Skipping Christmas - John Grisham

Category: Adults, Contemporary, Humor
Language: English
Keywords: Christmas Family Christmas

Written by John Grisham
Read by Dennis Boutsikaris
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date: November 6, 2001
Duration: 03:42:35

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.

The story unfolds with whimsical humor as Dennis Boutsikaris narrates in an easy-to-listen-to voice. Boutsikaris depicts the Kranks with light humor, chagrin, and guilt, as neighbors blame them for losing the “best decorated street” award. When their daughter decides to return home from Peru as a surprise, it ends all plans for their Caribbean cruise and puts Christmas back on the calendar and decorations back on the street. From alienated neighbors to cranky Christmas shoppers, Boutsikaris does an exceptional job with each character and situation. Grisham’s satirical look at Christmas materialism is well done and humorous.

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.

This little book is posted in a collection but deserves a place of it’s own for the season.