That Just Happened!

Grisham, John. Skipping Christmas. Doubleday (2001).

Imagine a year with no 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 Christmas 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.

from the jacket

When I chose this book to read as part of the challenge I had no idea that this was the book that the movie Christmas with the Kranks was based on.  I must admit I do enjoy that particular Christmas flick (even though i usually do not enjoy Tim Allen or Jamie Lee Curtis) and was excited to read the book.  I was not disappointed.  I loved the book!  I think the characters were more likeable in the book than in the movie.  I mean who can blame them for wanting to head to warmer weather?  Especially since their daughter isn’t going to be home for the first year ever.  I was much more understanding than most of those in the book.

I enjoyed being able to read what the characters were thinking.  Luther seems a lot less selfish and Nora seems a lot less shrill.  As far as the  novel goes, it is a quick, easy read and the story moves at a good pace.  You definitely feel a little sorry for the Kranks even though they are ruining everyone’s  Christmas by not having one of their own.  The character’s names were cute from Kranks to Nora’s friends Merry and Candi.

The book examines how consumerism and greed can affect the holiday season, but also how it can bring neighbours together.  Family time and the giving spirit are addressed in this wonderful Christmas book.  Even if you have seen the movie I would recommend reading the book because you get a totally different feel for the characters.  Plus it is just a good Christmas story.

I read this toward my 2009 Holiday Reading Challenge.  See my list of books here.