tchoate's Full Review: John Grisham - Skipping Christmas
The Author
John Grisham has written some wonderful books, The Firm, The Pelican Brief, A Time To Kill and many more, all of them have been serious and had gripping story lines. With his latest book Skipping Christmas, Grisham has taken a totally different look at a holiday that most of us enjoy, while we also dread all of the running that goes along with it.
Skipping Christmas the latest in a long line of wonderful books by John Grisham is an off-beat look at this wonderful holiday that we celebrate called Christmas. With this book he asks you to think of spending a year without Christmas. Could you do it? Would you do it? Think of spending this time of year without the crowded malls, the parties, the fruitcakes and the presents that you will have to return.
The Story
In Skipping Christmas you will be introduced to Luther and Nora Krank, who decide for one year they will do without all that goes along with Christmas and go on a cruise to enjoy themselves. Their only daughter, Blair has just left home to go to Peru to start her time in the Peace Corp. Once she leaves, Luther who is a accountant has just figured up what Christmas has cost them the last few years and quickly decided that they could use that same amount of money and do something just for them or so he thinks. Luther tells his wife and friends of his decision not to do Christmas, but the Krank’s don’t realize just what it will take to skip Christmas and they never thought about what others would think. They will soon find out just what repercussions trying to skip Christmas will bring about.
The stares, the talk from neighbors and the looks and stares are what Luther and Nora find themselves not ready for. It seems that at every turn they find themselves having to answer the question, “You are skipping what?”
Would your neighbors be mad if you didn’t decorate your house with the rest of the neighborhood? Well, the Krank’s find out not only the true meaning of neighbors but just how much the entire street of Hemlock Lane means to them and they to them. The surprise is yet to come, but the Krank’s find themselves in need of their friends and everyone in their neighborhood when at the last minute these two middle aged parents find themselves having to jump back into Christmas at the last minute. When Luther and Nora find themselves in need you will be surprised just what their friends will do to help these two people.
My Thoughts
Skipping Christmas is a hilariously funny story that will keep you reading. I found it to be just what I needed at this time of year. I have wished before that I could just skip the shopping, the decorating and all the parties and just have an enjoyable holiday without the hassle. Of course Grisham’s Skipping Christmas has showed me just why I can’t do without it. The answer was shown to me at the end of this book. It made me see what Christmas is really all about and that one word is family.
This book will take you on a journey, but will give you a warm mushy feeling at every turn. It is one of those books that will keep you laughing while it walks you through a holiday that we all sometimes over do just a bit. In the end don’t be surprised to find yourself teary eyed and needing a Kleenex. This is a great read for the holiday season, it takes a delightful look at Christmas and keeps you light hearted and hopeful. If you enjoy a book that is a great story, a quick read and delight to read then you need to get your copy of Skipping Christmas and set down by the fire and enjoy!
I must say if you are a fan of any of the Mitford books by Jan Karon then this book will definitely be something that you will enjoy! It is not your typical John Grisham book.
Luther and Nora Krank are fed up with the chaos of Christmas. The endless shopping lists, the frenzied dashes through the mall, the hassle of decorati...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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