Rating: 
Summary: Skip this Book
Review: Absolutely horrible. Every single character is barely fleshed out, the writing is no more than adequate, and the plot could come straight from a Lifetime movie. However, what really kills this book is the preposterous ending. After an incredible amount of animosity builds up between Krank and his neighbors, all is forgiven and forgotten in the last few pages. People are trying to get him arrested, and, a few pages later, they are helping him, or receiving gifts from him. Are you kidding? I would never forgive neighbors who treated me that way. Yeah, yeah, it is just a book. But, to defy reality this severely is a crime. I think this book took longer to read then to write.
Rating: 
Summary: Luther is a true Scrooge.
Review: I enjoyed Grisham's book. Luther and Nora decide to skip Christmas since this will be the first Christmas that their daughter, Blair will be away (she is in the Peace Corp in Africa).Luther and Nora take the money they spend on a tree, gifts, and food and spend it on a cruise in which they depart on Christmas day. The neighbors and their coworkers tend to give the Krank's a hard time about giving up on Christmas. The story takes a turn and it becomes a Seinfeld episode, and I found it quite amusing. The true spirit of Christmas comes through in the end and it was a lovely read. A very different story from Grisham but I highly enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful read to escape the holiday stress!
Review: I have read all of John Grisham's books and have enjoyed his writing, though I had grown tired of the "lawyer theme." A Painted House was a nice change; but this one brings out what I think is a rare talent -- writing humor. I laughed out loud through this whole book. My husband kept sticking his head in the room to say, "I must ask Grisham to write more books like this!" It was a delightful weekend read and one that restored my spirit and still has me chuckling as I think about all the predicaments Luther created for himself. It is funny and heartwarming and strikes close to the truth of many of the traditions we have all established. When things get too frantic this season, take a few minutes to pick up this book and laugh long and loud!
Rating:
Summary: Skip this book
Review: What started as a lighthearted and thought provoking account of the commercialism of the Christmas season, ended with a too tidy wrapping addressed to "Hollywood - make me an offer." Grisham's sudden entry of the Peruvian boyfriend and the concerns of the Kranks is simply too strange and distracting for this holiday plot, no matter how supposedly sarcastic its intent. Skip this waste of talent.
Rating:
Summary: Surpassing Mr. Scrooge!
Review: Sorry, John. You wrote such an unredeemable character that I could never begin to root for him. Luther (and his family) is so far above it all that one hopes it all comes crashing down. He "disses" everyone from his secretary to his neighbors to the police to the firefighters ... even Scrooge had respect for hard-working people! Then, in the end, sure enough he chickens out. What a coward! And in the last chapter it is revealed, "Luther hates cats." Now, there's a surprise!
Rating:
Summary: Light, warm-hearted, somewhat farcical Christmas story
Review: I'll be honest-I nearly didn't read this book. I'd received it as a gift from a close friend who knows my reading predilections well--and also knows I've avoided Grisham for a while now as I'd come to see his novels as overly repetitive and, therefore, boring. But every time I'd see her she'd inquire about the book, so, with a sense of dread, I sat down to read it. It turns out that Grisham has finally diverged from his mass-manufactured overly frenetic pulp thriller habit and actually whiten a very different sort of story. Grumpy Luther Krank and his sweeter wife, Nora, having just shipped their daughter off to Peru and a stint in the Peace Corps, decide to skip Christmas this year to forgo the gifts, the tree, the decorations, the cards, the parties and to spend the dollars saved on a 10-day Caribbean cruise. Luther wants a vacations from all the Christmas stress and, besides, the cruise will cost less in the long run than indulging in all the holiday hoopla common to the Krank household at that time of year. Unfortunately for Luther, his decision places him in the vortex of a social storm. Friends, family and neighbors weigh in to communicate the lack of wisdom in such a decision-it seems that Luther's expenditures-or, more precisely, the lack of them--are an issues fort many of these folks. The book is a comedic farce-casting comical aspersions on the social conformity, holiday hoopla and overt commercialism that have come to be so much a part-if not the reson for-Christmas in the U. S.---particularly in the 'burbs. A last minute development cause Luther to reevaluate this plan and provides a window for all to reevaluate the meaning of Christmas as well. This is a sweet story with cranky, quirky-yet recognizable characters. It is told with warmth and affections, not usually traits one associates with Grisham. A lot of people criticize the book as being lightweight. True, it's not War and Peace, but it never aspires to be. What it is is an actual story told from the heart aimed at evoking genuine emotions with humor and affection. A lot of folks act like that's some sort of cop out by Grisham. Those people need to get a life.
Rating:
Summary: Literary Christmas Cheer
Review: I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book but was pleasantly surprised by the great characters and story. It gives one some perspective on the way we deal with holidays. Treat yourself to some Christmas cheer and read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious holiday!
Review: This book is hilarious! It is a quick read and keeps you laughing just wondering what will happen next. You will identify with these characters and make your holidays look good!
Rating:
Summary: Skipping Christmas
Review: Not to beat the dickens out of Dickens, this best-selling novelist nevertheless delivers his own wise and humorous Christmas fable. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fun story
Review: It's a good, lighthearted story. Not your typical Grisham novel but it was a good read.
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