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Letters From Father Christmas
Letters From Father Christmas | J.R.R. Tolkien
187 posts | 133 read | 1 reading | 87 to read
Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkiens children. Inside would be a letter in a strange, spidery handwriting and a beautiful colored drawing or painting. The letters were from Father Christmas.They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone North Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmass house into the dining room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house, and many more.No reader, young or old, can fail to be charmed by Tolkiens inventiveness in this classic holiday treat.
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BethM
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Come join us! We bought an illustrated copy with the real letters etc and Wes loved doing this last year! #tolkienchristmas #fellowshipoftolkien @Daisey @JazzFeathers

Daisey Thanks for sharing! So looking forward to reading this with you again. 2d
33 likes1 comment
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @Daisey

Both @JazzFeathers and I have been busy and not great readalong hosts so we‘re not starting any Tolkien new reads until next year. However, it‘s become a tradition for us to reread this book each December, and we‘d love to have you join us.

This is the same schedule as last year. Please comment on the original post if you‘d like to be added to the tag list for this book.

Daisey Thanks for sharing! 3d
38 likes1 comment
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Daisey
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Both @JazzFeathers and I have been busy and not great readalong hosts, so we‘re not starting any new Tolkien reads until next year. However, it‘s become a tradition for us to reread this book each December, and we‘d love to have you join us.

This is the same schedule as last year. I‘m tagging my entire Tolkien list today, but please comment if you would like to be on my tag list for this specific book.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas

TheAromaofBooks Oh yes, I really enjoyed this last year and would love to reread!! 5d
See All 11 Comments
wordslinger42 Oh yes, I would love to read this with you all ❤️ 5d
BarbaraJean Ohhhh, yes, please!! I loved this last year. 5d
Daisey @TheAromaofBooks @wordslinger42 @BarbaraJean Wonderful! I‘ve started the tag list and look forward to rereading with you! 4d
peanutnine This is on my TBR and I would love to read it with a group! ☺️ 4d
Deifio I'd like to join in! 3d
tpixie @Daisey I‘d like to try! 3d
BethM Totally in! Wes loved this last year! 3d
Daisey @peanutnine @Deifio @tpixie @BethM Great! I‘ve added you to my list! 2d
38 likes11 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

My grad school essay has been absolutely eating me alive this week and I‘ve just finished three full days at the library in a row 🥺 but I did fit one more Christmas book in for #wintergames and this was maybe my favourite I‘ve ever read! I love Tolkien so much and this was gorgeous! #snowangels

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JazzFeathers
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Pickpick

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas

I'm always so sad to finish the Letters from Father Christmas because it's a melancholy ending. During the war, with Tolkien finally giving up on a tradition he kept for over 20 years.

But this is a wonderful book, full of joy (for the most part) and the obvious love of a dad for his children.
It always warms my heart.

Daisey So true! 11mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 11mo
33 likes2 comments
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BethM
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Pickpick

So great. The illustrations are beautiful. I imagine this will become a tradition with Wes. Not going to lie the first paragraph of the last letter had me teary and trying not to cry while I read aloud. #fellowshipoftolkien #wintergames

BethM @Daisey @JazzFeathers I‘m guessing after the new year is the next reading adventure? Is it Silmarillion? 11mo
Daisey So glad Wes enjoyed it with you! We actually have The adventures of Tom Bombadil & some other shorter works on the list to start in January! I hope to make a post between events later today. 11mo
31 likes2 comments
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Roary47
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Mehso-so

3✨This is a really sweet quick read of letters Tolkien wrote to his children from Father Christmas and the North Polar Bear. It is a little sad because as you read the children stop writing to Santa so you know they are getting older. There are sweet adventures that they have each year which make it more than just responding to the letters Father Christmas would have received. Just a really sweet read. #WinterGames #GingerbreadGems

Roary47 Word Search- 1,846 11mo
18 likes1 comment
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dabbe
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Pickpick

How did I miss this book as a holiday read? Heartfelt and heart-wrenching, Tolkien writes letters to his children as Father Christmas. His stories and illustrations are glorious and gloriously fun. The antics of Polar Bear are ingeniously drawn and told. If a lover of the TOY STORY movies, you will experience the wonderment and inevitable sadness as the children grow up. This will now be an annual read. Thanks, @Daisy & @JazzFeathers. 💔❤️❤️‍🩹

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yes! Such a great one! I too couldn‘t believe it had flown under my radar for so long. 😅❤️ 11mo
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BarbaraJean
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Pickpick

What a wonderful daily read at Christmas! Thank you @Daisey and @JazzFeathers for picking this for #TolkienChristmas for the #FellowshipofTolkien. It was a delight to check in each day for the further adventures of Father Christmas and North Polar Bear, in their letters to the Tolkien children. The drawings, and the cheeky side comments from NPB were so much fun. ❤️💚🎅🏼🎄🐻‍❄️💚❤️

Daisey I‘m glad you enjoyed it with us! Definitely one of my favorite Christmas reads! 🎄 11mo
JazzFeathers So happy you enjoyed it! This is really such a perfect book for Christmas and fondo many reasons 😊 11mo
38 likes2 comments
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Cortg
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Pickpick

Such a delightful read to get in the spirit of Christmas! Tolkien wrote letters to his children from Father Christmas & friends for 20 years. You‘ll find some laugh out loud shenanigans happening in the North Pole with polar bears, snowboys, elves, and goblins as well as stunning illustrations! Tolkien‘s daughter-in-law/secretary edited this beautiful book to share with the world. #TolkienChristmas @Daisey Thank you. ❤️

JazzFeathers Beautiful review 😍 11mo
Cortg @JazzFeathers Thanks! 😊 11mo
32 likes2 comments
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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This is one of my favorites to read every December ❤️

#FellowshipofTolkien #TolkienChristmas @Daisey @JazzFeathers

Daisey One of my favorite December reads as well! 11mo
JazzFeathers Oh my goodness! What beautiful edition 🤩 11mo
46 likes2 comments
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Daisey
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I finished the last couple letters and enjoyed this reread as much as ever, especially the illustrations. I always appreciate Tolkien‘s way of bringing wartime difficulties into these letters for his children, but combined with them growing up, it makes for some very bittersweet last letters.

I hope everyone else is enjoying reading these as well!

#TolkienChristmas #FellowshipOfTolkien #Christmas

BethM Kiddo loves it! 11mo
See All 9 Comments
AllDebooks Such a beautiful insight into Tolkien's family life. X 11mo
Cortg Such a wonderful Christmas book. I adored the illustrations and Polar Bear‘s shenanigans. I brought a library copy home yesterday and my son plans to read it next! ❤️ 11mo
BarbaraJean I loved this so much—Tolkien‘s pictures were such a delight, as well as all of North Polar Bear‘s antics! 11mo
Clare-Dragonfly I‘ve been enjoying this very much! I was able to see some of the illustrations in color on Kindle in the browser and I put the physical copy on hold for a better look, but unfortunately I think with all the medical appointments I‘ve lost my hold. Maybe next year! 11mo
Daisey @BethM @AllDebooks @Cortg @BarbaraJean @Clare-Dragonfly I am so glad to hear everyone is enjoying it! It is definitely a wonderful insight into their family and a book that deserves to be read in print. 11mo
JazzFeathers This last letters are so sad. But also so revealing of Tolkien's feelings, his relationship with his children and also what he must have taught to them about life. 11mo
49 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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Pickpick

I don't know if I will read this again like I reread A Christmas Carol every year, but this is an excellent Christmas book that I'm happy to have finally read. It might have sat on the shelf for another year had it not been for #SnowedIn and #FellowshipofTolkien #TolkienChristmas. It also earned me a couple thousand points for #WinterGames #CandyCaneCrushers!

JazzFeathers You never know. I resisted reading it for many years... And now it's a Christmas tradition 😁 11mo
10 likes1 comment
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Bookworm54
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Pickpick

I kept on top of the #TolkienChristmas buddy read (despite not posting or being super active!)

This was really sweet, but also sad. You could feel how disappointed he was when the kids started growing up and no longer wrote to Father Christmas. The drawings were lovely.
Thanks for putting this on my radar so I could move this up my list @Daisey 🥰

#WinterGames #RestingGrinchFace #DashingDecember
(268 wordsearch words in this one)

JazzFeathers The last letter always makes me sad. After all, Tolkien wrot to his children for over 20 years. It must have been hard for him to stop. But what a beautiful gift for his children throughout their Iives! 11mo
35 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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1. A Christmas Story
2. All I want for Christmas is a new birthday gift. (My birthday is in July.)🤷🏻‍♀️
3. Tagged! I finished ahead of the #TolkienChristmas schedule. 😀
#wondrouswednesday

Eggs I love your book choice - so enchanting ❤️ 11mo
33 likes1 comment
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CatLass007
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Pickpick

I listened to this audiobook for #TolkienChristmas #FellowshipOfTolkien. I enjoyed hearing the voices of the three different letter writers, but I missed out on seeing the artwork in the print version. If there‘s a #BuddyRead of the same book next year I‘ll probably get a print copy.

Daisey Glad you enjoyed it, but I really do think this one is so much better in print with the illustrations. 11mo
CatLass007 @Daisey I‘ve seen the pictures you‘ve posted and I tend to agree. 11mo
JazzFeathers This is one of those books that really needs to be read in print, because the illustrations are part of the story, after all. 11mo
57 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BarbaraJean
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I‘ve been reading the eBook version of Letters from Father Christmas because that‘s what was first available at my library—but I really wanted to read it in print. Several weeks ago, I put the print version on hold at both local county library systems for which I have a card, hoping one would arrive before Christmas and then I could cancel the hold on whichever was slower. Well. They both arrived today. 😂 #FellowshipofTolkien #TolkienChristmas

JazzFeathers This is one of those books that really needs to be read in the paper version. 11mo
BarbaraJean @JazzFeathers It really does! The images are still there in the eBook, and it was actually nice to be able to zoom in to see the details, but the layout of the print version is just beautiful. I need to buy a copy of this for future years. 11mo
23 likes2 comments
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BethM
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The illustrations in this are beautiful! Every night at the end of books wes checks to make sure we‘re reading a “Santa letter.” #fellowshipoftolkien #wintergames

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Daisey
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Sunday morning breakfast and reading this weekend‘s letters from Father Christmas. We‘re getting more into the longer story letters, and I love it. These letters introduce the trouble making goblins for the first time, and there are all kinds of illustrations.

#TolkienChristmas #FellowshipOfTolkien #BreakfastWithTolkien #BookAndBreakfast

AnnR I love how the stories become more sophisticated with the polar bear and the troublesome goblins. It makes for better illustrations too. 11mo
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AllDebooks This might be my new favourite Christmas book 😍 11mo
Cortg Just got caught up! I love the hieroglyphics. This must have been such a magical letter for these kids 🎅🏼 11mo
BethM The pictures are gorgeous! 11mo
JazzFeathers The middle of the book is simply fantastic. That was the same time Tolkien was telling Bilbo's stories to his children and he was clearly on a roll 😜 11mo
58 likes7 comments
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dabbe
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JazzFeathers They are all so neat, and so British houses 🤩 11mo
dabbe @JazzFeathers 💙❄️💙 11mo
52 likes2 comments
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arif0110
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JazzFeathers
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dabbe The only one I'm keeping up with, too! I'm reading it online, but I think I'll have to buy it because it's just so beautiful! 🤩🤩🤩 11mo
BethM Wes makes sure we read it every night! 11mo
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JazzFeathers @BethM I'm reading at night too 😁 11mo
JazzFeathers @dabbe l know, right? 😜 11mo
Roary47 Im reading it in the morning but keeping up with it. 11mo
TheAromaofBooks I am absolutely loving this!! 11mo
JazzFeathers @TheAromaofBooks Isn't this book so very delightful? I waited to read it for a long time because it wasn't Middle-earth and l was so silly to think l wasn't going to like it. Not the first time that Tolkien surprises me 😜 11mo
31 likes8 comments
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Daisey
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Reading and enjoying a few more of Tolkien‘s Christmas letters tonight! I love the humor that the Polar Bear adds and can‘t help but share some more illustrations.

#TolkienChristmas #FellowshipOfTolkien #Christmas

CatLass007 Wow. What beautiful artwork. 11mo
See All 8 Comments
dabbe A magical, magical book. 💙❄️💙 11mo
Roary47 I didn‘t even know this was a thing! I agree Polar Bear is so fun. 🐻‍❄️💛 11mo
TheAromaofBooks I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book! I am so glad that you and @jazzfeathers brought it to my attention!! 11mo
gossamerchild I just got my copy in the mail yesterday, so I'll be catching up for a bit. I'm so glad I bought it, though, it's beautiful! 11mo
JazzFeathers Some of the illustrations are really beautiful. @TheAromaofBooks isn't it a gem? 11mo
48 likes8 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
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Karhu is, of course, Finnish for “bear”! 🐻❤️

#FellowshipofTolkien #TolkienChristmas

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BethM
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Here‘s Wes putting his stocking on in prep for St Nick tonight 😂 But what I came here to say is we I forgot to read tonight‘s Santa letter and he made sure we didn‘t go to bed without it being read 😂 #raisingreaders #lotrchapteraday #fellowshipoftolkien

peaKnit He looks like his mama ❤️ 12mo
Gissy Adorable! ❤️ 12mo
BethM @peaKnit @Gissy thanks :) 12mo
Avanders Aww ♥️♥️ And I love that you celebrate St nick‘s day! I didn‘t realize until I moved away from wis that it‘s only celebrated in about 1.5 states (Wi and half of Mn, is my understanding)… 11mo
BethM @Avanders that blows my mind. Even daycare celebrates it. 11mo
39 likes5 comments
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AllDebooks
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A lovely weekends reading for #20in4 readathon gained a few points for #Wintergames I'm delighted with my physical copy of Tolkien's letters to his children.
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 @Daisey #FellowshipofTolkein @Catsandbooks for team #Candycanecrushers

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
Andrew65 Well done 🎄🎄🎄 12mo
Catsandbooks Norrell is a chunky one so congrats on getting through it! 🙌🏼 12mo
39 likes3 comments
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dabbe
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#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas
@JazzFeathers

I don' know if anyone who's reading this is interested, but here are some pics of the Tolkiens' houses (from the addresses written on the letters). I was curious, so I looked them up and thought I'd share. 💙❄️💙

Suet624 That's so cool!
12mo
Deblovestoread ❄️☃️❄️ 12mo
dabbe @Suet624 💙❄️💙 12mo
See All 14 Comments
dabbe @Deblovestoread 💙❄️💙 12mo
Q84 🩵 12mo
AnnCrystal EPIC 🤩👍. Thank you for sharing ❕. 12mo
dabbe @Q84 💙❄️💙 12mo
dabbe @AnnCrystal 💙❄️💙 12mo
CaliforniaCay 🥰🥰🥰🥰 12mo
dabbe @CaliforniaCay 💙❄️💙 12mo
Clare-Dragonfly Oh, how lovely! Thanks for sharing! 12mo
dabbe @Clare-Dragonfly 💙❄️💙 12mo
JazzFeathers So cool!!!! 😍 11mo
dabbe @JazzFeathers 💙❄️💙 11mo
59 likes14 comments
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmast

Keeping up at the moment 😁

I love the simplicity of these stories. They are so endearing.
And sometime l fancy that some of Tolkien's own life transpires. He must have been busy with his job if he couldn't write two letters.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas

Thanks so much to @Daisey for this beautifully Chstmast-sy schedule 😘

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas

I haven't finished Return of the King yet, but I'm going to start this and see whether l can keep up with this, at least 🤦

dabbe I'm in the same boat! 🤩🤣🤗 12mo
JazzFeathers @dabbe 😂😂😂 12mo
Roary47 @dabbe You are both not alone. 😅🤣 12mo
See All 6 Comments
dabbe @Roary47 🤣🤣🤣 Three is a magic number! 🤩 12mo
JazzFeathers @dabbe @Roary47 😂 Hey, ladies, where are you? I've finished book 5 and should go back to Frodo and Sam. 12mo
Roary47 Well, I started it, but wasn‘t focused so I‘m starting over. 12mo
25 likes6 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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#WinterGames Photo Challenge Day 1 - Red Cover. I'm reading this for the #SnowedIn challenge, the #FellowoshipOfTolkien read-along, and the #20in4 readathon. #CandyCaneCrushers

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Daisey
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Happy December! Revisiting this book each year has become a holiday season tradition for me, although how I read it varies. Some years I read it quickly and sometimes, like this year, I look forward a few pages per day through the month. The illustrations are wonderful!

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienChristmas

tpixie I bought this last year. I need to get it out again! It‘s so beautiful! 12mo
See All 15 Comments
CatLass007 I‘m listening to the Audible version but just from your post of just these two pages, I‘ll be planning to add them to my physical library before Christmas 2024 12mo
dabbe I adore the Santa drawing! 🩵❄️🩵 12mo
AnnR The illustrations are the best part. So adorable! 12mo
Cortg I purchased an ebook to read on my paperwhite kindle. I‘m going to place a hold on a physical book so I can see the illustrations better! Not sure I‘ll get it before Christmas but that‘s ok! 12mo
AllDebooks I have it on Kindle and just ordered a physical copy. It's so beautiful 😍 12mo
TheAromaofBooks I got my copy today - somehow I have never even heard of this book! The illustrations are just delightful. 12mo
Daisey @tpixie @CatLass007 @dabbe @AnnR @Cortg @AllDebooks @TheAromaofBooks It is so beautiful and full of love when you think about how he did all of this just for his kids as they were growing up. I only learned about the book when I started reading more of Tolkien‘s work with others here on Litsy. 12mo
dabbe @Daisey 🩵❄️🩵 12mo
BethM Wes wanted more letters tonight 12mo
Clare-Dragonfly My library hold came in! I‘m catching up now—I definitely need something lighthearted at the moment. 12mo
Daisey @Clare-Dragonfly Wonderful! 12mo
JazzFeathers True, eh. And for me, it's a tradition that started with the #FellowshipOfTolkien group and so it's that little bit more special 😊 11mo
61 likes15 comments
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AmyK1
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I love the sweet illustrations and letters in this-I‘ve read it every year for the last several. ❤️ 🎅

#TolkienChristmas #FellowshipofTolkien @Daisey @JazzFeathers

AnnR Nice photo! 🙂🎄 12mo
JazzFeathers Me too. It's a tradition, now 😁 11mo
52 likes2 comments
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Bookworm54
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Starting this for the #TolkienChristmas readalong

It sounds very sweet and I am excited to see the progression of the letters. Today‘s letter (and intro) were over very fast! 🤭

#RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames

Daisey The first letters are very short, but some of them get much more in-depth in later years. 12mo
JazzFeathers I've just finished them. How did you find the? They are truly very sweet. The last one always touches my hear with it's melancony. 11mo
26 likes2 comments
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Fortifiedbybooks
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I'm going to kick off #WinterGames #CandyCaneCrushers by participating in #20in4 and reading for 20 hours. I'll be starting with the tagged book for the #FellowshipOfTolkien readalong and it's also one of my books for #SnowedIn.

DieAReader 🍭🍬Fantastic!! 12mo
12 likes1 comment
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @Daisey

For just over 20 years, Tolkien wrote and illustrated letters to his children about life at the North Pole from Father Christmas. Through December, we will be reading these letters and invite anyone that‘s interested to join us. We have a schedule, but it‘s a very relaxed readalong. Feel free to join, share your thoughts, and use the tag #TolkienChristmas.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #Christmas #Readalong #ReadingSchedule

40 likes3 comments
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Daisey
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For just over 20 years, Tolkien wrote and illustrated letters to his children about life at the North Pole from Father Christmas. Through December, we will be reading these letters and invite anyone that‘s interested to join us. We have a schedule, but it‘s a very relaxed readalong. Feel free to join, share your thoughts, and use the tag #TolkienChristmas.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #Christmas #Readalong #ReadingSchedule

Daisey Comment if you would like to be added or removed from the tag list.

@LitsyEvents Please share!
(edited) 12mo
See All 20 Comments
BethM So excited! 12mo
Daisey @BethM Me too! Rereading this has become a great Christmas tradition. 12mo
Cortg I would love to be included in this read-along. I had no idea he wrote Christmas letters to his children. So sweet ❤️ 12mo
gossamerchild Oh how fun! I wasn't aware of these letters either. Thanks for the tag! 12mo
Daisey @Cortg Added you to my list! ✅ 12mo
mabell I‘ve only read these here and there - never straight through. This would be a good time! 12mo
AnnR @Daisey - This is a favorite of mine and on my #wintergames tbr. Could you please tag me? Thank you. 🙂 12mo
CatLass007 I look forward to another Tolkien readalong. I find it more manageable to read a chapter a day of his Middle Earth books. I think this is a wonderful holiday readalong. I‘ve had it in my Audible library for a few years and haven‘t been able to get around to it until now. 12mo
BarbaraJean Can‘t believe I‘ve never read these—really looking forward to this! 12mo
Vansa I've never read these! I just finished Return of the king yesterday, so I can join in. This! 12mo
Clare-Dragonfly This sounds sweet! I‘ve put it on hold—I don‘t think I‘ll get it in time but maybe sometime in December 🤞🏻 12mo
Cortg @Clare-Dragonfly I placed holds as well but it‘s not looking promising so I bought a kindle copy for $7.99. I debated about a hard copy to pass along when I‘m done but I‘m cheap 😂 12mo
TheAromaofBooks Oooo yes! My copy won't be here until Tuesday, but count me in!! 12mo
AllDebooks I have this on my Dec tbr list. Please add me to the taglist x 12mo
Daisey @AnnR @AllDebooks Glad you‘ll be joining us! I‘ve updated my tag list. 12mo
JazzFeathers I've only just finished them, and loved them as ever 💚 11mo
44 likes3 stack adds20 comments
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BethM
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Forgot I had a chamber of commerce gift certificate and stumbled upon this in our local store. I‘ve never seen it in print. #fellowshipoftolkien

Avanders Oooh 😍😍 (edited) 14mo
Daisey That‘s a beautiful edition! 14mo
35 likes2 comments
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Dilara
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More Tolkien art in tapestry form

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Dilara
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A tapestry copied from Tolkien's own art

AnnR So vivid and cute! I really enjoy reading Letters From Father Christmas during the holidays, partially due to Tolkien's drawings. Thanks for posting this @Dilara 1y
Vansa Thank you SO MUCH for sharing these photos. These are absolutely stunning. 1y
Dilara @Ann_Reads You're very welcome 😁 I read them to my daughter when she was little, and coming across those tapestries brought back so many warm memories (edited) 1y
Dilara @Vansa My pleasure! I just wish I could post a photo of the Rivendell tapestry, too. It was my favourite, so of course, it had to be blurry... 1y
28 likes4 comments
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Littlewolf1
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Pickpick

4.2⭐️ super cute story that all takes place in letters from Santa and some of his friends. It follows one family and its children until the last child has grown. Two different authors, but reminds me a little of the Screwtape letters by CS Lewis, but you know, without the demons. It‘s short and sweet and worth a read. #ChristmasInJuly.

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JazzFeathers
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Pickpick

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Just finished.
The last letter always mists my eyes 🥺
This is such a wonderful book. Not only an imaginative collection of letters full of stories (as you would imagine) but above all, a collection of love letters from a father to his children. It moves me every time thinking about the hours and hours of work Tolkien must have put in to write these letters to his children.
It always warms my heart 💖

Susanita I loved this! Especially the rivalry between the Elf and the bear. 2y
JazzFeathers @Susanita It's a fantastic book. I enjoy it every time. 2y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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JazzFeathers
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I had forgotten how beautiful this letter is.
It's ful of stories, but between the lines, we can feel a dad's love for his children.
I love it.

And while reading, l thought that in 1932 Tolkien must have still been telling Bilbo's stories to his children and l wondered about the cave adventure.

It's always such a pleasure to read this book.
#FellowshipOfTolkien

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LadyCait84
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Pickpick

An early gift from my husband & what a delightful read for my Christmas Eve.

While there are goblins & rogue fireworks & Elvish writings that feel reminiscent of the Tolkien classics I‘ve read (and re-read) previously, this collection of letters he wrote to his own children (under the guise of Father Christmas) is a familial treasury of holiday memories…that just so happens to also showcase a great author‘s genius & wit & imagination.

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Daisey
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I was a Tolkien fan for a long time before I learned about and read these letters. Since then, they‘ve become a bit of a holiday tradition. Sometimes I only read random letters and sometimes like this year I plan to reread the book slowly in the days before Christmas. Today I started my morning with breakfast and the first few letters from the early 1920s to his older sons.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #Christmas #BookAndBreakfast #BreakfastWithTolkien

jitteryjane724 I'm so glad I saw this post...still have a couple days to pick this up from the library and get more into the spirit of things, thank you 🎄🦌 2y
Daisey @jitteryjane724 I hope you enjoy it! 2y
JazzFeathers I'm almost half through it. May still finish before the end of the year 😜 And l'm loving them as usual. 2y
Daisey @JazzFeathers I finished my reread this evening! 2y
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JazzFeathers
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BookwormAHN I was just reading The Old Magic Of Christmas and the author was discussing Tolkien's take on Santa 😻 2y
Daisey So looking forward visiting these again! I had a long day today, but I still may fit in a letter or two later this evening. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I finally got Amazon and just finished The Rings of Power yesterday 😂 literally yesterday and was thinking of you guys and your thoughts on it! 😂 2y
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JazzFeathers @BookwormAHN Cool! And what did he say? 2y
JazzFeathers @Daisey l started yesterday night with just two short letters, but it feels good 😊 In the first letter, he said he's answering John's question about Santa Claus's looks. I seem to remember that when l visited the exhibition in Oxford, they say his mother would write Father Christmas's letters to little Ronald and Hilary. Am l mistaken? Do you know anything about it? It looks like he kept the tradition. 2y
JazzFeathers Hi @Riveted_Reader_Melissa l'll just say that the trailers were more than enough for me and l didn't watch the series, though l watched lots of opinions on YouTube and had long conversations with a friend who did watch the series. What are your thoughts? I'd love to know 😜 2y
Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘ve watched it and thought it was ok although I wasn‘t overly impressed with the story aspect and was really annoyed by some aspects. The settings were great and often so beautiful. I think I‘m ok with a lot of it because it actually seems far from the Tolkien I know well and love. I want to rewatch and still continue. 2y
Daisey @JazzFeathers I don‘t think I‘ve read anything about this being a tradition he carried on from his mother, so not sure. I was so tired last night, I didn‘t even pull the book off the shelf, but I started my morning with a couple letters. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Daisey @JazzFeathers I understand, some parts went decidedly off track from what we know from reading all the background material. For anyone that just read the original novels it was probably fine. Some aspects of the rings development and Sauron‘s development annoyed me, but other liberties they took…like early hobbits and how Gandalf met them and why he had an infinity with them…I loved 😂⤵️ (edited) 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa And the scenery was gorgeous. I loved seeing the lives in Khazad-dûm before it was destroyed and bad-ass General of the Northern Army Galadriel…those things worked for me. (edited) 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa So the parts about the Rings in the Rings of Power…ehhhh. The parts about dwarves, hobbits, and a few other characters like Galadriel I liked 2y
wordslinger42 I haven't been able to read any of the Letters this year, but I love them so much ❤ I watched The Rings of Power.. there were a lot of things I didn't like, a few things I did. I'm sort of curious about where they will take it in season 2, but I definitely don't consider myself a fan of the show. We'll see if they ever change my mind 😂 2y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa That's interesting, that you liked Galadriel. Because the narrative treatment of Galadriel was actually what turned me off the most, personally. I feel as if they treated her more as a male character, with a very masculine energy about her, whereas Tolkien's Galadriel is a very feminine power. 2y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa l also didn't like at all the way they tried to superimpose their story on Tolkien's story, almost as if they were trying to appropriate the characters. Like for example, the final confrontation between Galadriel and Sauron. This confrontation, so early in Galadriel's life, seem to belittle her test with the One Ring. 2y
JazzFeathers At least, this is my feeling. What do you gals think? 🙂 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Daisey @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers I‘ll be honest, my like there may be a bit because I am an American and we still get a very feminized version of womanhood from a lot of sources…girls shouldn‘t do xyz. Elves live long lives and can do anything, and my guess is she didn‘t gain all her wisdom and the reverence of others by just sitting on high…. So I liked seeing her have a side like Éowyn…and I know we‘ve talked about the 3 original books have less of a female ⤵️ 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ Presence…. A love interest/daughter, a wise/beautiful queen on the throne, and the sister/warrior Éowyn. But from the Silmarillion we know the female elves followed over the sundering seas too, over the ice, and fought Morgoth…they weren‘t all just coming along to cook dinner…so I liked seeing that side of her played up. I also enjoyed the female hobbits and female dwarf characters. Like fleshing out half the story that was missing. ⤵️ (edited) 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa At least to me…..But again, might be an American take or just me. 🤷‍♀️ 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I should add I also liked the queen/regent in Numenor, and the human female character they created too. But I also liked Tauriel in the Hobbit movies 😂. Elves live for centuries, if wise Elrond fought in the original battle of the rings (which we get in flashbacks in the original movies) but is older and more honored wise by the time LoTR happens, why couldn‘t Galadriel be similar. (edited) 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I didn‘t like the Sauron reveal…I was ok with their confrontation just not what she did in the aftermath of it. I could see his suggestion to try and get her to fight at his side as something that she might have mulled over and wondered if she could have dragged him to better ends with a different decision, and the test with the ring in LOTR being the culmination of that long lingering nagging doubt. What she did after Sauron revealed himself 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa …and left though….I thought that was beyond dumb. 😂 trying not to be too specific here for anyone that hasn‘t watched it….but that they decided to make the rings at that point was dumb even if it had to be done for the larger plot. But I guess it would explain why the elven rings were always “different”… but I thought that didn‘t mesh with the original at all. I even thought their choice for Sauron was not the best (edited) 2y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Ah, she likes Tauriel. This explains everything 😂 2y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa But seriously, now. There are a couple of things here that don't sit well with me. First, Galadriel might have been less experienced in this time, but she had already dediced what side she was on. We know because of her handling of Feanor. Already in Valinor, she could recognise the work of Evil and refused it. So, as a fan, I don't buy into the 'Young Galadriel' narrative. 2y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Also, the confrontation between Galadriel and Sauron is clearly handled as a climax. And you can't have two climaxes in an arc. If Galadriel confronts Sauron here, and survives and makes her choices, it means that any other similar confrontation can't happen with the same momentum and meaning. This is why it gives me this strong feeling of appropriation. They are presenting this as a defining moment in Galadriel's life ⬇ 2y
JazzFeathers ...when we know that her creator wrote a totally different story. And gals, let me tell you, I have a serious issue with this. Which is not even the only place where I sense appropriation. Also, I wonder about the narrative wisdon of having a climax this early in the story - unless Galadriel becomes a less prominent character in later seasons. But yeah, these are some of my issue with the series 😜 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers I can see that all too… like I said earlier….the rings and Sauron storylines were my biggest gripe with the Rings of Power series. 😂 2y
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Karisimo
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So close! But can I make myself read a romance in the next few days??? It's the hardest square for me!
#autumnbingo2022
@ann_reads

AnnR That's excellent! Well done! 🙂🎄👍 The romance square can be a tough one. There are some short holiday ones out there. Maybe??? 2y
Bklover Wow! Impressive!! 2y
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

This was so amazing!!! I didn‘t grow up reading this or celebrating Christmas, but it still reminded me of memories from my own childhood, so I suspect it will for most people. It also provides the most heartwarming and fascinating glimpses into Tolkien as a father and as an artist. The drawings are beautiful, and the idea of a story that continues from year to year really puts today‘s culture of instant gratification into perspective a bit.

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EadieB
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Pickpick

#WinterReadathonDailyChallenge

20 pts

Total pts - 260

Andrew65 Brilliant. I keep seeing this book over the past couple of days. Someone telling me I need to read this! 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼 (edited) 2y
EadieB @Andrew65 Ha Ha! Here'a a formal invite: Read this! 2y
Andrew65 @EadieB 🤣 Invite accepted! 2y
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DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
EadieB @Andrew65 ha ha funny! 2y
Susanita It‘s delightful! 2y
EadieB @Susanita Yes it is! 2y
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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I‘ve had this book on my shelf for so long - and I‘ve finally started it! Trying out the StoryGraph buddy read function…