Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars
I’m used to reading John Grisham legal thrillers, so a Christmas story by him was an intriguing departure from his usual form. The story was adapted into the 2004 holiday movie Christmas with the Kranks.
The Analysis:
Luther and Nora Krank seem like a pretty average couple. They want a break from their jobs and commitments, especially around the busy holiday season. Their daughter Blair is going to Peru for the Peace Corps and they are worn out. They decide not to celebrate Christmas at all for one year and go on a nice vacation instead.
At first, their desire to “skip” Christmas to go on a cruise while still saving money seems like a good idea. However, in my opinion, the Kranks are a pretty unlikable couple. Luther goes from being relatable as he laments about the frustration and expense of Christmas, to being downright bitter and avoidant of any Christmas spirit. Nora lets her husband force her into skipping the holiday, but then blames him for everything that goes wrong. They are both rude to neighbors, friends, and charitable groups. I think Grisham’s intent was to make them average and less than inspiring, rather than heroic and charming. Despite knowing that, it’s hard to enjoy reading about people with few redeeming qualities.
After the initial setup, nearly half the book is just leading up to the action point. The climax event is pretty predictable but does at least make things interesting and eventually very heartwarming. The book points out the little things that we take for granted and through Nora and Luther, we learn a lesson about what’s important. The barely noticeable details that happen between the parties and presents are what make Christmas special and worth the hassle every year. Read this book if you are looking for a short book to remind you why it’s all worth it.
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