Finished 4-8-09, rating 2.5/5, fiction. pub. 2001
“What’s the catch?”
“The catch is simple. We don’t do Christmas. We save the money, spend it on ourselves for once. Not a dime on food we won’t eat or clothes we won’t wear or gifts no one needs. Not one red cent. It’s a boycott, Nora, a complete boycott of Christmas.”
“Sounds awful.”
Chapter 2
Well, in my opinion this slim novel was pretty awful. I loved the premise and even enjoyed some of the uncomfortable situations Luther and Nora found themselves in, but I really did not care for how the story wrapped up. I guess I’m not sure I get the point.
Luther added up all the money they had spent on Christmas the year before and decided that since their only child, Blair, would be gone for the holidays that they could put all that money to better use. They booked themselves a cruise, spent hours in the tanning bed, and looked through books and pamphlets in anticipation of their trip.
The locals (neighbors, police, firemen, boy scouts, co-workers) were all appalled at this slight of Christmas. None of these locals resembled real people and in the end did not redeem themselved in my eyes, although Grisham tries his best.
The idea could have been heartwarming or slapstick silly. It didn’t really accomplish either.
I read this for a challenge and blame it for the 3 inches of snow we received while I read it 😉
Stacy's Books 
: ) Did you see the movie? I think it starred Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. I actually think it was a little bit better than the book (maybe). I like your holiday switch up (reading Christmas at Easter). Hope your next read is much better!
If I had pictured Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis when I was reading it, maybe it would have been better!
I’m glad to hear you say that. I didn’t like this one either and everyone else I know loved it.
You are not alone 🙂
I liked the movie better than the book. It’s one of those that I think translates better on screen than in words.
I can see it being a better movie.
I’m sorry you didn’t care for this book, Stacy. I enjoyed it, but wasn’t overly impressed with it.
I know what you mean about this book. I read all of what Grisham writes but he’s been off-base with some of the later ones like this one, I recently finished (and reviewed) his latest one, The Associate. It was much better. Back on track for him. He’s best at legal thrillers.
Hope you are having/had a great vacation in Mexico.
I took The Associate to Mexico, but didn’t get to it. It dode look like vintage Graisham. I won’t hold this one against him.
John Grisham writes terrible endings – I keep reading him because everything up to the last chapter is usually great. Highly annoying though.