Rating:  Summary: Good Shot, But Not Quite on Center Review: I've never read Grisham before. I bought this because I like a good Christmas read. My ten year old and my wife breezed through it before I could get to it. Overall, I liked the message Grisham is sending in this book. I think we all get tired of the insane commercialism and obligations of Christmas. I could easily aspire to Luther Krank's agenda for avoiding it all this one year. As a reader, one does feel sympathy toward the Kranks and hopes they can pull it off. Their spolied daughter is the one that makes you sick in the end. I guess I did not give it more stars because of the creative possibilities that could have been explored if Grisham went another route. It is a very readable book no matter. Buy it to day at Amazon.Com!
Rating:  Summary: Unlike any other Grisham book I've read! Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to follow and made me laugh and cry, which I don't usually do when I read books. You will enjoy it too!
Rating:  Summary: Fun read for the harried holidays Review: Grisham has written a thoroughly enjoyable satire of modern Christmas traditions. While it may not have the complexity of Updike or Lodge, Skipping Christmas does hilariously examine the ambivalence that many of us feel toward aspects of society, while reminding us that our cultural institutions really do serve a purpose after all. The Kranks, who don't really deserve that name since they have only the very best of intentions and possess a fairly normal number of foibles, attempt to step outside their neighbor's expectations by booking a Caribbean cruise over the holidays. Of course the only question is how, where and when will the spirit of Christmas manifest itself. There could be many endings possible but the one thing I guarantee is that there won't be any lawyers involved!
Rating:  Summary: It's so short you've got to read it. Review: This story is only a days worth of reading. With the humor, and small amout of reflection this books invokes it's worth the time and money. I wouldn't be suprized to see this made into a movie.
Rating:  Summary: John Grisham's practical joke Review: The joke is on the reader. John Grisham shows how secular, shallow, and superficial Christmas has become by serving up a shallow, one-dimensional, formula story. I read this book in one sitting at the airport, I can't really say it was a complete waste of time, I could have been shopping for Christmas presents for my friends that don't really need or want the gifts, that would have been a complete waste of time. I can see this becoming the latest Disney "formula" movie that will be popular and make quite a bit of money for the all-consuming entertainment giant, as it has for Grisham and publisher. Just think of all the people buying last minutes gifts for Christmas, and picking up this book because it looked "Cute". I won't recommend this book to anyone, but I give 5 stars to the author and publisher for this most intelligent and well-devised "can't lose" marketing scheme. The joke is on us, lesson learned well. Christmas has become nothing but a way for the retailers to grab as much money from us as possible. I had hopes that this book would end with some deep thought or meaning for the holidays, but no such luck. Next time I pick up something to read in the airport, it'll be a Reader's Digest, at least there you get shallow stories and jokes.
Rating:  Summary: Lighten up! It's Christmas. Review: For crying out loud, can't Grisham have any fun? This is a wonderful hilarious book about one poor smuck trying to get away with his wife for a 10 day cruise and forgetting all about the Christmas hulabaloo altogether.It is a laugh out loud kind of book and just because it doesn't have 15 lawyers in it, some of my fellow reviewers are criticizing it. Buy it, read it and enjoy it in the spirit in which it was written.
Rating:  Summary: If it didn't have the words "John Grisham" on the cover... Review: I have really enjoyed all Grisham's other books, including the out-of-character "Painted House", but if this book had not been written by an already very sucessful writer, it would never have been published. What is meant to be subtle is boring and what is meant to be indentifiable and comforting is painfully predictable.
Rating:  Summary: Uninspired Review: The mix of an unoriginal storyline and uninteresting characters resulting in a less than enjoyable read. Not one of Grisham's best works.
Rating:  Summary: Grisham's Weakest Book Review: This is my far John Grisham's weakest book. He is one of my favorite authors, so I was quite disappointed when I finished reading Skipping Christmas. Although it is a short novel, I took my time finishing it because it just wasn't a page turner as nearly all Grisham's books are. The book's greatest downfall comes from its complete focus on the negitive aspects of Christmas. It certainly did not put me in the Christmas spirit.
Rating:  Summary: Waste of Time Review: With the talent that John Grisham possesses in his ability to write a great mystery novel, this story is silly and much beneath him and his skills. I found it a time waster and I regret the money I paid to purchase it. Mr. Grisham -- stick to what you do best!
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