Skipping Christmas Book Review

My girlfriend showed me the movie “Christmas With The Kranks” a few years ago (it was released in 2004) and I loved it.

Last year, I received the book the movie was adapted from.

Called “Skipping Christmas”, it was released in 2001 and written by John Grisham, known for many lawyer/crime thrillers.

Both the book and the movie are about this couple who always celebrate Christmas, but this particular year, the husband (played by Tim Allen in the movie) decides to convince his wife (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the movie) to skip Christmas this time and go on a cruise.

This is because their daughter is working out of the country for awhile and frankly, to save money and because the husband is tired of all the traditional Christmas stuff.

The wife takes a bit of convincing, but ultimately, she agrees with her husband to do this.

Well, everyone they know (neighbors, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, police, firemen, everyone in their community) is up in irons about this couple skipping Christmas this year.

They’re all in on doing this, until their daughter calls and says she’s coming home for Christmas with her new fiance, who she barely knows.

So, after not preparing for Christmas at all (decorating, cooking, shopping, etc.) they only have a few hours to put everything together.

Both the book and the movie are very fun, entertaining stories.

I actually enjoyed it better than my girlfriend, who loves many Christmas movies/stories.

Like any book adapted into a movie, there are a few differences, but not much.

I could easily visualize the movie while reading the book.

Kind of a departure story for John Grisham, but he did a great job writing it, as usual.

Seek both the book and movie out and enjoy.