It is a tricky venture to examine the spirits of God and Santa in one short story. Francis Wood does it with graceful imagination and the wisdom of an old soul.
Francis Eugene Wood always brings a tear to my eye and this book was no exception. It's a very simple little story that intertwines with a real life encounter Francis Wood had and that he wove into a meaningful tale. The story reminds us that the best meaning of Christmas is in giving if only in offering up a prayer for blessings for others. Wood's characters are realistic but true to the nature of the story there is a little Santa pixie dust thrown in. Because I reside in the same locale as Wood, I'm always interested in his story settings. Much to my surprise, Wood picked a street in Charlottesville, Virginia that an elderly aunt of mine used to live one for one of his settings. At that point, I was totally enamored of this book and won't forget it soon. I give 'The Christmas Letter' five stars and encourage everyone to read it.