Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

(227 pages)



John Grisham turns a satirical eye on the overblown ritual of the festive holiday season, and the result is Skipping Christmas, a modest but funny novel about the tyranny of December 25. Grisham's story revolves around a typical middle-aged American couple, Luther and Nora Krank. On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving they wave their daughter Blair off to Peru to work for the Peace Corps, and they suddenly realize that "for the first time in her young and sheltered life Blair would spend Christmas away from home."
Luther Krank sees his daughter's Christmas absence as an opportunity. He estimates that "a year earlier, the Luther Krank family had spent $6,100 on Christmas," and have "precious little to show for it." So he makes an executive decision, telling his wife, friends, and neighbors that "we won't do Christmas." Instead, Luther books a 10-day Caribbean cruise. But things start to turn nasty when horrified neighbors get wind of the Krank's subversive scheme and besiege the couple with questions about their decision.
Grisham builds up a funny but increasingly terrifying picture of how this tight-knit community turns on the Kranks, who find themselves under increasing pressure to conform. As the tension mounts, readers may wonder whether they will manage to board their plane on Christmas day. Skipping Christmas is Grisham-lite, with none of the serious action or drama of his legal thrillers, but a funny poke at the craziness of Christmas.

This was a really good read that made me remember all the bad and good parts of Christmas. I thought the ending was sweet but a wee bit sickly, but still enjoyed Luther's last minute escapades. I am so glad I dont have to put Frosty on my roof every year. It was a real change from Joh Grisham's usual style, but was fabulous fun, especially in the lead up to the Holiday Season!!

Specks in the Sky by Ben Rice

(57 pages)



In a remote American location, on a derelict property where Ryder Jarvis lives with her mother and sister, bizarre things happen. Out of the sky comes a team of elite parachutists, super specimens of new-age (but tough) manhood, led by a Commander who talks in gung-ho clichés. They cannot reveal their top-secret mission but they take over the property, repair everything, clean everything up, cook gourmet meals, discuss literature and charm Ryder's mother and sister. Ryder is impressed but sceptical. She suspects that the men are fakes...

I didn't enjoy this as much as Pobby and Dingan. It was rather surreal with a very strange ending....good fun, but lacked the intense emotion of Pobby and Dingan.

Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice

(90 pages)



Ashmol Williamson has had enough of his younger sister Kellyanne and her best friends Pobby and Dingan. Only Kellyanne can see the imaginary pair, but much to Ashmol's dismay, many in the small Australian mining town treat Pobby and Dingan as if they were real. Ashmol's dad has established a reputation as the town drunk, and one day, while on a walk with Pobby and Dingan, he loses the two friends, and Kellyanne becomes despondent. Realizing that finding Pobby and Dingan is the only way to bring his sister out of her severe depression and ease the minds of his parents, Ashmol sets out to enlist the people of Lightning Ridge in a search to bring the pair back to Kellyanne.

I absolutely adored this story...who said that seeing is believing? sometimes you have to believe to see. It was really heartwarming and sweet, with a wonderfully sad shock (for me at least) at the end.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

(258 pages)



Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington to LA in time for Christmas. Forced to take the train across the country because of a slight 'misunderstanding' at airport security, he begins a journey of self-discovery and rude awakenings, mysterious goings-on and thrilling adventures, screwball escapades and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, where he will rediscover people's essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost. In equal parts hilarious, poignant, suspenseful and thrilling, The Christmas Train is a delightful journey filled with memorable characters who have packed their bags with as much wisdom as mischief...Part detective story, part disaster movie, part romance, this is a brilliant, heart-warming holiday tale.

I really enjoyed this. It had lots of interesting characters ranging form hollywood film director, a couple eloping, an entire boy's choir and of course the fun and sometimes slightly bizarre train crews.
I finished it quite quickly, and with a smile on my face....It has definitely put me in the mood for Christmas....only 5 weeks to go!! *<:o)