Skipping Christmas
by John Grisham

Imagine a year without Christmas.

For Luther and Nora Krank, that is just what they have in mind when they decide, just this once, they will skip the holiday altogether. Their only child, daughter Blair, left for Peru the Sunday after Thanksgiving to work in the Peace Corps, Never, in the 23 years of Blair's life, had Mother and daughter been separated at Christmas.

With Nora worried about Blair's safety and missing her already, Luther decided to take matters in his capable tax accountant's hands and scheduled a Caribbean Cruise, leaving at noon on Christmas Day. Luther convinces a reluctant Nora that they will only be using the money they saved by not buying all the Christmas frills.

They would not host their annual Christmas Eve bash. There would be no tree and presents, no decorating the house, no shopping at crowded malls, no corny office party. They would have the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty. No donation to the policeman's fund, the fireman's fund, or the boy scouts.

But wait - their neighbors and friends have other ideas about the Kranks skipping Christmas. What this couple discovered is that skipping Christmas brings consequences - and is not half as easy as they imagined.

John Grisham created a hilariously funny little book. And I mean little - the pages are 5"x 7-1/2" , all 177 of them. Who reads Grisham for laughs? You will - he exposes the frenzy and chaos of our contemporary holiday season with a natural humor.

You may recognize someone you know - perhaps Vic Frohmeyer, or Walt Scheel, or even Luther himself. This book is a good read for everyone.

Reviewed by Judy Heck