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Skipping Christmas: A Novel
Unavailable
Skipping Christmas: A Novel
Unavailable
Skipping Christmas: A Novel
Audiobook3 hours

Skipping Christmas: A Novel

Written by John Grisham

Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Luther and Nora Krank are fed up with the chaos of Christmas. The endless shopping lists, the frenzied dashes through the mall, the hassle of decorating the tree... where has all the joy gone? This year, celebrating seems like too much effort. With their only child off in Peru, they decide that just this once, they'll skip the holidays. They spend their Christmas budget on a Caribbean cruise set to sail on December 25, and happily settle in for a restful holiday season free of rooftop snowmen and festive parties.

But the Kranks soon learn that their vacation from Christmas isn't much of a vacation at all, and that skipping the holidays has consequences they didn't bargain for...

A modern Christmas classic, Skipping Christmas is a charming and hilarious look at the mayhem and madness that have become ingrained in our holiday tradition.


From the Paperback edition.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 6, 2001
ISBN9780553755503
Unavailable
Skipping Christmas: A Novel

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Reviews for Skipping Christmas

Rating: 3.366197118458117 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

1,349 ratings87 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 starsWhen Luther and Nora's only daughter, 21-year old Blair, sets off to Peru with the Peace Corps just after Thanksgiving, and no intention on returning for a year, Luther and Nora decide to save some money and skip Christmas, the parties, gifts, decorations, and everything else associated with it. They'll go on a Caribbean cruise instead. But they didn't think of the consequences of this action - the stares, rumors, whispering and resentment from neighbours. It was a short, fun, cute story. It got especially humourous towards the end. Definitely enjoyed it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Like many other spontaneous thoughts, it sounded like a good idea at the time. But skipping Christmas turned out to be a lot harder than Luther and his wife Nora anticipated. They could deal with the disapproval of their neighbors and others, but then, something happened that made them realize that skipping Christmas was a very bad idea. Humor abounds in this short tale and the unusual plot is peopled with delightful characters. But though the book is quite entertaining, the movie is really better.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    short cute and funny Christmas story
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Heartwarming

    Lovely festive read and a little better than the film. One to escape and relax with over the festive period.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is not what you expect from John Grisham. It's not a taut legal thriller, there's no mob or consortium to be bested. It's just a cute story about a couple who decide that they are going away for Christmas because their daughter isn't coming home for the holidays. Of course, there has been a movie made of this book. I haven't seen it but I enjoyed the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    You do not just "Skip" Christmas. This was a fun listen, now I'm going to have to watch the movie.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a fun little tale of someone who thought he'd game the system. He wanted to avoid the harsh realities of Christmas, only to have his plans crash around his ears. I've had years where I felt like Krank, and years where I've felt like I was others amazed people would skip the holiday. So I understand both sides of this story. It's a quick read, light on text and nothing extravagant with the verbiage to make one slow to grab a dictionary. I'd say many of the characters are caricatures and two dimensional image of small town USA. But for what it offers, it was entertaining. Worth recommending to others.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Silly book!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I thought the movie was better than the book. While the movie had funny scenes, the book was kinda dry.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book is kind of like an extended twisty version of the gifts of the magi. It was way frustrating to get through and took me way to long to listen to it all. Partly because the narrator was super slow, even after 1.25 speed.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Christmas tale for John Irishman fans. A must holiday read to be in your library. The story is a satirical view of the overblown 20th C. rituals around the Holidays.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    As their daughter has gone to work abroad, Luther & Nora decide to skip Christmas - no cards, no presents, no charity giving, no decorations, and go on a cruise instead, much to the disapproval of the community.As the pressure grows, so do the couple’s stress levels. I love a seasonal fairytale. But this one wasn’t in the It’s a Wonderful Life league. I think I should have been charmed, but for the first 90% of the story I found the dithering couple too irritating. Bah humbug.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a very fun read. It's a Christmas read where everything goes wrong in a comedic way and then everyone pulls together to save the day. It made me smile.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I heard that this book was one of the funniest books that people had read, so I suppose I had high expectations. This book didn't live up to them.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    John Grisham did a non-lawyer book? Who knew? This was a cute little Christmas themed book. It offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of our holiday tradition.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Oh, how we do get ourselves running ragged in the days leading up to Christmas. Wouldn't it be great if for just one year, we could step away from all the decorating, baking, card writing, meal preparations and unending party commitments? Well therein lies the premise for this delightful compact Christmas novella.Author John Grisham is a master of storytelling and this holiday short story is no exception. His gentle poking at the human condition is quite amusing. The story is of Luther and Nora Krank whose recently graduated daughter has wandered off to Peru for a year as a Peace Corps volunteer. Luther is a tax partner in an accounting firm. In reviewing the prior year's exorbitant holiday expenditures, he imagines what life could be without all those cost-incurring holiday demands and expectations. His daughter won't be around at Christmas, so why not head off with Nora for parts unknown? Convincing Nora may be a bit of a challenge and when colleagues and neighbors find out, it will be deemed almost sacrilegious. Do Luther and Nora have what it takes to stick to their plans?This was a beautiful story rich with hope, redemption, humor and a touch of humanity. Definitely worth reading.Synopsis (from book's dust jacket):Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded malls, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences–and isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.A classic tale for modern times, Skipping Christmas offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of our holiday tradition.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "Skipping Christmas", a book and a movie. This is a holiday theme book, a humorous reality check of Christmas. This is a fast paced book, a light read for the holidays. I wanted a something to read over the Christmas period and this fell into my hands. It elaborates on the time spent and the expenses involved to celebrate Christmas. It is humorous, making one think of their own festivities or folly. Through all the turmoil of the holidays, it does end up with the meaning of Christmas.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read this on the plane yesterday coming home from Mexico. Love this book and the movie, Christmas With Kranks, is even better to watch.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    got today at the library
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Wish I was Skipping This Book. No value in reading this at all. No Christmas spirit. Characters are a bust. Don’t bother hoping for an inspirational resolution, it never comes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 stars. I read this a while ago and really liked it then. A friend sent a copy in a box of books so I read it again. It was more entertaining the first time around and the ending was more of a surprise the first time too.I can't believe people spend quite so much at Christmas as over $6,000. But if one does, I can sure understand wanting to save that money, as Luther does. Though they do agree to match their charitable giving from the year before--and some of the groups that come to the door would seem to qualify as charities. At the very least the police calendar which could be used throughout the year. Even though Luther promises donations to the groups for other times in the year.In the end, it is nice to see that the neighbors pull together for Blair (the daughter).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I do not like Grisham, but a cousin recommended this one. I loved it. It just goes to show how caught up we get in the corparate Christmas season. Whatever your religious beliefs are, this is a good read and may bring you back to your senses.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "And it's just for one year. Let's take a break."Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip all the traditional Christmas activities and take a ten day Caribbean cruise. Their daughter leaves the Sunday after Thanksgiving for a year-long stint in a Peruvian village as a Peace Corp volunteer. Christmas will not be the same without Blair, so the Kranks plan to take a break from Christmas decorating, gift giving, parties, etc. and enjoy a much-needed vacation. They will leave at noon on Christmas day.Unfortunately, the peer pressure from the Krank's neighbors is sometimes hilarious and sometimes downright scary. This upscale suburban neighborhood demands unquestioned conformity. It does not go over very well when Luther Krank refuses to mount a Frosty the Snowman decoration on his roof. Things really get interesting when the Kranks get a phone call from Blair on Christmas Eve saying she is on her way home with her new fiancé and is expecting a traditional Christmas like the ones she remembers from her childhood.Will Luther and Nora tell Blair about their plan to skip Christmas and go on a cruise or will they give their daughter the old-fashioned Christmas that she is dreaming about?This book has been setting on a shelf in our house for many years. I decided that my husband and I would both read the book and then watch the movie "Christmas with the Kranks." My husband is a huge John Grisham fan and has read all of his legal thrillers, but he never read this book. On the other hand, I am not much of a fiction reader and have only read one Grisham book..."The Firm."Dean and I read the book last week and then got up early yesterday morning and watched the movie on Amazon Prime. We both got some good laughs from both the book and movie. We could relate with many of the feelings the Kranks expressed about commercialism during the Christmas season. We could also understand the peer pressure from the neighborhood leaders (bullies) when the Kranks refuse to live up to the unspoken expectations and rules that were long-standing and deeply ingrained. The real value of this book comes to light at the end of the book. The Kranks have some serious decisions to make. Will they put their vacation plans on hold and go all out to give their daughter the kind of Christmas she is dreaming about? The answer to the question is YES!However, what will happen to the cruise? It is not possible to get a refund, so will that money be thrown away OR will the real meaning of Christmas shine through all the frivolity? This is a light-hearted and humorous Christmas read that will put a smile on your face and remind you of the spirit of generosity and love during the holiday season. The movie is a nice bonus after you read the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I had never read the book but the DVD..."Christmas With The Kranks' that is based on this book has been and remains one of my favorite holiday offerings for years. [Skipping Christmas] is the only Grisham book that I have ever read with none of the serious action or drama of his legal thrillers. It's a light-hearted, funny poke at the craziness we sometimes make of Christmas. Read the book or just watch the DVD...you won't regret it.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A friend recommended this book to me saying that he reads it every year. Thank you to friends that like books as much as I do! This was so much much fun!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've wanted to read this during the Christmas Holiday for many years now and I'm so glad I had the time to do so this year. I laughed so hard in several places that my side still hurts! Being a recent "empty nester," I can understand where the Kranks are coming from with their daughter being away for her first Christmas. I thought their idea of changing things up for once by putting all that money towards a Caribbean Cruise was a neat idea! They just didn't plan on their neighborhood, or everyone else from the postman to the local fireman, throwing a wrench into their plans! The neighbors were particularly funny and some of the visuals Mr Grisham paints for the reader were hilarious to me.

    I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I just can't take a humorous Christmas story too seriously. I expected Mr. Krank to be cranky. Given all he was up against it was understandable. I actually appreciated the fact that there was tension in the story that provided the opportunity for some comic relief. Different strokes...

    This was a fun read that I'll re-visit during Christmas Seasons to come!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Mildly entertaining story of a couple who decide NOT to go the traditional route but skip Christmas this year. Think they can pull it off? Think again.Our book club wanted a "light" read for the Holidays, and we certainly got that. Pure mind candy. I think the author gave in to the pleas of his agent/editor to come out with something "for the holiday season." He should have skipped it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An American couple, whose daughter has just left home, decide to skip Christmas entirely for one year. Enjoyable light ironic humour, in a style somewhat reminiscent of Anne Tyler.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Krank family doesn't want to experience another boring, debt-filled Christmas. Nora and Luther Krank decide not to spend the $6100 that they spent last Christmas and take a Caribbean cruise instead. Luther thinks if he ignores the holiday completely and goes on a cruise instead that it will pass unnoticed. He learns through trials and tribulations that money and crowds and last minute shopping are not at all what Christmas is about. Some of it is downright hilarious and easy to envision.

    It is a light-hearted Christmas tale that most readers will probably find transparent and predictable. But it's also fun and heartwarming. In the end, we see what the real meaning of Christmas is and why all of the trappings of the holidays are not what makes it worthwhile. Anyone who has ever been a parent will understand the decisions the Kranks made.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As the start of Christmas seems to have been coming earlier and earlier in November (at least in the UK), this novel seemed like a timely read. Luther and Nora Krank's daughter Blair is going away on a Peace Corps mission to Peru, so they decide that, instead of subjecting themselves to the stresses, strains and expenses of Christmas at home, they will spend some of the money they would spend on all this on a Caribbean cruise instead. But the decision meets with the incomprehension and disapproval of their neighbours and, though the novel is meant to be light-hearted, I actually found the pressure to conform and harrassment they receive quite sinister. But when their daughter rings on Christmas Eve to say she is returning home unexpectedly, events take on a more comic turn and it all ends warmheartedly (though I found Nora a rather irritating character!).