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Summary: Picked this up on a whim and boy, am I ever glad I did!
Review: Obviously we reviewers feel strongly one way or another about _Skipping Christmas_. I believe it's destined to become as classic a holiday story as "Gift of the Magi," _A Christmas Carol_, _It's a Wonderful Life_, and _The Grinch Who Stole Christmas_. Does that sound too melodramatic? Fine. Read this book. If you get through the last five pages without saying "Wow" out loud, call 911. Somebody'd better check your pulse. (...)
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Summary: LAUGHING OUT LOUD
Review: As I began this book I found it amusing. But as I read on the book became hilarious. It was so refreshing to find a book that I didn't want to put down that had me laughing so hard at some points I couldn't see through the tears. Grisham has written a totally different type of book and has proven he is without a doubt an excellent author, this time writing a book both entertaining and funny
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Summary: Refreshing Holiday Tale! Go Frosty!
Review: I hesitated reading it. I liked the early 'classic' Grishams, but did not like the shift in genre with "the Painted House" and was appropriately cautious when approaching this book. I was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is a quick read. Yes, the main character's last name is too obvious. However, I could quickly sympathize with the main character's desire to just skip the commercial trappings of Christmas, just once! It was cathartic to watch someone else swim against the tide of commercialism. The plot twists were not expected at all (maybe I am just slow) but worked out nicely. Was the ending a little smaltzy? Sort of, but I still thought it was a good ending. I rarely buy Grisham in hardcover, but I have added this one to my library of holiday books. Maybe not the book to read on Christmas Eve by the fire, but give it a try before you start decorating, shopping and writing Christmas cards and you may just look at the frenzy with a fresh view. Finally, be prepared to laugh. The mental image evoked by a certain rooftop scene reduced me to tears. I agree with another reviewer that this could very well be made into a movie and completely agree with Steve Martin as the main character! Enjoy!!
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Summary: A Must Read!
Review: I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it so much that my 2 girls are fighting over who will be the next to read it. It had me laughing out loud. Will definitely put you in the Christmas Spirit!!
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Summary: Tree Tops Glisten and Children Listen...
Review: Skipping Christmas is a hoot! In a much lighter tone than Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," and possessing the sentimentality of the children's book, "The Polar Express," John Grisham shows us again why he is a best selling author. Luther Krank, the tale's modern day Scrooge, decides that Christmas is too commercialized and too expensive for the Krank household after his daughter leaves for a stint in the Peace Corps that will keep her in South America for the holidays. Deciding to forgo the office party, christmas cards, outdoor decorations, mall shopping, tree trimming and the rest of the holiday chaos, Krank proclaims to everyone that he and his wife are going to take a cruise and "skip christmas" this year. Bah humbug! He doesn't know what he is in for!If after reading Skipping Christmas you think that Grisham isn't very original and just updated the characters and town depicted in "It's A Wonderful Life," you may have a point. Sure Luther Krank at times seems like George Bailey; Krank's Hemlock Street neighborhood is a lot like Bedford Falls; and even police officers Salino and Treen resemble the loveable cab driver and policeman Bert and Ernie. But why complain; now you have two versions of the story to enjoy during the holidays! You can even decide whether Jimmy Stewart would make a better Luther Krank than George Bailey. The holiday season brings a lot of happiness to many who don't often have it during the rest of the year. This year we all need it; and we all deserve it. So don't wait for someone else to tell you this book is worth the purchase, go out and get it now. Light the fire, pour yourself a glass of eggnog, sit back and enjoy this book. By the time the fire turns to embers, you'll be glad you didn't skip this one. And if your name happens to be Ebeneezer, I promise that you won't have to admit you actually enjoyed the story.
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Summary: Going to make a GREAT movie! READ THIS BOOK !!!!
Review: I have just finished SKIPPING CHRISTMAS, and I HIGHLY reccomend it to all. (There aren't many of us here who haven't secretly, deep down wanted to do the very thing that Luther plans to do. But of course, halfway through the book, Grisham throws a classic monkey wrench into the whole thing.)
With all the money you'll most likely spend this year at Christmas, buying this story either at the store or here, through Amazon is MORE then worth the money AND the few hours it will take to read. What a classic idea! My hat is off to Grisham for breaking his
"mold" of legal thrillers and taking the time to write this.
It's funny,(Everyone will find SOMEthing in here they can relate to.) it's got heartwarming characters, and if you don't get teary eyed at the end then something's wrong.
This will make a GREAT movie. Well, don't sit there and continue reading these reviews.....Go get it!!!
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Summary: Grisham at his best!
Review: I have read all of John Grishams books. I love his legal thrillers and I was also a fan of "A Painted House". I think this latest gem just goes to further prove what a multi-faceted writer he is. This was a hilarious, touching look at Christmas and traditions and trying to break them! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a quick read that will make you both laugh and cry!
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Summary: Nice Christmas Season Read
Review: This is a very fast read, with just 177 pages. Very enjoyable. This is not typical John Grisham writing. The book shows it is clearly the time for giving, with not necesarily expecting anything in return.
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Summary: What a piece of (...)
Review: I have never in my life read a book that (...) me off more than this horrible little book. At first I liked it well enough, though I did think the wife, Nora, was much to concerned with what people she wasn't even close to would think about her and her husband skipping Christmas. But by the last 4 chapters I was dreading each word. Could such a wonderful message really end by backtracking on everything the rest of the book was about? How could a couple that was treated so poorly by neighbors and associates in the end welcome them with open arms, just for the sake of how they would appear to their daughter and a total stranger? After all their hard work and their wonderful dreams, how could they turn their back on their plans and decide that instead of telling a 23-year old the truth, that lying to their own daughter was the better option? Is it too much to ask that people are supportive of other people choices in their own lives which has no impact on anyone elses life? This book is all about what is wrong with Christmas in the end. Fake friends, false happiness, buying and giving gifts just because Tis the Season. Luther had it right, make yourself happy. You only live once.
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Summary: Skipping Christmas: The New Sin?
Review: Skipping Christmas? Sounds mystical to me. I was thinking, when I saw the title of this book, that the couple was about to deny there's even Christmas or something, only to later discover that Grisham purposed the couple to merely go on a holiday.
Pretty much an American culture to stay home, throw parties and go to attend Church services for Christmases. Here in Singapore, there's a totally different perspective; people in fact deliberately go on a vacation on Christmas! Thanks to this book, I have got closer to the American culture.br>
Unlike other Grisham novels (and thrillers), which are usually about law, legislation and ligitious America, he seems to have become a little more humorous and homely here. Characters are fashioned to interact in such a close-to-the-heart manner, which easily compels a reader to believe in this story (besides notion that skipping-Christmas-is-wrong bit).
Not a typical page turner though, and the I would say that the climax of the story is pretty gentle and not at all dramatic as one would expect a Grisham story to be so.
One great regret: The book is paced real slow, almost to a crawl in the first 100 pages when similar anecdotal episodes in the lives of the Kranks get repeated umpteenth time, and bound to drive everyone to sleep with a not-again complaint. But the story picks up pretty well at the end, and pretty unpredictable too.
If you think of buying this this Christmas for someone contemplating to skip Christmas 2001, attach a personal note to it and it might be a little more effective. Christmas is never too often, and you would appreciate it if you live in Singapore where Christmases are in actual fact a shopping festival. :o(
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