Rating: 
Summary: fabulous little book
Review: This book was very comical, and reminded me of some christmases past with my own family. I would definetely recomend reading it. Although, the story is kinda slow in coming to the plot, it is an easy read. Not much mystery involved however. Being that its a John Grisham novel I sort of expected it to pack a bit of a punch in that category. Some of the scenerios that Mr. Krank went through actually made me laugh out loud. In all its a very good book.
Rating: 
Summary: An Easy but Pleasant Read
Review: As John Grisham is one of my favorite authors, and a friend had reccomended Skipping Christmas to me, I decided to spend a few hours reading this skinny novel. I was told that it was "hilarious", and even though it was September and nowhere near Christmas, I decided that I could use a light book to break me from the heavy reading I'd been doing.I wouldn't really describe the beginning of the book as hilarious, but it did describe how Christmas has gotten entirely out-of-control. However, near the middle to the end of the book, I found myself cracking up after every sentence. If you're looking for a light and funny read, Skipping Christmas is a must.
Rating:
Summary: Lighthearted and humorous
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this light satire. I think many people can identify with Luther Krank, fed up with the expense, commercialism and stress of the Christmas season and desiring nothing more than to just skip it altogether. Yet, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for - you just might get it! I especially enjoyed the scenes with the crazy neighbors competing over the Christmas decorations ( I wonder if Clark Griswald lived on Hemlock Street?) Not to mention the hilarious sales pitches Luther must fend off for everything from fruit cakes to calendars. The premise of this book is not new but it's a cute story and will make you smile. And possibly take your mind off counting the number of shopping days left till Christmas!
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I enjoyed this book, and it would be a great movie. I think that it had many halirous antics that just added to the story. It was a very enjoyable book with a great plot. I think that grisham was smart to move away from his thrilling lawyer books and move to a more light topic. As luther and Nora krank have numerous differnt thing happen to them that makes it harder and harder to skip christmas the movie just gets funnier and funnier. If any one makes this a movie i will go see it
Rating:
Summary: Grisham-Lite? The Not-So Firm?
Review: After reading several reviews of "Grisham Lite" and "The Not-So Firm," I decided to spend a couple of hours with 'Skipping Christmas.' After all, it seemed to me everyone either loved the book or hated it. I was curious to see which camp I fell into. Luther and Nora Krank live in a nice neighborhood, make good money, and pretty much have an enviable life. When their daughter Blair joins the Peace Corps and announces that she'll be gone for a few years, the Kranks sit down and think: "Hey, Blair's gone...we're tired of all the time and money we spend on Christmas commercialism and keeping up with the Joneses...Let's skip Christmas this year!" But word gets out around the neighborhood: The Kranks aren't going to have a Christmas tree, OR a Frosty the Snowman on their roof, OR buy Christmas cards, or anything related to the holidays. Instead, they're going on a cruise. It's not long before the Kranks become public enemies Nos. 1 & 2 on Hemlock Street. Grisham, to his credit, has produced a good look at the insanity of the holiday season and how it affects us all. He does cleverly expose our crazy holiday thinking, our commercialism, and our lack of recognizing the true meaning of the holiday. But I wish the book had been a little more hard-hitting and a little less "It's a Wonderful Life"-ish. Even so, 'Skipping Christmas' is an enjoyable way to spend a couple of sane hours before the mad dash begins.
177 pages
Rating: 
Summary: I love John Grisham, but...
Review: This is far below his best work. Gisham is in his element writing about lawyers. A Painted House, while given great reviews, wasn't nearly as good as his gripping legal suspense novels. I must say that Skipping Christmas should be skipped. It might have been all right as a short story, but as a novel, I kept wondering when it would get interesting. It never did. Buy any other Grisham book, but don't buy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Hillarious
Review: Skipping Christmas is about a family who's daughter goes to South America for Christmas. The father, Luther Krank, a penny pinching buisnessman decides that he and his wife, Nora, will not be spending Christmas this year but go on a wonderful cruise. Their plans are thwarted by a simple phone call that tells them that their daughter will be coming home and with a fiancee. She thinks that a large party is in store for her when she returns and expects lavish decorations all over the house. As you might guess, hilarity ensues which comes to show that you should be ready for any single thing that comes your way.
Rating:
Summary: A hilariously entertaining read!
Review: The idea of skipping Christmas made for a clever plot indeed! The ensuing problems that Luther and Nora Krank face due to their unorthodox decision and how they deal with those problems are what made this book one of the most enjoyable reads I've had for a long time. The character of Luther is what makes the book - his words, thoughts and actions - all perfect for those of us who enjoy sarcasm at it's best. Who hasn't felt overwhelmed by all the unnecessary obligations that have somehow become part of the Christmas celebration - and to which we'd all like to have the courage to chuck at times? The book is in no way a mockery towards the celebration of Christmas, which would offend some people, including myself, but rather an extremely humorous look at how many things went seriously wrong from what appeared on the face of it, to be a brilliant idea. It's not often I find myself laughing out loud when reading a book. I will be buying this book as a gift this Christmas for many of my friends. If they don't enjoy it, then I would have to wonder if they've become too serious.
Rating: 
Summary: Good concept, but....
Review: I thought that the concept of this story was rather interesting. How many times I haven't wanted to just focus on the true meaning of Christmas and not get caught by the commercial trappings this holiday brings every year. But it was the characters of this book that left me disappointed.
First the neighbors: if my neighbors harassed me the way the Krank's neighbors did, I would be searching for greener pastures in no time. How you choose to celebrate the holiday is your own business, no one else's.
Then the wife, Nora - Good Lord, why didn't she just tell her daughter the truth?! There is nothing wrong with what she and her husband were planning, in fact it's not that uncommon for couples whose children are grown to get out of town for Christmas. My husband and I contemplated it many times before our children were born.
And then the daughter - to just assume that her parents would have the home fires burning the way they've always been...and show up practically unannounced and assume that her parents couldn't possibly have other plans...what a selfish brat!
The reason I am giving this book three stars instead of one or two was because of the way the neighbors did come through in the end, and it was a light, funny read. I agree with some of the other readers that it would make a great comedy movie...although I picture Craig T. Nelson as Luther. Just a thought.
Rating:
Summary: Soon-to-be-Christmas-classic
Review: Although it's wierd to think of John Grisham beyond the lawyer book stereotype, this book about a couple who wishes to simply skip Christmas one year is just as entertaining as his other works. Grisham takes us on a seemingly easy task of forgetting a holiday and taking a cruise and ends up with a hillarious scene involving rope and those lights that have a habit of getting tangled in themselves.
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