Eight stars
Try to picture not having to prepare for or celebrate Christmas. Not because of any social or religious reasons, but simply to leave the craziness of malls, inflatables on the lawn, and other inane traditions behind. John Grisham—legal thriller expert like no other—envisions just that in this short Christmas piece. It's a great move away from his tradition stories, which gets to the humorous side of things and makes quite the impact for the reader who is able to put their preconceived notions aside. I needed something to add to my holiday reading list and this one hit the spot.
After Luther and Nora Krank learn that their daughter will be away for Christmas, they ponder leaving it all behind. They plan a trip for just them and dump the money they would have spent into something for just the two of them. When they settle on a cruise, they begin making plans and dodging the outward holiday plans that many have come to expect. There is no need to head to the mall, where money could be spent on tanning and eating much healthier. The Kranks are ready for this, even if others around them refuse to accept their plans or ideas of how to spend the holiday season.
With a great deal of pushback, Luther and Nora begin to see just how much others rely on them to keep the Christmas season going. They refuse to stand down, even as the neighbourhood kids toss threats in their direction. Then, a call comes in on Christmas Eve, one that could put their plans in jeopardy and they must decide how to handle it. It's sure to be a real challenge, as monumental as the decision Scrooge made all those years ago about the holidays. Grisham does a great job, adding humour and some sentimentality to a Christmas story that checks all the boxes.
While I have long loved the stories that John Grisham has to offer, I was pleasantly surprised to pick this book up after so many years. It's a great piece that adds some serious aspects of the holiday season with the comical perspective of the craziness that people choose to put themselves in for no apparent reason. Grisham builds up the story while delivering strong characters and a few twists. The panic that ensues is just what's needed and I could not get enough. With a cinematic rendition also out there, I will have to watch to see how it compares to this short piece that is perfect for the Christmas season.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for a great holiday story!
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