The Shopping Trip
Last year, my friend Leslie suggested we spend a day in November going Christmas shopping. She’s a mom of four, like me, and understands the need for escape.
But an entire day of shopping? My husband has ruined the thrill of a mall for me. And at Christmas, everything is worse. More signs, more sales, more BUY, BUY, BUY!
But Leslie loves Christmas, and she assured me we’d have a great time. So I went. She wore a red sweater and jingle bell earrings, and we listened to Harry Connick Jr.’s Christmas album (the first one, the good one) on the way to Roanoke.
I must admit, we got a lot accomplished on that shopping trip, despite my distaste for flashing lights and consumerism. I even had to get my own cart at the Toys R Us!
So this year, we went again. But my occasional grumbling (is anyone else tired of being asked to fill out another survey about customer satisfaction?) earned me the nick name “Scrooge” from my Christmas loving friend. The day after our shopping trip, she handed me a book: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.
“It’s funny,” she said, and pointed a finger at me. “But don’t get any ideas.”
The Book
Luther Krank, one of the main characters in Skipping Christmas, hates the crowds and the commercialized chaos that has become the American Christmas. He convinces his wife Nora to give it up for a year. Take a cruise instead.
This doesn’t go over well with the people they know.
Colleagues snicker. The neighbor concerned with appearances (you know the type) confronts Luther about his missing Frosty decoration. However, Luther holds firm, until…
Things don’t turn out as you might expect, and who knew that John Grisham could be funny? Skipping Christmas pokes fun at our ridiculous holiday customs, and the stress we foolishly choose to embrace each year. It also encourages readers to pause in the midst of holiday haste to consider what really makes a Christmas special.
There’s also a humorous scene involving a five foot tall plastic snowman, an icy roof top, and a life saving extension cord.
The book was made into a movie, Christmas with the Kranks, but whew, it only gets 4.9 stars on IMDB, so I’d skip it. Read the book instead – it’s always better.
Thanks Leslie! And good luck to everyone with managing your Christmas chaos. Remember, the spirit of the season should be gratitude, not grumbling.
Can you share a book you enjoy during the Christmas season?
A Gift For You!
As the year ends, I’d like to thank my readers with the My Favorite Things Giveaway! Readers leaving a reply will enter into a drawing to win one my favorite books of 2012.
The details:
- You may enter by commenting on the blog between December 7 and December 19.
- Your comment must include your favorite book from 2012 and a short explanation of why you recommend it.
- Available anywhere Amazon ships.
- I will announce the winner on December 21.
- The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
If you don’t want either of these two, I’ll send you a B&N gift card and let you choose your own. I’m hoping that this giveaway will help us all find great books to read in 2013! Thanks for sharing your favorites!
I loved Skipping Christmas! And I’m with you about the shopping. I don’t like it, and I can’t stand the mall. Scrooges unite!
~Debbie
This seems like a fun and different book! Also, I feel your pain with the Christmas shopping.. it’s hectic out there.
I’d like to put in an entry for your giveaway, too 🙂 The favorite book I’ve read in 2012 is “The Death of Bees” by Lisa O’Donnell. The book is soon to be published and I won an advanced reader’s copy through a blog giveaway. I haven’t even finished it all the way, but I know it’s my favorite. I think about the book during the day and count down the minutes to my lunch break at work to read some more. That’s when I know I’ve found an absolute favorite. The book is told through three unique perspectives and it leaves the reader constantly wanting to know what’s next.
Thanks Caitlin! I’m glad you entered. The Death of Bees sounds interesting- and a book that keeps you thinking about it is definitely a winner.
Thanks for the book recommendation Julia–I will have to check this one out. Also, glad to hear that we have more than reading and writing in common–shopping is one of my greatest challenges. Great contest idea!
Thanks Kim. Yes shopping as a challenge- that’s a good way to describe it. Although, I went out yesterday with my 12 year old son, who wanted to buy a tie and dress pants- I was so shocked, I enjoyed it!!!
Julia, thanks for sharing your holiday thoughts, and I’m with you–it’s way too much about consumerism, but, I love everything else about it–the songs, the lights, the wonder on a kid’s face looking at a tree. Because of what happened in Newtown, I’m going to be hugging a lot of kids now, and thanking people I know who work in education.
Exactly Benita. We should all be doing that. Thank you for the remembrance. And for listing the good things to focus on this season.
Sounds like a good book Julia — thank you for recommending it. I’m not much of a shopper either and I usually get stressed with all the “holiday buzz” — simplicity is hard to find — I think we have to intentionally create it ourselves. 😉
Love, Hester 😉
I agree Hester. I’m working hard at it this year, but was struck with a few moments of panic at 3 this morning. Hopefully, the only time this year!
I never knew that John Grisham had written non-lawyerly books. I’ll have to check it out. (P.s.- One year when I was growing up, my family took a cruise instead of celebrating Christmas. It just made me miss Christmas!)
So you lived Luther Krank’s dream- but it sounds like it didn’t go well. You might especially like it then. I didn’t realize Grisham wrote anything outside of the courtroom either.
I’ve seen this book but never picked it up – now I want to read it – thank you! I did all my shopping on Amazong this year and loved it, except I do want to go to the mall once to look at the light and wave at Santa!
It’s fun and lighthearted for this crazy time of year…