Book Review: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Normally I wouldn't read books that has already been made into movies because I thought I'd lose the magic of imagination, with all the vivid images displayed on the big screen.

Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham, is now also a movie, just released recently in the States, known as Christmas with the Kranks, starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Well, reading through the book, I can't help but picturing Tim Allen (and his Home Improvement character and surroundings) as the protagonist, Luther Krank, a husband and father who came up with a supposedly brilliant idea of skipping Christmas and all the festivities that came with it. Nora, the dotting mom, reluctantly and quietly appreciating the idea that her husband came up with. Again, I think you can easily imagine Jamie Lee Curtis in Patricia Richardson's shoes as the wife of Tim Allen's character in Home Improvement.

The book itself is an easy read. Not heavy plots, little character development, lots of characters being thrown into the plot. Is John Grisham just milking the movie industry? The storyline is too simple, language light and not much to hold your interest for too long. I managed to continue to finish this book only because of the time I like to spend sitting in the toilet reading books! This book sucks as a novel, but I am sure it'll fare better as an adapted screenplay, no doubt. This book just reinforced my believes in books that has been made into movies are nothing to shout about... although there's a few more John Grisham books that are made into movies... which has been recommended to me.

My recommendation, don't bother picking up this book. Save your RM30 and buy your date and yourself the movie tickets to the show, popcorns and drinks, and enjoy the laughter I'm sure funnyman Tim Allen will bring to the screen.

Ratings: 2 out of 5