Happy holidays to everyone!


Except to the author of this novel. Plus the literary agent who put him up to it. Neither of you deserves joy.

When I tell you this is one of the worst things that has ever been written, what I'm really saying is Skipping Christmas by John Grisham is an absolute masterpiece of garbage.

I cannot stress enough how poorly written this is, with the most noxious cast of characters. This book takes advantage of the worst parts of Christmas - the overindulgence, the capitalism, the competitive nature of who-has-the-better-spread, etc., and never improves. The message maintains it's negativity until the last 10 pages. Wow, how celebratory.

Grisham's leads - Nora and Luther - were both deplorable, in their own right. Luther is a huge creep, noting on multiple occasions how nice his travel agent’s legs are or the pleasing body shape of a random woman. WHY? His blatant disregard towards his daughter is shocking, who is in the Peace Corps in Peru. She's only been gone for a month, why would she feel the need to surprise her parents for Christmas? SELFISH GIRL. He ignores his wife any time she voices concern about her daughter's safety. It's a mess. He's disgusting, hateful, and way too self-centered to ever be considered a good man.

And Nora is such a throwaway bimbo character, there's no point in even bringing her up. Her only concern is how she's being perceived by her neighborhood. She worries about cancelling her famous Christmas Eve party while she's volunteering at a battered women’s shelter. Ok yea, YOU INSIPID HORROR.

The neighbors are all nosy, ill-spirited wanks that literally terrorize the Kranks when they find out they're foregoing Christmas. OH OK. Because that's how NORMAL adults act.

Hey John Grisham, seriously? SERIOUSLY? We all wish you'd gone back to being a lawyer before writing this nightmare. You need to donate all the money you made off of this book (and what I'm sure was a terrible movie adaptation) to charity, in hopes that maybe you can erase some of the fuckery that Skipping Christmas put forth in the universe. Thank you & goodbye forever.

Truth be told, I've never read a John Grisham novel before this book. So this book made quite an impression. I know that his other books were obviously more serious that this one, but I really liked how this book turned out. Although how they celebrate Christmas here in the US is different than how we celebrate it back home, more or less, it's still the same, being with FAMILY and FRIENDS. And being grateful for the things that we have.

One of my favorite "Grisham" translations... Probably, because every Christmas I have the same idea/wish of skipping it! And being a child from a mixed marriage and having both Ortodox and Catholic Christmas does't help a thing! :) Same feeling goes for Easter :)

Funny. Realized it was familiar and is basis for movie Christmas With The Kranks.

Listened to on chapter a day.

A fun Christmas story! Having seen the movie lots of times, it's safe to say they followed the book almost to a T. This is a fast, entertaining read that exposes the commercial ugliness of Christmas in America. I think everyone who is bashing it are just salty because this book is about them!

This was an excellent book! It rather reminded me of A Man Called Ova. I was glad there was no emphasis on religion, but rather how each of us conducts our daily life and interactions with those we know, especially within our own neighborhoods. This one had me laughing! But it was also rather poignant. Glad I was able to gift a copy to each of my book club members for this year.

In my opinion, this is the Christmas book. Forget A Christmas Carol or anything else resembling wholesome Christmas stories, Skipping Christmas is a destined classic. What can I say, the concept of skipping Christmas entirely and going on a cruise instead just speaks to my Grinch-y soul.



This year I opted to re-read the audiobook version which is narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris who portrays Luther Krank perfectly in all his deadpan humorous glory. When I first discovered this novel, many, many years ago… I almost glanced over it because “John Grisham? Isn’t that the guy that writes legal thrillers?” Yep, he sure is, but apparently he also has a humorous side. Many of you have likely seen the film adaptation Christmas with the Kranks which is all sorts of hilarious (especially with the book lacking that sidesplitting scene after Luther gets botox), but this short novel is an amusing way to spend a few hours surrounded by Christmas cheer as you contemplate an alternative to it all.

A light holiday read, this book actually makes me tear up at the end. (Ignore the horrifying movie, Christmas with the Kranks, which was loosely based on it.) This is the story of a rather unlikeable guy who, with his only daughter away for Christmas, convinces his wife that they will actually save money and enjoy the holiday more if they "skip" Christmas and go on a cruise instead. No donations, no decorations, no gifts, just a cruise. Of course, forces conspire against him, sometimes too over-the-top, often hilarious, as he learns his lesson. The main problem with this book is that Luther is almost too unlikeable. He's fairly mean to his wife, is rude in the way he turns away people trying to get him to participate, and doesn't entirely change at the end. But the story is very engaging, and again, the ending is fun and touching.

2013 reread: Still loathe Luther, but also love even more how close knit his neighborhood is.
2016: Seriously, he's so awful. And I want to know more about Marty Whatshisname.
2024: It's been a few years since I've read this, and this year I listened to the audiobook, mostly with my eyes narrowed. It's not that Luther is awful. It's that EVERYONE is. His neighbors call the cops on him twice. They bully and harass him for not putting up decorations. A journalist (instigated by a neighbor) takes pictures of their house and writes an article about how awful they are. The cops almost arrest him about of pure spite for not donating to their Christmas fund, EVEN THOUGH he's promised them a $100 donation for their big summer fundraiser. The Scoutmaster, in front of his scouts, extorts money out of him for a dead tree! I know that some people get carried away at Christmas (hey, I'm probably one of them) but the absolutely foul treatment of everyone, even total strangers, because they aren't going to celebrate Christmas is really kind of horrifying. Everyone pitches in at the end, Luther does something selfless, sure, but what's going to happen tomorrow?

My rating is 3.5/5

It was a funny story with a deeper layer, a moral layer.
Are worth the expenses we made for the holidays?
Is it necessary to buy all the things everybody is selling in order to celebrate the holiday?
Is is okay is someone just doesn't feel in the mood to join the trail and just skip the holiday?

I was reflecting on the meaning behind the celebration at this time of the year through my reading, I fond Luther Krank, nobody should be forced to celebrate if the person doesn't fell like it and that is just fine!
When I was reading I keep thinking that this was a movie... I think I heard about it somewhere... and it is! I haven't seen it but is good to know

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Definitely a cute Christmas story but not the usual incredible books John Grisham usually writes.

It’s tough bucking the norm, isn’t it?

At 177 pages long, this book packs a punch and takes a hilarious look at the pressure to conform and the commercialization of the Christmas season.

It sparks lots of discussions surrounding what can be skipped and what is an essential part of Christmas as well as the traditions we blindly follow and the stress we put ourselves under - all in the name of Christmas.

Marketed as a ‘modern-day Christmas classic, this tale holds a mirror up to our human nature and offers us an opportunity to laugh at ourselves and/or take the cue to trim a little of the ‘traditions’ that keep us run off our feet at this time of year and give us back time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

You’ll realize that you sit in one of two camps: (1) you agree with the Kranks that the excessive antics detract from the true meaning of Christmas or (2) you agree that the festivities with all their excessive trappings are festive and exciting and that sometimes you need to take the ‘good’ with the ‘bad.’

Have you seen Christmas With The Kranks, the 2004 film based on the book and starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis?

This was a great book and I’d recommend it as an easy, quick read, perfect for this time of 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...