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 don't often hate books, but every once in a while, a book comes along that... well, this is it. I loathe this book, cannot recommend it at all. I don't even want to spend any more time thinking about it.

Almost exactly like the movie. I can say that I actually liked parts of the movie a bit better.
I still hate how everyone berates these two for taking time out for themselves...their daughter just left home they are entitled to something crazy like a get away cruise. If it were me I would have left a week before Christmas then been gone through the holiday. Who chooses to travel on Christmas day?!!!
And the neighbors acting like they are doing some huge favor by pulling together and putting on a party? Didn't they put on a party every year for everyone?! Ingrates!
And the 'welcome home' that their daughter receives...it is all just hoakie to me. What is she? The neighborhood saint?! She can't be that great. She thinks Canned Ham is a requirement for the holidays

#sacrilege

I am just going to keep celebrating the season as I see fit.
Stop being so judgy everyone!!



Blessed Yule you filthy Pagans!

This is a fun read, but personal, I think it was frustrating. This because the main-character acts totally different then I would have.

Social-control at it's worst, grrrr anyhow, I can't stand it..

A family decides to skip christmas for a year to visit (Florida?). The neighbourhood which every year celebrates this with a certain tradition, can't stand the fact the family "just" not participate.

I caught myself getting mad, little by litte, how the people around intervene and show their disapproval, without really pronounce it.

How many times I thought, I would *#*@!!$#*!!!
hehe.. but after all I liked this book. Totally different as The Firm (which is good, but is also more serious), and it reads easily.

Unfortunately I bought a secondhand "Skipping Christmas" where pages were loosening while reading. This bothers me and I will buy another edition. This says enough I liked it. ;)

I read this slight Christmas story as an unabridged audiobook in the balmy month of June. I must say that reading this in the summer did not make me all gushy and wistful for the hectic Christmas season which I suppose is the point of this book.

Luther Krank is quite disgusted by the commercialism of Christmas and the thousands of dollars he wastes every year on the season. This year, since his daughter is out of the country, he decides to skip it altogether and spend the holiday with his wife on a Caribbean cruise. He’s looking forward to the trip and counting up all of the money he’s sure to save. His wife, Nora, reluctantly agrees to Luther’s plan and the two embark on a diet to shed a few pounds before their trip. Unfortunately, Luther's nosy neighbors and co-workers can't seem to understand the whole "skipping Christmas" concept and nag him to reconsider.

Between the nagging neighbors, the solicitors hounding him for money, and his ravenous hunger pangs, Luther is a man living on the edge. When the fire department arrives at the door peddling fruitcake Luther is so ravenous he actually considers grabbing one of the noxious things for himself. Little episodes like these fill the book with a sense of fun despite the often irritating plot twists and even more irritating friends and neighbors. Poor Luther just can't get a break and I plugged away hoping he’d eventually escape the madness and get to enjoy his well deserved vacation.

This is a cute story about the ridiculousness of the Christmas season and the foolishness of rushing around like mad-people. Though the ending isn’t quite what I was hoping for it was written with a lot of heart. I’m a bit too grumpy to appreciate the gushing sentiment and the feelings of goodwill but I’m sure the ending will satisfy those looking for such things.

Although a bit campy and sometimes even ridiculous, this story was hilarious in parts and definitely struck a familiar chord with me. I've often thought about skipping all the insanity of Christmas and just going off somewhere quiet to relax, recharge and drink mai-tais, but of course family guilt and obligation has always made that impossible. I could relate to both Luther, wanting to save all that money and hassle and just do something for THEM for a change, and Nora, codependent extraordinaire who did things more out of obligation than because she truly enjoyed them (in some cases). Not having children, I didn't feel the maternal impulse to suddenly drop all my plans and rearrange my life for my spoiled brat daughter who decided to come home at the last minute and expected everything to be the way it always was. I was really annoyed at Blair, although it was obvious she was beloved by the whole neighborhood, not just mommy and daddy. But STILL. Just one Christmas without all the BS? How many of us have fantasized about that?

The stereotypes were spot on though, and the slight exaggeration made them even funnier: the competitive neighbors trying to win the award for decorating, the begging for charitable donations and purchases (personally, I would have still done that even if I didn't do anything else, but that's just me). I did love the last part of the book, and the ending--predictably sappy but it did convey the spirit of Christmas and fellowship. I was actually tearing up in the car on the way to work as I finished it this morning! A cute and short holiday read, great narrator for the audio.

A wonderful Christmas classic -- yes, the book is better than the movie -- it is simply delightful. A John Grisham that is timeless!

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!

This is one of my most favorite books... ever. I read this novel before I watched the movie and being a John Grisham fan I was expecting something very different - but was not disappointed in the least bit. This novel had me laughing so hard and so consistently. This is a must read for anyone who loves to laugh, trust me, it does not disappoint. :)

Simpatičan humoristični božićni skeč, mada možda malo pre-američki, što znači malo previše pretjerivanja. Iako kužim poantu, pobunu protiv konzumerizma i materijaliziranja Božića, razbacivanja i božićnog šoping-ludila. Taj dio skroz podržavam.
Malo sam se zeznula jer sam išla guglat trailer za film, i čim sam ga pogledala, sve je bilo jasno. Doduše, Tim Allen i Jamie Lee Curtis zaista pašu u uloge, pa sad imam osjećaj kao da sam gledala film, a ne čitala knjigu.
Sve u svemu, zabavno.

fun and easy, with a touch ridiculously thrown in.


okay so if you want an actual realistic christmas story? this ain’t it.
if you want something that is a bit of silly fun and doesn’t have sad or too dramatic moments to make it melancholic? go for it!

this book is clearly poking fun and pointing out the stupid things about christmas and how over the top some people can get with it and how that shouldn’t be what the holidays should be about.


this book certainly pointing out all the stressful and stupid moments of christmas but still filled with the clear love and enjoyment for christmas anyways.

what i loved about this book is that while this book is about skipping christmas it also mentioned more then twice that they would continue to support their charities and those things shouldn’t be only about christmas and the need to either show off or feel obligated because of the holidays to give.

but rather that giving and helping is something that should happen throughout the year and that there are more then one way to help others, especially outside of the christmas time.


it think a lot of the times so many people get sucked into this christmas/holiday vortex of having to do things because it’s tradition that they forget that not everything has to always be the same each year and that you can be giving any other time of the year too.


the book has differences to the well known movie - the book isn’t as over the top with its comedic moments and more realistic in some reactions where people understand not wanting to partake in the stress that comes along with the holidays.

the characters and their behavior in the book are more real life and in the movie more of a comedic behavior -so depending on what you enjoy and want… either and/or both? decide for yourself.


i personally enjoy this book and my now clearly traditional reread of it every year. it’s a fun and light read. it doesn’t have over the top drama that isn’t funny or can be seen as just being ridiculous in a fun way and i prefer that to other holiday stories that sometimes either go darkly dramatic or sad.
give me a bit of fun for christmas!


that all being said it’s mostly a silly bit of fun and little quick read that i do highly recommend and think is a very fun holiday read.

Awful assholes living in a suburban, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” nightmare being absolutely ridiculous. Only very slightly redeemed by the act of genuine generosity that takes place in the last ten pages.