Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: November 6, 2001
Pages: 177
About the Author
John Grisham is an American bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide.
"And it's just for one year. Let's take a break."
Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip all the traditional Christmas activities and take a ten day Caribbean cruise. Their daughter leaves the Sunday after Thanksgiving for a year-long stint in a Peruvian village as a Peace Corp volunteer. Christmas will not be the same without Blair, so the Kranks plan to take a break from Christmas decorating, gift giving, parties, etc. and enjoy a much-needed vacation. They will leave at noon on Christmas day.
Unfortunately, the peer pressure from the Krank's neighbors is sometimes hilarious and sometimes downright scary. This upscale suburban neighborhood demands unquestioned conformity. It does not go over very well when Luther Krank refuses to mount a Frosty the Snowman decoration on his roof.
Things really get interesting when the Kranks get a phone call from Blair on Christmas Eve saying she is on her way home with her new fiancé and is expecting a traditional Christmas like the ones she remembers from her childhood.
Will Luther and Nora tell Blair about their plan to skip Christmas and go on a cruise or will they give their daughter the old-fashioned Christmas that she is dreaming about?
My Thoughts
This book has been setting on a shelf in our house for many years. I decided that my husband and I would both read the book and then watch the movie "Christmas with the Kranks." My husband is a huge John Grisham fan and has read all of his legal thrillers, but he never read this book. On the other hand, I am not much of a fiction reader and have only read one Grisham book..."The Firm."
Dean and I read the book last week and then got up early yesterday morning and watched the movie on Amazon Prime. We both got some good laughs from both the book and movie. We could relate with many of the feelings the Kranks expressed about commercialism during the Christmas season. We could also understand the peer pressure from the neighborhood leaders (bullies) when the Kranks refuse to live up to the unspoken expectations and rules that were long-standing and deeply ingrained.
The real value of this book comes to light at the end of the book. The Kranks have some serious decisions to make. Will they put their vacation plans on hold and go all out to give their daughter the kind of Christmas she is dreaming about? The answer to the question is YES!
However, what will happen to the cruise? It is not possible to get a refund, so will that money be thrown away OR will the real meaning of Christmas shine through all the frivolity?
This is a light-hearted and humorous Christmas read that will put a smile on your face and remind you of the spirit of generosity and love during the holiday season. The movie is a nice bonus after you read the book.
MY RATING: 4 STARS OUT OF 5
FYI - I purchased a print copy of this book with my own funds.
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