- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: Century; First Thus edition (8 Nov 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0712620044
- ISBN-13: 978-0712620048
- Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 13.4 x 2.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 112,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Skipping Christmas
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk 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
Sunday Times, praise for A Painted House
'..a beguiling and beautifully constructed novel’
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
The gate was packed with weary travelers, most of them standing and huddled along the walls because the meager allotment of plastic chairs had long since been taken. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
The gate was packed with weary travelers, most of them standing and huddled along the walls because the meager allotment of plastic chairs had long since been taken. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An excellent read.
I've read almost all of John's books, and enjoyed most of them. This is a real breath of fresh air.
The humour is subtle, and John really captures the feeling of Christmas.
Peace, is something the Luther Krank seeks, when he is faced with Christmas, so he decides to "Skip Christmas" completely, but, in a very entertaining chain of events he slowly realises that Christmas isn't just about tinsel, candles, presents, lights, fixtures, fittings and big bank balances, and that there is far more than that involved. A simple phone call completely turns his plans upside down, and he finds himself at the "mercy" of those he was avoiding.
I read this book, "post Christmas" and found I could really relate to some of the feelings conveyed.
A VERY GOOD READ!
I've read almost all of John's books, and enjoyed most of them. This is a real breath of fresh air.
The humour is subtle, and John really captures the feeling of Christmas.
Peace, is something the Luther Krank seeks, when he is faced with Christmas, so he decides to "Skip Christmas" completely, but, in a very entertaining chain of events he slowly realises that Christmas isn't just about tinsel, candles, presents, lights, fixtures, fittings and big bank balances, and that there is far more than that involved. A simple phone call completely turns his plans upside down, and he finds himself at the "mercy" of those he was avoiding.
I read this book, "post Christmas" and found I could really relate to some of the feelings conveyed.
A VERY GOOD READ!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to say that this must be one of my favourite books. It is so easy to read and the main characters come alive, with all their weaknesses and silliness. You can't help smiling at some of the incidents and the twist in the tale ...... well, it takes your breath away!
Brilliant as a present, but buy it first for yourself.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very different story for John Grisham. Must be read before Christmas. I really enjoyed this book, it made me laugh and the story has stayed in my mind long after finishing the book. A very good read, I highly recommend it!!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Movie Material
I was completely surprised by this book - could hardly believe it was written by the same author as all those heavy courtroom thrillers - but what a pleasant surprise! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jaffanosha
Skipping Christmas
This was the first John Grisham novel that I read in hardback, but found it very easy going to read, and very comical. Enjoyed it enormously, and am sure you will as well. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David
Is America Really so Awful?
The problem for an English reader of this sentimental story is that he can't know how exaggerated it is. Do Americans really behave so oddly at Christmas? Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. E. Utley
Not the usual john Grisham detective story, therefore diappointing
I was disappointed as it was a chic lit type of read, with a family opting out of elaborate Xmas routines. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ann
Boook
I bought this is a gift for my sister as she loves JOhn Grisham she finished it in one day and really enjoyed it.
Published 4 months ago by BJG
Grisham lost the plot!
I just felt I had to add my rating as so many had gushed over this book. Grisham is probably my favourite author and I buy all his books the instant they're available. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Reggy A
Disapointing
I am a big John Grisham fan and have read most of his books, some two or three times. I was contacted by Amazon to advise that a NEW JG book was to be released. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paul Stearman
Good Comedic Moments.
I enjoyed this book and its cringe making humour. A hard working accountant and his wife embark on a scheme for a different Christmas. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Robert Lee
Really not a good book
If your looking for a John Grisham book , choose another one , this is repetitive , long winded and very uninteresting . Read more
Published 9 months ago by Matthew White
unusual, but definately funny!!
This must be one of my favourite john grisham books.I love the court room dramas but this was so funny to read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by caz68
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
