Skipping Christmas

#1 “NEW YORK TIMES” BESTSELLER. A classic tale for modern times,
Skipping Christmas offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that has
become part of our holiday tradition.

Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded shops, 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 the street without a rooftop Frosty
the snowman; 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.

Review

“Accountant Luther Krank is a Scrooge for the new millennium. He
calculates that he and his wife, Nora, can take a Caribbean cruise during
Christmas for much less money than they spent during the previous
year’s Christmas season. But Luther doesn’t just want to take a vacation during
Christmas; he wants to take a vacation from Christmas and skip it altogether.
This means that the Kranks will not buy a Christmas tree or calendar, put up any
decorations, send any Christmas cards, give any gifts, or attend or host any
parties much to the chagrin of their hyperfestive neighbors. However, an
unexpected phone call at the last minute leads to a change in plans. Hilarity
ensues, but the poignant conclusion is unforgettable. Grisham astutely captures
the way many people spend the holiday season, from fighting the crowds to
commenting on their neighbors’ Christmas trees. A Painted House was
Grisham’s first departure from the legal thriller genre, and this further
demonstrates his ability to tell a story with nary a courtroom in sight. Highly
recommended for all public libraries.” Library Journal