Rating: 
Summary: No Peace Corps Program in Peru
Review: Peace Corps closed its program in Peru in l975, an essential fact that Grisham never bothered to research. Additionally, Peace Corps Volunteers attend stagings in the U.S. and leave as a group for their assigned countries, where they begin a two to three month training period, living with host families before beginning their assignments. They aren't escorted to the airport by parents on Thanksgiving weekends nor are they ensconsed in grass huts with coworkers immediately upon arrival. These may seem quibbles, but any journalist will attest to the importance of getting the facts straight to lend authenticity to a piece of work. Though I'm enjoying the Kranks as I Metro from Silver Spring to Peace Corps headquarters here in D.C., I have a tough time suspending disbelief.
Rating: 
Summary: Diminishing Returns
Review: While the first third of this book is reasonably engaging, the story begins to repeat itself. The book grows redundant. The same point is made again and again. Things are said over and over. Buy the book for more. Boredom is an art; absolute boredom is an achievement. I hereby tip my hat.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: John Grisham has a winner here. I read the little book in 4 hours. Stopping only to eat dinner with my family with the book open in front of me. So did I really stop? Maybe not. Anyway the Kranks are as real a family as they come. Their lives have been changed because their daughter Blair is gone for Christmas the first time in her life. Luther Krank, lives up to his name and decideds Christmas just isn't worth it. Skipping Christmas is a "legal indictment" as any of Grishams other books only this time the jury is Kranks neighbors and the judge is Frosty The Snowman. I laughed at this book until I hurt in my side when the gavel falls on Mr. Krank. Not going to spoil the book for you just buy it you will love it. I just ordered 4 more for family and friends for Christmas. I guess that proves one thing the book didn't teach me anything. Well maybe next year! The real mccoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious!!!!
Review: This would make a super funny Christmas show for TV.Raymond Barone would HAVE TO be Luther, the husband!!! Our Town,USA is getting decorated for Christmas .....and I mean DECORATED to the hilt. Luther decides not to do the normal Christmas blow-out and opts for a cruise with his wife since their daughter joined the Peace Corps and went out of the country. It's a very, very funny story that will make you laugh out loud while reading because you'll probably "see" a neighbor-----or maybe yourself-----in these hilarious situations.
Goodness, the book is less than 180 pages and the book is small in size....so by all means, read this book. You'll laugh at yourself, you'll laugh at some of the memories this might shake loose, and you'll laugh at Nora in the tanning bed. Every time I'll see a Frosty during the holidays, I will most definitely think of this book and probably chuckle.
Very fun read....add this to your holiday collection.....
Rating:
Summary: Christmas According To Outsider
Review: I am a non-Christian and lived North America for five years.
I don't think Skipping Christmas is a funny story but agree that this is a classic. John Grisham has skillfully depicted the world in a manner that an outsider will observe Chrismas in North America. You can see the picture better when you keep the decent distance from it. This season in North America, Chirstmas spirit is so immense everywhere that I do not surprise even some insiders plan to skip it. We are living in an era of global economy where too many 'different' people are breathing and living close by. Skipping Chrismas is a classic becasue it was written in 2001 and published after Sept 11. This book is probably showing us a clue to think about what is like those terrorists' feeling - why they hate America.
I am a Buddist and I enjoyed Chrismas North America very much - as a visitor.
Rating:
Summary: Payoff could have been better
Review: I enjoy John Grisham's previous work and also enjoy warmhearted Christmas stories around the holidays. Since this fit both criteria I dove into reading it the day after Thanksgiving and finished it only a few days later. I should probably start with what is good and there is a lot to say here. The story grabbed me right away, the characters and the situations as they developed had me laughing out loud and for that alone I would recommend this book. Without giving the end away, while reading one could begin to predict what a "typical" (meaning average) Christmas-type ending was in store, but I hoped for something a little more... I'm not sure what... but from this author I wanted something above average. Unfortunatly the payoff, complete, warm and nice as it was, didn't have enough payoff for what the rest of the book had to offer. Because of the average outcome I took this down from five stars to three but still recommend it heartily.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny, A Must Read
Review: This book was definitely good. I went through it very quickly and was actually disappointed when I finished because I didn't want it to be done! It is very funny and I recommend it for everyone to read!
Rating:
Summary: Still laughing in Kentucky
Review: I will carefully store this novel after New Years with my Christmas ornaments, so I will not give in to temptation to read it again before next Christmas. The "scrooge-like" narrarator of this story pulls you into his way of thinking through the hilarous encounters that he endures to the touching ending with which he suprises you. My day was made brighter and my Christmas spirit renewed as I watched an "empty nest" couple attempt to escape tradition with the whole world (or neighborhood) against them. It was so easy to read; I read it as my daughter napped, and I look forward to reading it again next year. John Grisham never ceases to amaze me with his ability to put you inside the story. It was as if a I could actually feel Luther's foot sinking in the slush and feel Nora's heart race each time a new solicitor came to the door. Make a hot cup of tea and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Skip this
Review: If you're looking for a predictable schmaltzy holiday tale with a "It's a Wonderful Life" ending -- then this is for you. However if you want more from a book than a movie-of-the-week story that telegraphs the ending from about p. 10, then I'd suggest skipping "Skipping Christmas". After "A Painted House" I had high hopes for Grisham's new direction in his fiction. This, however, is a sad back-slide -- one wonders if it even would have been published if it didn't have such a "bankable" name on the cover. This read more like a movie script than a novel -- and unfortunately, I can see Hollywood probably casting it already.
Rating:
Summary: Don't skip "Skipping Christmas"
Review: I'm not a Grisham fan, but my husband is and so "Skipping Christmas" made it's way into our home library. Out of boredom and looking for something to read that would put me in the holiday spirit, I opened the book to the first page. Instantly, I knew that I loved the characters. You knew them...they're the neighbors who comply with all that is expected - involved in their child's life, baby-boomers who thought life would deliver more and then, just when their only child leaves the nest, they discover that they can still make an attempt to have a life...one that is all about them. And so, with travel broucure in hand, they plot a trip to the tropics and use the money that they'll save by "skipping Christmas." And what a quick and delightful read. I like Grisham's style, and the way he just says it, rather than trying to dazzel the reader with artsy wording that impress only an editor now and again. Thank you Grisham and I can't wait for the movie (I just know that there will be one.)
Happy Holidays.
Fern
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