysteries in the World of the Very Small’
By Ivo Van Vulpen
The smaller the particle, the more difficult it is to detect, and the larger the equipment to detect it seems to be required. The most elusive elementary particle of subatomic physics is the Higgs boson. Mr. Van Vulpen was part of the team that discovered the Higgs boson, and here he tells the story of its discovery. The author places the Higgs in context: where it fits and why it is important. Charming on many levels, it presents science accessible to anyone with a basic high school education.
Yale University Press, 2020, 272 pages
Ancient History
‘Troy’
By Stephen Fry
To understand the Ancient Greeks, one must have at least a nominal grasp of their gods. This knowledge is necessary to follow the stories produced by the Greeks, and none more than about the fall of Troy. Stephen Fry, best known for his comedy routines of the 20th century, is also a prolific writer with a knack for connecting the metaphysical with the physical in a way that makes sense and simplifies a rather complex belief system. Mr. Fry brings this ancient story to life like never before.
Michael Joseph, 2020, 414 pages
Classics
‘The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Robert Frost’
By Harold Bloom
What separates this collection from others are Bloom’s essay “The Art of Reading Poetry” and his perceptive, and frequently tart, mini-biographies introducing each of the 108 poets. Bloom bluntly tells readers that considerations of the “highest aesthetic and cognitive standards” determined his selections, not “political correctness.” Served up here at one festive table are the greatest poems written in English from Geoffrey Chaucer to Hart Crane. An ideal anthology for all who treasure verse.
Harper Perennial, 2007, 972 pages
For Kids
‘The Boxcar Children’
By Gertrude Chandler Warner
When four orphaned siblings find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they embark on an adventure of survival, self-reliance, and freedom. This timeless classic teaches the importance of resourcefulness and resilience, showcases the power of imagination and family bonds, and captures the essence of childhood enchantment and the call to adventure.
Dover Publications, 2020, 160 pages
