Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

I adore holiday books, especially those centered around Christmas, but this is one I wish I had skipped. I actually listened to the audio version of this, read by Dennis Boutsikaris and finished it on my lunch break today(while eating a plate of leftover spaghetti and sauce from my mom’s – my absolute favorite meal). At least it was short.

It’s the story of Luther and Nora Krank who have decided to skip Christmas this year since their daughter is in Peru and instead go on a cruise that leaves Christmas Day. Of course, their daughter calls Christmas Eve and tells them she is on her way home with her new fiancĂ© and expects the traditional Christmas celebration. The Kranks have to forget about the cruise and scurry around to pull Christmas together.

First of all, I didn’t like anybody through 7/8 of the book. Mr. Krank, is, well, a crank. His wife agrees with his skipping Christmas idea but still manages to lay all the blame on him. Their neighbors and friends are jerks. I would be jealous of if someone I knew were taking a cruise for Christmas not angry. I do think the Kranks were going a little overboard though. I’d still do some decorating, after all they were planning on being in town through most of December.

Even the daughter was inconsiderate, assuming that her parents had made no alternative plans. And why they didn’t just tell her that they would be happy to spend Christmas Even with her, but they were leaving on Christmas Day for a cruise is beyond me. She’s a grown woman, out of college, capable of heading across the world on her own.

The last bit of the book held all the feel good moment, with the neighbors and local law enforcement pulling together, making it a magical Christmas after all. And while the Kranks don’t get to use their cruise, they give it to someone who will appreciate it even more.

I’ll grant you there were some laugh-out loud moments, but overall I didn’t care, and by the end felt manipulated. I guess it had an anti-materialism message somewhere, but there are way better stories out there.

3 hours 42 minutes
First published 2001

Challenges: 100+, Holiday Reading

I borrowed my copy from the library and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate.

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