Skipping Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Attorneys do have a sense of humor!
Review: Join Luther and Nora on their hysterical journey as they decide to give up the commercial trappings of Christmas, save their money, and go for a Carribean cruise. I laughed, I sympathized, I grew angry, I was sad, and finally - I cried tears of joy for the Kranks and their neighbors. This is a wonderful departure from the usual courtroom drama for John Grisham. I hope he'll write more books like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fun and enjoyable read
Review: I read this book in about two hours and laughed at loud several times throughout the book. The only problem I had with the book was how the neighbors treated them which I feel was a bit outrageous; however, the ending of the book makes the rest of the story digestible.

Rating:
Summary: A high quality short story, not a good novel
Review: You should read Skipping Christmas, it is a good book.
You should not buy Skipping Christmas, it is not a good novel.

After hitting a cold spell with the Street Lawyer and the Testament, Grisham proved again that he is an excellent writer with The Painted House. This short little novel is also well written, humourous and entertaining.

Every neighborhood has a family who decorates their house for Christmas in every way possible. They put up lights and statues and snowmen and everything else. In Skipping Christmas, those people all move into one neighborhood. This book is a satire. Each family in the neighborhood represents a slightly different trait in looking at Christmas. Luther and Nora Krank represent the desire to not have to participate in all of the meaningless nonsense of parties and cards and decorating. The novel concludes with a tidy little episode that doesn't quite warm the heart, but does bring a smile to the face.

...It is only 177 pages (small pages) and can easily be read in afternoon...

...this could have gone directly to movie form, which is obviously what it is geared to. As mentioned earlier, there are no real characters in the story. Every single person is a stereotype, from the cops collecting for charity to the office Christmas parties to the boy scouts selling Christmas trees. Visually, this would make a great movie because there are many comedic moments, but for a novel it is too lightweight.

Also, the ending isn't original. It reminds me of the movie Funny Farm. While a lot of ideas are borrowed or shared, the ending also is very predictable. There was really no other way out of the jam Luther and Nora got themselves in.

I'm glad I read Skipping Christmas. It entertained me for a few hours. I'm also glad I checked it out from the Library instead of buying it. If I'm going to buy a novel, I want it to last awhile.

Rating:
Summary: Completely shallow
Review: Big waste of money and time. Most shallow treatment of a good idea I've seen in a long time. When I was about three-fourths of the way through, I found myself wondering if maybe he knocked it out in about 2 or 3 days. Research pretty much nonexistent. No way this would've ever been published if he wasn't John Grisham. I found several implausibilities and at least one inconsistency that must have been an oversight on Grisham's part. It also contained a few typos, something you wouldn't expect to see in publishing at this level. Seems even the publisher just threw it out there as an afterthought. I want a refund.

Rating:
Summary: This is a very funny book.......
Review: This is a very delightful story....and makes for very funny reading, especially at the Christmas Holidays! I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Rating:
Summary: Not quite pop-fiction
Review: When I finished Skipping Christmas I was startled that this book was written by one of America's foremost "popular" fiction authors and yet not a single review I have read has alluded to its subsurface meaning. It reminded of another "popular" fiction author from over a century ago, Mark Twain. When Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn I'm not sure how long it was before people began to decipher its true meaning. Grisham has made a distinct, acerbic attack at popular American "Christmas" culture. Its protagonist, the residents on Hemlock (Socrates anyone?) Street, and the people of the District demonstrate a truly blind religious hypocrisy that is not resolved at the novel's so-called conclusion. I have no idea if Grisham did this on purpose- but if he did than I'm sure he's having the last laugh right now.

Rating:
Summary: Skipping Christmas
Review: Dear Readers
This book is some what different than other from John Grisham. It has that Christmas spirit of having family around and than gone to thier jobs the next day. Its a wonderful read with the familiar characters in Mr. Grisham's Book. It's a nice read on a plane ride or gift for that law student or college student who loves to read. I'm a middle school teacher, and love history, but i read my book during our final days before school let out for the holidays. One day, one of my student made a comment and asked me why i was always reading. I told her that i was trying to get into the christmas spirit. But sir" Your reading a book entitled Skipping Christmas" I know that what makes it so fun? Enjoy.
Ray Contreras

Rating:
Summary: Grisham's blandest book yet
Review: This book reads as if it were written by a first-time novelist. The story line is dull and the characters are flatter than paper dolls. I got the feeling Grisham wrote this one in a hurry. The saddest part is that the two main characters, weary of the commercialism and chaos of Christmases past, decide to completely skip Christmas. The story would have proved much more compelling had the characters tried to skip the commercialism but find a more meaningful and spiritual way to celebrate the holiday.

Rating:
Summary: Skipping Christmas
Review: I thought it was an unusal work for John. It was cute and sweet. I enjoyed it but somehow the title is missing something. I wouldn't of called it skipping Christmas

Rating:
Summary: A short, sweet Christmas story
Review: This book is an easy read and very lighthearted, yet the message is quite clear - the true meaning of Christmas (albeit the non-religious one) is about giving and how generous and unpredictable the human spirit can be in times of need. I can definitely see this book becoming a made-for-tv holiday favorite. It's light and fun to read, and it has a very touching ending that will surpise you.