Skipping Christmas - Softcover

Grisham, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0712620044 ISBN 13: 9780712620048

Publisher: Century, 2001

Synopsis

Imagine a year without the chaos and frenzy that has become part of our holiday tradition - this is just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they plan to skip Christmas and embark on a Caribbean cruise instead. But as this weary couple is about to discover - it's not as easy as that.

About this title

Review:

John Grisham has turned a satirical eye on the overblown ritual of the festive season, and the result is Skipping Christmas, a modest but funny novel about the tyranny of December 25. Grisham's story revolves around a typical middle-aged American couple, Luther and Nora Krank. On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving they wave their daughter Blair off to Peru to work for the Peace Corps, and suddenly realise that "for the first time in her young and sheltered life Blair would spend Christmas away from home".

Luther Krank sees his daughter's Christmas absence as an opportunity. An accountant, Luther quickly estimates that "a year earlier, the Luther Krank family had spent $6,100 on Christmas", and had "precious little to show for it". Luther makes an executive decision, telling his wife, friends and neighbours that "we won't do Christmas". Instead, Luther books a 10-day Caribbean cruise. All goes well until people get wind of the Kranks' subversive scheme. Everyone, from Christmas card salesmen to horrified neighbours, besieges the couple with questions; what about the Christmas party, carols and the erection of Frosty the Snowman? Things start to turn nasty in the local neighbourhood.

Grisham builds up a funny but increasingly terrifying picture of how the tightknit community turn on the Kranks, who find themselves under increasing pressure to conform. As the tension mounts, will they ever manage to board their plane on December 25? Skipping Christmas is Grisham-lite, with none of the serious drama of earlier books such as The Pelican Brief, but a funny poke at the craziness of Christmas. --Jerry Brotton

Review:

'..a beguiling and beautifully constructed novel’ -- Sunday Times, praise for A Painted House

'..a lyrical, gritty and personal novel - his best work’ -- The Times, praise for A Painted House

'You can take the adventure out of Grisham, but you can’t take Grisham out of his adventures... an impressive read’ -- The Observer

About this edition

• Publisher: Century
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0712620044
• ISBN 13: 9780712620048
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192