Rating:  Summary: A Different John Grisham, But Still Good Review: "Skipping Christmas" is obviously a walk on the light side for John Grisham. His presentation reminds me of the well known "It's a Wonderful Life" and not so well known "West Point" by Norman Thomas Remick. Like the above stories, "Skipping Christmas" cleverly informs an important contemporary issue through an easy, refreshing presentation. Hats off to the author for recognizing that people would love to skip the hassles of Christmas, will read about skipping Christmas, but will never do it. In fact, they'll show their true colors by buying this book ------- for Christmas.
Rating:  Summary: Relaxing Reading Review: This book was easy to read and was very interesting in detail and description. The author made me feel like I knew exactly how the people felt and what was going on. This was the first book I read by John Grisham and would probably read more of his work. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.
Rating:  Summary: Timely and Timeless Review: Grisham's "Skipping Christmas" highlights the chaos of the holiday season in entertaining ways. He focuses on the social obligations that have come to represent Christmas and paints believable and comic relationships between characters and their circumstances. While the serious underlying message is there to enjoy, the last fifty pages were full of smiles and laughs. Unpretentous and not over-drawn, this book deserves to be re-read and shared.
Rating:  Summary: Save your money. Review: This book is awful. I have read each Grisham novel and he has hit the bottom hard. It is apparent that Grisham and the publishers know that many people will rush out and buy his new books based on his reputation--so why put in any effort anymore. I will no longer buy his books based on his reputation, I will wait for him to put in a good effort. The price for this novelette equates to stealing.
Rating:  Summary: A good premise but too extreme and very inaccurate Review: My husband and I "skipped Christmas" once by going to Australia and would like to do it again but not to the extreme that Grisham did. You can buy the calendars & friut cakes and put your frosty on the roof and still skip all the other hassles. The biggest problem I had with his book was his research mistakes. Just like his last book, he either decided to do no research or didn't care about being accurate. There is no ship called "Island" Princess but I'll let that one go. But Princess (and many other lines) does not have any 10 day voyage that stops in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, those are all 7 day trips. And the biggest blunder - cruise insurance does NOT pay if you change your mind! Many people found this out after 9/11. You have to have a valid (insured) reason to cancel your trip. So his multiple remarks about not having bought insurance wouldn't have made a bit of difference.
Rating:  Summary: A Reader from Tennessee Review: This was not a typical effort from Grisham, but delightful and refreashing! Looking forward to "The Summons"Keep it up John Grisham. You're a natural!
Rating:  Summary: Fun Christmas or post-Christmas read Review: Saw the book in the store and loved it since the first page. I picked it up thinking, "I am sure I won't like it". Read the first 2 pages and couldn't put it down but thought I will go around to look at other books and forget about it. But couldn't leave without buying it. I read it over 2 days and got a lot of laughs out of it.Keep them coming Mr. Grisham!!!
Rating:  Summary: GRISHAM SHOULD WRITE WHAT HE KNOWS BEST Review: Grisham's vacation from writing legal whodunits is costing him his fine reputation, at least with me. He's been one of my favorite authors ever since I read his first book years ago, but he won't be long at the rate he's going. I'm hoping for better fare soon. "Skipping Christmas" was predictable, unimaginative, colorless and, while short, was too long. One of the first rules of writing is to write what you know about; apparently Grisham knows precious little about skipping Christmas, daughters who go away, and the reaction of neighbors. I wondered what he was doing, except trying something a bit different, when he wrote "A Painted House," but it turned out to be interesting at least when listened to on cassette. It was a diversion for sure, but interesting and somewhat realistic. But "Skipping Christmas"? No, Mr. Grisham, it is in no way up to your usual standards or mine. Writing the umpteenth book about legal eagles probably is more than a bit challenging but you can do it. I'm waiting for my copy of "The Summons" with great anticipation.
Rating:  Summary: A great uplifting book Review: I read this book in one day. I could not put it down I wanted to know what happened next. I read it about a week before Christmas and I laughed and cried all at the same time. It really will touch a nerve if not your heart. I bought 2 more copies and gave them as Chrismas qifts. I will be buying more copies for gifts next year. I hope he writes another book like this one. Maybe a series.
Rating:  Summary: Cute story Review: This is a cute story, and well written, as are all of Grisham's works. If you're looking for something short and sweet, particularly around the holiday season, it does the trick. I found the plot a little farfetched at times, though, and do wish that I'd gotten it from the library rather than as a free literary group selection. I was anxious to read, but now feel like I wasted my choice, and should have gotten a more substantial and thought-provoking book.
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