Skipping Christmas

"Skipping Christmas" is a fun and funny quick read geared toward the Christmas season. The story focuses on a pair of newly empty-nesters and their plan to skip the stress and monetary commitment of the season, going on a cruise instead. Their reasoning is logical, and the hijinks which ensue as they try to explain to everyone that they are skipping Christmas are the main source of the story’s humor. Though adults will no doubt be able to relate, children, for whom Christmas tends to be more magical and less stressful, are less likely to see the humor. For this reason, though the novel has practically no objectionable material, a surprisingly wholesome and heartfelt message, and an easily digestible writing style, I am recommending it only for older audiences. Being critical, I would say the plot is a bit thin and exists largely to progress the comedy. Normally this would be a problem, but given the relatively short length of the novel and the comedic focus of the story, it works here. It is also worth noting I was initially off put by what feels like a very cynical outlook on Christmas; however, by the end it is clear the message is that of true Christmas Spirit. I had a good time with "Skipping Christmas" and have included it on my annual holiday reading list.

Christmas with the Kranks (my favorite Christmas movie) is based off of this book. When I found out, I had to read it! One example of a movie that actually follows the book. Was a quick read, so could be re-read every year for the holidays!

Oh man, I could barely get through this one. It was so not like I expected from this author. It was dumb, a dumb plot.Waste of time.

Someday he will get the right one, hopefully

Laugh yourself through a small novel unlike nothing Grisham has ever written before. This book is similar to "Lampoon's Christmas" with a different twist. A couple bids their only daughter goodbye for a one year stint in the Peace Corps. They decide to avoid all the hastles of celebrating Christmas this year by taking a cruise. If I told you anymore, I'd give it away!! The book is fast paced, funny, ends with a tear, and would be a great gift for anyone, especially those suffering from "empty nest syndrome" for the first time.

A GREAT APPRECIATION OF THE HOLIDAY HUSTLE WILL OVERCOME YOU AS YOU LAUGH AND GRIN THROUGHOUT SKIPPING CHRISTMAS. ALL THE NUIANCES OF THE HOLIDAYS BLARE OUT FROM THIS NOVEL AND MIX WITH REAL LIFE. WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED READING THIS YOU CRAVE ANOTHER HOLIDAY NOVEL BY GRISHAM.

Who *hasn't* felt the way Luther and Nora Krank feel when they decide to sit this Christmas out? Identification with that feeling immediately connects you to the main characters of this charming, outrageously funny book. The societal pressures the Kranks have to face in their quest for a non-holiday holiday are those that, while made larger for the sake of fiction, we all face when deviating from the norm. More subtly, I imagine Grisham has illuminated what it must feel like to be one of the small groups of Americans who don't celebrate Christmas *any* year.I dare not say more lest I give away any of the plot of this absolutely terrific book. Just read it, you'll love it -- as long as you're looking for something fun. This book is not meant to be great literary fiction. It is a light-hearted Christmas tale with a sappy ending. (Would you really want anything different for a Christmas story?) It's a quick read (I read it in two hours) and laugh-out-loud funny. I actually laughed myself to tears reading this book -- a first for me!I highly recommend this tale as a respite from the stresses of the holidays -- perhaps while waiting to get on a plane to your holiday destination!

We've all been fed up with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season at one time or another. This book shows that feeling this way isn't necesarily a bad feeling but it's not what the holidays are all about. The lead character is Luther Krank, a man totally mad that he is going through another boring, debt-filled Christmas. He thinks if he ignores the holiday completely and goes on a cruise instead that it will pass un-noticed. He learns through trials and tribulations that money and crowds and last minute shopping are not at all what Christmas is about. Rather, friendship and family makes our lives worthwhile!! A treasure of a book that i'd highly reccommend to all and I will probably find myself reading every year at this time!

I hesitated reading it. I liked the early 'classic' Grishams, but did not like the shift in genre with "the Painted House" and was appropriately cautious when approaching this book. I was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is a quick read. Yes, the main character's last name is too obvious. However, I could quickly sympathize with the main character's desire to just skip the commercial trappings of Christmas, just once! It was cathartic to watch someone else swim against the tide of commercialism. The plot twists were not expected at all (maybe I am just slow) but worked out nicely. Was the ending a little smaltzy? Sort of, but I still thought it was a good ending. I rarely buy Grisham in hardcover, but I have added this one to my library of holiday books. Maybe not the book to read on Christmas Eve by the fire, but give it a try before you start decorating, shopping and writing Christmas cards and you may just look at the frenzy with a fresh view. Finally, be prepared to laugh. The mental image evoked by a certain rooftop scene reduced me to tears. I agree with another reviewer that this could very well be made into a movie and completely agree with Steve Martin as the main character! Enjoy!!