Skipping Christmas starts off with Luther and Nora Krank saying farewell at the airport to their daughter, Blair, as she departs to Peru to work for the Peace Corps. This is the first year she won't be celebrating Christmas with her family. Almost immediately afterward, Luther hatches a diabolical scheme - to skip celebrating Christmas altogether and depart on a cruise to the Caribbean instead, saving thousands of dollars in the process. At first Nora is reluctant but he persuades her and she finally accepts the idea. Now the married couple must endure the trials and tribulations that their Christmas fanatic neighborhood put them through and hope to come out not only alive but with a fantastic looking tan.I picked this book up for two reasons: one being that I was looking for something to accomplish a certain task in a book reading challenge, and two that I was looking forward to reading something by John Grisham. He's better known for his law and courtroom thrillers, and after reading Skipping Christmas I can clearly see why.The characters were all one-dimensional. Luther was the grumpy, unwilling, egotistical husband (notice how the last name conveniently be misinterpreted as cranky). Nora was the reluctant, easily brought to tears house wife. Blair was the perfect daughter that everyone loves. They were basically cardboard cut-outs and I didn't ever connect to any one of them: even the various people in their neighborhood seemed to be sadistic and cruel. Which brings me to my next point...Why were the people on Hemlock Street so harsh and unforgiving? I'm sure that various people due to their religions and beliefs choose not to celebrate Christmas. Yet, the poor Kranks were tortured tremendously and seemingly martyred for their outright refusal to participate in the annual festivities. I know that Grisham intended this to be humorous, but I thought all the characters and most of the plot (skipping Christmas and being hassled) was over the top and really generalized.Besides my forgiving rating system, the reason why Skipping Christmas managed to garner 2/5 stars was it's convenience. I can see how someone looking for a quick, easy read would enjoy this story. It had some funny moments, especially towards the end when the family is scurrying to create a positive experience. The writing was rather bland for my taste but probably accessible for someone looking for a fun, light Christmas story. Either way Skipping Christmas might want to be left alone until the holiday season comes around, because it would be difficult to get into at any other time of the year.
I was just going to skip this book and send it on, but the fact that it is written by John Grisham, and it is "a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of" the "holiday tradition" made me change my mind. Anyway, it is a very quick read, couple of hours so I decided to read it.I enjoyed it very much as it is quirky, snarky and laugh out loud funny. John Grisham is an accurate observer of, well everything he observes probably. In any case, he writes in an engaging and astute fashion and I loved reading a book that constantly made me laugh. From tanning beds to plastic Frosty snowmen on the roof, weird tropical outfits to Scrooge like tendencies, a daughter in the Peace Corp; John Grisham has everyone so well portrayed that a silly book becomes a real pleasure to read. I also loved the ending, cried even.Although there are some serious ideas met with here also, like what happens if you don't conform, when other people will support you and when they won't, even the pressures to be a giving person, a family person, not to be the one who says I am going to take a slice of life for me that doesn't involve doing something for someone else, and I am going to enjoy it!
What do You think about Skipping Christmas (2015)?
A long time ago I used to read John Grisham. A lot of John Grisham. I was definitely a fan of the courtroom drama written in his words. So, I thought this book might be a safe (and also easy) choice for book club. Not so. Unfortunately, this book was surprisingly terrible. It was so bad that it might just be the standard by which to judge all other terrible books. Underdeveloped, shallow characters, pointless diatribe, a complete lack of conviction, and a splash of random racism combine to make this a book you should probably avoid.And, what's worse is, the more I think about this book, the more I hate it.
—Marika Gillis
This satire on the commercialization of Christmas starts on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when the Luther and Nora Krank bid farewell to their young adult daughter who is leaving for Peru to serve the poorest of the poor in the Peace Corps. On a bit of a lark, they mutually decide that they've previously spent too much money, energy, and time on the commercialized celebration of Christmas. They opt instead to spend a fraction of this money on a cruise that will start on Christmas Day.Predictabl
—Elyse
This was a humorous, almost satirical look at the craziness of the holiday season. The antics that the Kranks get themselves into had me laughing out loud, and the twist towards the end of the novel had me gasping and thinking, "Oh, SNAP!" However, the middle of it dragged for me and had me wondering if we were ever going to get to the point. And the way that things worked out for the Kranks, while heartwarming and perfect for the season, seemed too abrupt and unbelievable, especially with how the neighborhood had banded together against them. There was never really a point where I felt like I "had to keep reading." I did enjoy the ending though, and thought that it was an appropriate close to the story. Overall, this was just okay for me--even though it was pretty funny and a good, light holiday read, a good deal of it seemed too convenient for the plot to flow well. Although I've never actually seen "Christmas with the Kranks," and although I almost never say this about books, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the movie is probably better than the book in this case.
—Jess
