I just re-read this because I needed a Christmas themed book for a book challenge. My opinion of it is still the same: meh. I still can't believe it was written by John Grisham. Comedy is not his thing. There are a few endearing parts of the book, so I will give it 3 stars.

Sinospsis super sintética: Tras despedir en el aeropuerto a su hija, una pareja llega a la conclusión de que la Navidad no será lo mismo sin ella y deciden saltearse la celebración. Es acá donde los problemas comienzan. Lo curioso de este libro es que supuestamente tiene una gran carga de humor, y a mí solo me generó mucho fastidio, sobre todo por el nivel de egoísmo y obsesión que tiene el entorno social de esta pareja, en especial los vecinos, que son unos chismosos insufribles.

Realmente terminé un poco irritada, molesta por cómo se "resolvió" todo en el libro, las decisiones tomadas, lo absurdo de algunas situaciones y actitudes de los personajes. Entiendo que buena parte del libro busca ser una crítica social ante el consumismo, el materialismo y todas las estupideces banales que giran en torno a la Navidad. Sin embargo llega un punto en el que se torna insostenible, al menos para mí. Y una de las peores cosas que tiene el libro, lo que más me hizo ruido al finalizar la lectura, es que en oportunidades se dejaban ver algunos comentarios sumamente racistas. Intenté darle la vuelta para no pensar mal, pero no hay con qué darle. Y por lo que pude ver en otras reseñas, no soy la única que lo sintió así. Mal por Grisham, y qué mala impresión me dejó con este primer libro que leo de su autoría. Quizá no fue la mejor bienvenida.

A pesar de todo, la lectura es ágil y entretenida hasta cierto punto, y seguramente pruebe otros títulos del autor para no quedarme con un mal sabor de boca. Finalmente, cumple con la consigna del reto de la Very Merry Readathon, en el cual estoy participando al momento de escribir la reseña. Con motivo de la maratón, haré un vlog de lectura y lo subiré en mi canal muy pronto, por si gustan ver: https://www.youtube.com/coosburton

This book starts off with a rather hefty dose of reality check about the Christmas period shopping binges we all partake in.

Set in an all-American town, in a street not unlike those you see in the kids Christmas movies, Skipping Christmas follows a couple through an interesting idea.

Luther and Nora Krank give up the turkey and all the trimmings, turn a blind eye to the street Christmas light competition and refuse to decorate their house, and, instead plan a get away to the Caribbean on a cruise.

I liked the sound of this story, but the first 80% of the book was a bit too negative for me. All the trials and tribulations Nora and Luther face seemed a bit too much, their supposed friends and colleagues not being even remotely supportive.

It was, for a fair chunk of the story, tracking for a two star rating, but the Christmassy ending boosted its overall likability.

Certainly very christmas oriented, this one should get you in the Christmas spirit if you can make it to the end.

I was not much impressed by this book. I should have read the reviews more closely because lots of people seem to feel the same and worse! The story was weak, the characters unlikeable and there was really very little humour. For me it fell apart right from the basic premise that the Kranks were doing something unusual in going on holiday over Xmas. Really? Millions of people do it every year including me some years. And the neighbours were just awful. I suppose it was intended to be funny but I barely raised a smile. Apologies to readers who liked it but it obviously was not my cup of tea!

Predivna priča.

I have seen Christmas with the Kranks numerous times and finally read the book Skipping Christmas. The book is very similar to the movie, but of course the book is so much better. Why because you can see inside of Luther mind. Luther is wonderful. He doesn't want to do Christmas and go on a cruse instead, but the catch not to celebrate Christmas at all. His thoughts are brilliant. You will laugh out loud at that he is thinking. Nora unlike Luther struggles with the decision but goes along anyways. This is not a Christian book but throughout the book Luther struggles with Christmas becoming material and not the true meaning: Celebrating Jesus birth. This book is so much fun and another book you can read in a day. I highly recommend this book, even if you saw the movie. Trust me, its so worth it!!

There was nothing wrong with this book. My two stars are a reflection of my enjoyment (or lack thereof), not Grisham’s skill. I have always loved Grisham and remember anxiously awaiting his next release with almost the amount of anticipation I reserve for Stephen King or Colleen McCullough. That waned after the tenth book in a row written with the Grisham “David & Goliath” formula, so I remember the excitement that THIS book would be different. And it was. Careful what you wish for…
This had its funny moments. I think we've all wanted to skip Christmas at some point and the lengths to which the Kranks go to make that happen are funny. Behind the funny though was discomfort for me. Their neighbors reacted with such animosity. What business was it of theirs? I want to believe it was unrealistic as well, but I can’t quite convince myself that it is.
Despite moments of discomfort the story ends with a “Happily ever after…” feel that I found very, very unbelievable. This was my library’s book club selection for December and the book was so blah that we were finished discussing in about 20 minutes. Usually they are shoving us out the door as the library closes two full hours after club begins, but this month we just chatted. That’s a failure in my eyes!
The one thing we all discussed for most of the time was “Who the hell was Marty?”! If anyone knows, please tell me your theories. :D

The movie based on this book, Christmas with the Kranks, was funnier. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis made the main characters a bit more likable. Here, Luther was just curmudgeonly and Nora was whiny. And everyone’s judgment about their decision to go on a cruise and skip Christmas was annoying, not funny. This was not the book to put me in the Christmas spirit or to end the year.

A book I've almost hated til the last ten pages. I felt ashamed of the rude treatment against the Krank family, for their embarrasssment and for the farcical Christmas misanscene, a desperate run for food, gifts and others little nonsensenses. with such neighbors you don't need enemies.
Then the final washes almost all...

(To the tune of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.')

You're a weird one, Mr. Grisham. You've penned a comic tale.
It's a holiday disaster. It's a hopeless humor fail.
That apes The Grinch!
This silly story of an accountant rejecting Christmas... is amusement's coffin's nail.

You tried to branch out, Mr. Grisham. You're the king, of legal thrills.
But it turns out schmaltz and parody were not among your skills.
Says this Grinch!
And I wouldn't read it again... if you paid all my bills.

Note: It's not THAT bad. But I was in a grinchy mood when I wrote this.

Edited 10/27/2018

The story is simple enough: the only child of a family won't be home for Christmas, so the parents decide to treat themselves to a cruise instead of dealing with all the drama that comes along with the holiday and then the neighbors get super angry at them!!!!!



This part got my hackles raised. I'm not a fan of people being in my business or giving me unsolicited opinions or advice about things that don't concern them. I've gotten pretty good at going dead-eyed and giving a terse "No." to pushy people. I can see why the neighbors would want Frosty on the roof for a neighborhood award, but you gotta respect when someone tells you no the first time.



I couldn't live in this neighborhood. I know it's a community and they all come together at the end, but I'm a firm believer in setting boundaries with people. *blows whistle* "No means No!"


Further, the parents should have just told the daughter the truth. They get a phone call that she's on the plane home when they already have plans for a cruise. Right then and there they should have explained to the daughter that you can't just surprise people like that; holidays take planning, overnight guests take planning too. "Listen, we already made plans, you need to make other arrangements. You're an adult, so you need to understand that you can't just expect people to drop whatever they are doing to accommodate you." is what the parents should have said instead of rushing around to set up the holiday for the air-headed daughter.

Nevertheless, I still liked the book and read it just about every Winter since it's really short.

A reread of my favorite Christmas book (and also movie). This book is so silly, but it really gets me in the Christmas mood, and always makes me laugh. I just love it.