"Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham

My first John Grisham novel.  I read this book every few years and always get a kick out of it.  It is in no way a challenging read nor is it full of insight.  But it is the kind of book that is great to read during the chaos of the holidays when you want something fun and light to amuse you.  When Luther and Nora Krank's daughter, Blair,  joins the Peace Corps and will be spending her first Christmas away from home, Luther manages to convince his wife that they should skip the ritual of Christmas and go on a cruise instead (saving money in the process).  The majority of the novel focuses on the reactions of their friends and neighbors when they find out that the Kranks are Skipping Christmas (and the reactions of those who usually receive donations from the Kranks as well).  But on Christmas Eve, the Kranks hear from Blair and find out that she is on her way home for Christmas.  So naturally they throw themselves into high gear so that they can celebrate Christmas and keep Blaire in the dark about their original plan to skip the holiday.

I've seen many complaints about this book.  For instance, why don't the Kranks participate in the elements of the Christmas holiday that don't have a cost?  Why do they put on the charade for Blair since she is an adult and should know that the world doesn't revolve around her?  Why does everyone get so upset, shouldn't they be jealous that the Kranks are going to have a good time at a lower cost?  While I do see the reasoning and logic behind these complaints, I can't help but roll my eyes.  This is really just a silly book that shouldn't cause so much complaint.  It's sort of like the majority of Christmas movies.  The plots are kind of out there and are in no way realistic- but sometimes that is half the fun!  I recommend this book if you just want a fun read during the holiday season!