Santa Steps Out

Rating:
Summary: A lucious book that everyone should indulge in....
Review: "Santa Steps Out" by Robert Devereaux is a great book. When I picked it up I had no idea what I was getting into, but as I read on, I became so intruigued by it. I'll look forward to all the holidays from now on......

Rating:
Summary: HO HO HO, HO!
Review: A DELIGHTFUL, MAGICAL STORY OF WONDER AND BOOBIES. GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE WORDS, "SIT ON MY LAP.".....

Rating:
Summary: Santa Steps Out
Review: As the holidays approach, I'm sure the vivid images from this novel will come to mind. I suggest that if you're easily offended then avoid this book!! If you read this novel, try to have an open mind. I gave this novel 4 stars simply for imagination.

Rating:
Summary: Really Mr. Devereaux, Santa?? or Satan!!!
Review: Every book has one: a "Moment of Truth," that fleeting, cerebral occurrence where the reader either falls in love with the story and can't wait to finish the work--or a troubling sensation of glaring disappointment, prompting the reader to toss the book aside, or finish it grudgingly. For me, SANTA STEPS OUT evoked the latter, as Devereaux sends his story into an abyss of nonsense--much like the demise of the TV series "Happy Days," when Fonzie jumped the shark during that fateful and ridiculous episode.

Three stars go to the author. In a word, Devereaux can flat out write; his prose is fluent and majestic, metaphorically the equal of rushing waters down the Falls of Rauros, set against the steep austerity of the hills of Emyn Muil. But all of the author's skills, and they are considerable, cannot salvage a story that starts and stays out of control.

Granted, the story on its face is preposterous--the sexual escapades and subsequent dysfunction of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny--and I knew that before I picked up the book. But can such a story, one as gawdy and irreverent as this one, be salvageable? Sure. But SANTA STEPS OUT doesn't have a direction or purpose or message: only chaos. And the book blindly "jumps the shark" when Anya (Mrs. Claus), decides to seek vengeance on her unfaithful mate by wrapping herself in "magic time" and having sex with hundreds of Santa's elves. Laughable? Yes. Believable (based on the previous portrayal of this character)? Uh, no.

But such, alas, is the fate of SANTA STEPS OUT, as Devereaux's characters are woefully inconsistent from paragragh to paragraph, let alone chapter to chapter. And despite writing that can only be labeled as superb, this story dissolves into absolute goofiness.

Rating:
Summary: Santa Jumps the Shark in this Romp
Review: Every book has one: a "Moment of Truth," that fleeting, cerebral occurrence where the reader either falls in love with the story and can't wait to finish the work--or a troubling sensation of glaring disappointment, prompting the reader to toss the book aside, or finish it grudgingly. For me, SANTA STEPS OUT evoked the latter, as Devereaux sends his story into an abyss of nonsense--much like the demise of the TV series "Happy Days," when Fonzie jumped the shark during that fateful and ridiculous episode.

Three stars go to the author. In a word, Devereaux can flat out write; his prose is fluent and majestic, metaphorically the equal of rushing waters down the Falls of Rauros, set against the steep austerity of the hills of Emyn Muil. But all of the author's skills, and they are considerable, cannot salvage a story that starts and stays out of control.

Granted, the story on its face is preposterous--the sexual escapades and subsequent dysfunction of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny--and I knew that before I picked up the book. But can such a story, one as gawdy and irreverent as this one, be salvageable? Sure. But SANTA STEPS OUT doesn't have a direction or purpose or message: only chaos. And the book blindly "jumps the shark" when Anya (Mrs. Claus), decides to seek vengeance on her unfaithful mate by wrapping herself in "magic time" and having sex with hundreds of Santa's elves. Laughable? Yes. Believable (based on the previous portrayal of this character)? Uh, no.

But such, alas, is the fate of SANTA STEPS OUT, as Devereaux's characters are woefully inconsistent from paragragh to paragraph, let alone chapter to chapter. And despite writing that can only be labeled as superb, this story dissolves into absolute goofiness.

Rating:
Summary: A deliciously naughty fairy tale
Review: Finally, the story of Santa every grown-up has wanted to read. An intriguing weave of past and present mythology that enlivens the origins of our favorite childhood myths. Thanks to some divine intervention, Santa and the incredibly sexy and naughty Tooth Fairy cross paths unleashing their buried pasts and desires. Throw in a jealous Mrs. Claus, an insatiably horny easter bunny, Santa's mortal love interest, and watch the mayhem and bloodshed ensue. The story is shocking, appalling, and fills you with disbelief, but you end up enjoying and relishing every page. "Santa Steps Out" is the most creative and thoroughly entertaining book I've read in years.

Rating:
Summary: The Weirdest Christmas Novel Ever!
Review: I bought this book from Amazon.com after noticing it in my local CVS drug store. I didn't really know what it was about, except that it was a horror novel that had to do with Santa. I'm always up for that, but nothing could have prepared me for this book!

While Devereaux isn't the first to eroticize Santa, he's done it in a way I've never seen before. And it's not just Santa that's looking for a good time. Sex is everywhere in this fairy tale. Just when you think you've seen the peak of outrageousness, Devereaux goes one step beyond.

This is one of the most original novels of any genre I've ever read. Almost everyone is someone who they didn't used to be. It's so outrageous it's downright hysterical! I dare not say too much because new readers deserve all the surprises this title holds.

Another thing I liked was that Devereaux actually explains the history of how this book came into being, and why he wrote it. While I read it, I kept thinking, What's this guy smoking??? Devereaux has the unique ability to open his mind and let everything spill forth, no holding back. As one reviewer stated, it's not for the easily offended, but if you, too, have an open mind, you'll enjoy this wild ride of sex, love, and perversion.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre
Review: I equate this book to a car wreck...you don't want to look, but you have to. I got this book because of the premise...Santa steps out on Mrs. Claus..there's bound to be some interesting results. Interesting is not a word strong enough! I love the strange, the morbid, the sick and demented, but this was extreme. I couldn't help but think the book was written for shock-value in hopes of getting the curios to buy. I guess it works in that respect. The story involves Santa's affair with the Tooth Fairy and snowballs into a sex-fest. There is very graphic sex involving everyone and their grandmother, to the sexual assult of a mortal woman by the Easter Bunny, who just happens to be a voyer. Ummmm...can I just say...Ewwww. I think the humor in the book is way off the mark and borders on sick. I can't even imagine what goes on in the head of the author to dream up such grim circumstances these characters create. Highly disappointed with this novel and never, ever want to read it, or see it, again.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre
Review: I equate this book to a car wreck...you don't want to look, but you have to. I got this book because of the premise...Santa steps out on Mrs. Claus..there's bound to be some interesting results. Interesting is not a word strong enough! I love the strange, the morbid, the sick and demented, but this was extreme. I couldn't help but think the book was written for shock-value in hopes of getting the curios to buy. I guess it works in that respect. The story involves Santa's affair with the Tooth Fairy and snowballs into a sex-fest. There is very graphic sex involving everyone and their grandmother, to the sexual assult of a mortal woman by the Easter Bunny, who just happens to be a voyer. Ummmm...can I just say...Ewwww. I think the humor in the book is way off the mark and borders on sick. I can't even imagine what goes on in the head of the author to dream up such grim circumstances these characters create. Highly disappointed with this novel and never, ever want to read it, or see it, again.

Rating:
Summary: A Huge Disappointment
Review: I had heard nothing but good things about Santa Steps Out, a book that was supposed to be revolutionnary, highly imaginative and very entertaining. Part of what is now being called splatter lit, the books was supposed to offer new kinds of thrills as it takes the supposed-to-be-good story of Santa Claus and turn it into a violence mess of violence and sex.

But in the end, the book was a big disappointment. Sure, the story does have a nice dose of originality; here you have Santa who's tired of his borish job and who finds solace when he starts an affair with the Tooth Fairy. But then, of course, Mother Claus (called Anya) discovers her husband's unfaithfulness and seeks vengence. Add to this a jealous Easter Bunny and you have a basis that could have formed a very twisted, very original story.

Unfortunately, Devereaux doesn't seem to know exactly where his story is heading and because of that, the plot is very thin and the book itself feels long, even though it is only 350 pages. There is A LOT of repetition and a few very long passages that should have been edited out since they do very little for the plot except to stall it.

It's too bad, because this book could have been a great re-telling of the whole Santa and Tooth Fairy mythos. But instead, it stalls into the same place for too long and never reaches its full potential. This is far from being the revisionist tale I was expecting.