The Christmas Troll

I’ll admit, I approached *The Christmas Troll* skeptically. A 27-minute audiobook narrated by its 90-something-year-old author? It sounded either precious or painfully slow. But Peterson’s performance won me over—not because it’s technically flawless (his pacing occasionally drags, and his voice cracks in a way that might distract some listeners), but because it *feels* right. This is a story about weariness and small miracles, and his gravelly, unhurried delivery mirrors that tone perfectly. When Andrew snaps at his mother or the troll grumbles in the snow, Peterson’s voice carries just enough edge to make their frustration real, not cartoonish. The story itself is deceptively simple: Andrew’s Christmas Eve meltdown over a ruined gift leads him into the woods, where he meets a troll who’s equally bitter about the holiday. Their exchange isn’t cutesy or moralistic; it’s a raw, almost awkward conversation about disappointment. The lack of a traditional “happy ending” might frustrate some—there’s no grand reconciliation or magical fix—but that’s what makes it memorable. The production is minimal (no sound effects, just Peterson’s voice and sparse music), which keeps the focus on the text. My only real critique? The abrupt ending left my five-year-old nephew blinking in confusion, though I found it hauntingly open-ended. This isn’t a audiobook for families who want glittery distraction; it’s for those who don’t mind sitting with the messy, hopeful parts of Christmas.