When Luther and Nora Krank learn that their only child won’t be joining them for Christmas, they decide to skip Christmas and spend the money on a cruise instead.
The hijinks that ensue (and there are plenty of hijinks) poke fun at the materialism and superficiality that often mark Christmas in modern America. The neighbors, the Kranks’ friends, Luthers’ coworkers, and even the Kranks themselves have a very hard time with the very idea of skipping Christmas.
The idea — what would happen if an ordinary American couple decided to skip Christmas — is entertaining and worth thinking about. The calculations about the amount of time and money they put into the holiday each year are eye-opening. Yet the fact that the Kranks decide to give up so many things that cost nothing, including worship and joyful wishes, weakens the story. As they put time and money into preparations for their cruise instead, the focus moves away from the idea of simplifying life.
Grisham is a superb storyteller, and the book is an enjoyable read with a heart-warming ending. Any philosophical or theological issues that may come up during reading will just improve your book club discussions!
This book was the basis for the movie Christmas with the Kranks. Think about reading it with your book club and then watching the movie together.