Rating:  Summary: Did your "A Painted House" school boy write this one? Review: Trying to offset the agony of a huge, pre-Christmas airport line, I purchased this book in an airport bookstore at full price. At over ten-cents a page, I was determined to savor every word of this book. Unfortunately, this short story of near magazine thickness was one dimensional, predictable, and flat-out disappointing. Worse yet, I finished it before reaching the ticket counter! I felt taken having purchased this book. John, if you care anymore and are reading these reviews, please do us all a favor and spend some time on your next one!
Rating:  Summary: Christmas in a Flash. Review: This Christmas book is relatively short (+170 pages) and is easy to read. It took me a little more than two hours to finish the novel. It was an enjoyable read. However, other than the fact that I learned there are people who spend thousands of dollars at Christmas time, I didn't learn anything from the book. Nor did it move me in any serious way. I found several parts to be quite hilarious (it is a satire after all), but laughter was the only emotion I felt./The story revolves around Luther and Nora Krank (anyone catch the symbolic last name). The book opens on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as Luther and Nora send their one and only child, their daughter Blair, off to Peru to begin a term of service with the Peace Corp. As the Kranks leave the airport and make a few trips on the way home (which causes much tension between the couple), Luther gets the brilliant idea of "skipping Christmas", taking a cruise, and still saving thousands of dollars. Luther's plan goes off without too many problems. But then, something happens to turn his perfect idea into shambles./Grisham's novel seems to contain a lot of fluff. However, to assume the book is nothing but fluff, is a misunderstanding. SKIPPING CHRISTMAS is a satire largely lampooning the Christmas season in middle-class America. Some have suggested the book is racist because of certain comments. This is not true; racism is just one of the many societal ills satirized in this novel. The book is written in such a way that the ideas and attitudes being lampooned, could be disregarded because of the simple way in which the story is told./Overall, an entertaining novel that won't take much time to read but will make you laugh.
Rating:  Summary: Skipping Christmas Review: Although the book is a bit predictable it was an easy read. It made me laugh at the things we do all for the sake of a holiday. I forgot all about holiday stress for a couple of hours.
Rating:  Summary: A reminder of the true meaning of Christmas Review: This work juxtaposes the commercial trappings of the sacred holiday with the true Christmas spirit, social interference with human interdependence, individual freedoms with community obligations, and it does so by satirizing the monolithic conventions of conformity. One clever touch: the out-of-synch protagonist's surname, Krank, means "sick" in German, and, although he and his family are portrayed as Roman Catholics, his first name, Luther, clearly suggests a budding Protestantism, expressed not by nailing documents to a church door but by distributing among his office co-workers a memo detailing his intended non-observance. In all, a gem.
Rating:  Summary: Disappointing but a good read Review: I was expecting something "more" from a John Grisham novel. I found this one lacking in some respects. There wasn't a "punch" or an "oh wow" moment at all! Very lighthearted and "quick reading", but didn't get any "warm fuzzies" from the book.
Rating:  Summary: Ridiculous! Review: The only reason I gave this book 1 stars is because it was light reading.It's amazing that you can put Grisham's name on a book and throw a title into it with the word "Christmas"...release it after Thanksgiving, and lo and behold...it's a best seller! Who said marketing is dead in America?? Very dull book that could have been written by my 14 year old!
Rating:  Summary: It will make a great Holiday Movie! Review: I loved this book! I chuckled and giggled the whole way through, because it was so true to life! Grisham's focus on the obscenity of Christmas overspending is right on target. Yes, it was predictable, and hoaky, and maybe even a bit shallow, but it was a terrific read. As far as The Krank's concern over their daughter's engagement to a Peruvian (dark skinned), I think that was part of the whole hypocrisy aspect that Grisham was trying to show. Here they were going to a tanning bed to make themselves darker, but were concerned that their daughter was marrying a dark skinned person. I read it in about 4 hours, and it was wonderful. I can't wait for it to be made into a movie; my friends and I at work are taking bets on who gets the leady roles. I'm thinking Gene Hackman for Luther, and Goldie Hawn for his wife.... Great Christmas Reading!
Rating:  Summary: More satisfying than the other holiday tripe Review: It's a wonderful book, you really must allow yourself to read it. Taking issue w/ other reviewers who gave this one star, here I quote, "One of the things that stood out to me was the fact that main characters were running to a tanning booth before their cruise - but on the other hand the father was afraid that his daughter's Peruvian boyfriend was dark skinned." If you don't find this idea offensive then don't read it... in a few years your humor will mature, and then you can enjoy.
Rating:  Summary: Great Book For Busy Holiday Season Review: Although this book was lacking in some areas, it was a very simple and cute story. It is great for book lovers, who during the holiday season don't have much time to read. It was a quick read, but ultimately left a good feeling with me.
Rating:  Summary: Very entertaining Review: I received this as a gift and I am NOT a Grisham fan but I truly enjoyed this book. It was written in the spirit of Christmas.
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