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jade_kanga's review
2.0
I read this December last year (2019) and gave it a 2.5/5 stars (hence an earlier 3 star rating), however, I linger on this sometimes and have since gave it a 2/5 star rating.
While I do appreciate the sentiment that my money has gone to cancer research (the only reason why I don’t regret buying this) and thought the pretense was absolutely adorable and inspiring (Aussie icons writing whimsical, nostalgic letters to Santa? Yes please!), I instead found that many of these contributors have SUCH a negative view towards Christmas and Santa himself.
Leaving aside the plainly problematic aspects of this novel (it’s fatphobic comments), many of these letters were so dreadfully negative towards Christmas and Santa that I just want to know,,, who hurt these people??
I do understand that some people don’t like Christmas, that’s fine and understandable and I can’t (and won’t) judge, but I was under the impression this novel would be whimsical and nostalgic and lovely. Instead, I was treated to letters critising Santa and the Christmas season with intense sarcasm and trying to be funny about it and wow I just did not relate. I can be a cynical person myself, but when Christmas is known to be a worldwide loved season, I find it terrible that this book was filled with so much negativity and then marketed as something that is inspiring and whimsical and nostalgic.
Two last things before I end this insanely long review: there are some letters that do deal with cancer survivors and dealing with other struggles (e.g. death of a family member and other forms of grief). Albeit sad, these were inspiring and moving. These are not the letters I am critising in particular. Lastly, there were good letters in this, optimistic and lovely ones. But they were far and few between.
While I do appreciate the sentiment that my money has gone to cancer research (the only reason why I don’t regret buying this) and thought the pretense was absolutely adorable and inspiring (Aussie icons writing whimsical, nostalgic letters to Santa? Yes please!), I instead found that many of these contributors have SUCH a negative view towards Christmas and Santa himself.
Leaving aside the plainly problematic aspects of this novel (it’s fatphobic comments), many of these letters were so dreadfully negative towards Christmas and Santa that I just want to know,,, who hurt these people??
I do understand that some people don’t like Christmas, that’s fine and understandable and I can’t (and won’t) judge, but I was under the impression this novel would be whimsical and nostalgic and lovely. Instead, I was treated to letters critising Santa and the Christmas season with intense sarcasm and trying to be funny about it and wow I just did not relate. I can be a cynical person myself, but when Christmas is known to be a worldwide loved season, I find it terrible that this book was filled with so much negativity and then marketed as something that is inspiring and whimsical and nostalgic.
Two last things before I end this insanely long review: there are some letters that do deal with cancer survivors and dealing with other struggles (e.g. death of a family member and other forms of grief). Albeit sad, these were inspiring and moving. These are not the letters I am critising in particular. Lastly, there were good letters in this, optimistic and lovely ones. But they were far and few between.
shereadsshenoms's review
4.0
Laughed and cried reading this. Hope there are many more editions to come.
melsbookshelf's review
5.0
How could I NOT purchase Sam’s beautiful little book!? For those of you who don’t know Aussie icon and Order of Australia recipient Sam Johnson, he came to our attention back in the 90’s and 00’s on some STELLAR kids TV programs and soapies. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that he gained nationwide recognition and respect for unicycling 15,000 kilometers around Australia to raise money for cancer, inspired by his sister Connie who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The Love Your Sister movement was born! We then followed their story over the years, not only through the heartbreaking cancer news, but also shared in the overwhelming joy of the “Big Heart Project” where Australians donated over 2 million dollars worth of 5 cent coins, and put them into a giant love heart.
Australia fell in love with Connie, Sam and their sister Hilde and there was not a dry eye in the country when Connie passed away in 2017.
And the fight to cure cancer with Love Your Sister continues! Sam has brought together an amazing array of Australian talent for this awesome little fun (and at times naughty) book of celebrity letters to Santa.
You will laugh and at times cringe, as you read letters from such celebrities as Grant Denyer, Mia Freedman, Missy Higgins, Rove Macmanus and Adam Hillls, just to name a few.
The stories are short, the book is SUPER easy to read in one sitting, but I found it much more fun to read a story here and there. So I could savour it! It has some funny illustrations and was really darn enjoyable!
Plus, every sale contributes to cancer research, and has an extremely funny option to add some extra to cancer, or the xmas party! It also comes with a greatest hits issue of the little known, yet actually really funny and amazingly touching magazine, “The Stick”, which is also available to subscribe to on the website.
Even if you are not interested in the book, tis’ the season to donate!! I know Love Your Sister will be a charity I will never hesitate to give a little hard earned money to!
A stunning 5 stars from me!
(5 / 5)
I purchased Dear Santa at my own expense. Click HERE to purchase it too!!
For more reviews check out my:
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Australia fell in love with Connie, Sam and their sister Hilde and there was not a dry eye in the country when Connie passed away in 2017.
And the fight to cure cancer with Love Your Sister continues! Sam has brought together an amazing array of Australian talent for this awesome little fun (and at times naughty) book of celebrity letters to Santa.
You will laugh and at times cringe, as you read letters from such celebrities as Grant Denyer, Mia Freedman, Missy Higgins, Rove Macmanus and Adam Hillls, just to name a few.
The stories are short, the book is SUPER easy to read in one sitting, but I found it much more fun to read a story here and there. So I could savour it! It has some funny illustrations and was really darn enjoyable!
Plus, every sale contributes to cancer research, and has an extremely funny option to add some extra to cancer, or the xmas party! It also comes with a greatest hits issue of the little known, yet actually really funny and amazingly touching magazine, “The Stick”, which is also available to subscribe to on the website.
Even if you are not interested in the book, tis’ the season to donate!! I know Love Your Sister will be a charity I will never hesitate to give a little hard earned money to!
A stunning 5 stars from me!
(5 / 5)
I purchased Dear Santa at my own expense. Click HERE to purchase it too!!
For more reviews check out my:
Blog
babblingbooks's review
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than it was possible to. The idea was lovely - public figures, mostly musicians, write letters to Santa - and the fact that sales of the book go to supporting cancer research is a very worthy cause.
But the letters were wildly inconsistent in quality, and it felt like a book that was meant to be bought for the charitable contribution and not actually read. Some of the letters had fat-shaming or fatphobic comments that made me really uncomfortable, and that unfortunately has lingered in my mind far longer than the few really lovely letters (of which there certainly were a few scattered throughout).
But the letters were wildly inconsistent in quality, and it felt like a book that was meant to be bought for the charitable contribution and not actually read. Some of the letters had fat-shaming or fatphobic comments that made me really uncomfortable, and that unfortunately has lingered in my mind far longer than the few really lovely letters (of which there certainly were a few scattered throughout).
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