The Journey of Joseph Winter

by John Anthony

My thoughts:

This story begins with Geraldine, an older woman who brings all of her family–children and grandchildren–together to share a story none of them have ever heard: the story of her brother, Joseph Winter.

“The mind of a child is one of the places all adults wish to exist again. Only there, surrounded by youthful innocence, do dreams never disappear.”

Joseph has been living his life with regret, missing out on all the possible joy in his life. As a child he said something to his mother that he’s never been able take back, and it’s haunted him for what feels like forever. When a mysterious package arrives at his door, he has no idea what’s in store for him. Then a stranger appears and takes Joseph on a journey by train toward the North Pole where he revisits old memories, meets some very special people (including a sweet, young boy named Max), and in turn learns what it means to forgive.

“A person’s worth isn’t determined by the acceptance of others, or by how many possessions they have, but on their acceptance of themselves.”

This story is certainly unique, but in ways still reminded me of other Christmas favorites like A Christmas Carol and even The Polar Express with the journey to St. Nick.

This book went straight to my Christmas reading list after seeing it categorized as a fairy tale; however, the story didn’t really feel like a fairytale to me, which was something I was hoping for. It still brought me to tears and I enjoyed the story regardless. With themes of love, family, and forgiveness, this turned out to be an enjoyable read and perfect for this Christmas season. I may even reread this with my children next Christmas. 

4****

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Find this book on Amazon and Goodreads:

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (October 30, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1493527282
• ISBN-13: 978-1493527281

Blurb:

A heartwarming Christmas story in the tradition of the holiday classics It’s a Wonderful Life and A Miracle on 34th Street.

Take a personal journey to discover the true magic of Christmas.

Joseph Winter is a good and gentle man, but he carries with him the pain and regret of a childhood mistake.

When a package mysteriously arrives on his doorstep, he is invited on a path to redemption.

Traveling far from his cozy little home in St. Paul, Minnesota, into the snowy landscapes of the Arctic, his touching Christmas journey takes him in search of the one man who may be able to help him find peace—Santa Claus.

An inspirational family Christmas tale in the style of the classic Christmas stories shared by families every holiday season, The Journey of Joseph Winter: A Christmas Fairy Tale is the inspiring story of a man in search of Santa Claus, his childhood, and ultimately—himself.

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This is book #8 for the 20 Books for Christmas reading challenge. You can click on the image below if you’d like to see my progress or find out how to join in!

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Thanks for reading my review! What Christmas books have you read this year?