Holidays on Ice: Stories
Registered by GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/5/2011
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
4 journalers for this copy...
I found this slightly-battered softcover at the Used Book Superstore.
I first encountered Sedaris' writing with the now-classic "SantaLand Diaries," his account of his stint as a Macy's elf. That's also the funniest entry in the book, though "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" [one of his life-with-my-family essays] is also hilarious. As with all of Sedaris' work, even the funniest bits have dark edges; he's not to everyone's taste, and some of the other entries here are pretty strong stuff, which might offend or even horrify some folks, so proceed with caution...
"Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!" is a very black-humored take on those chatty Christmas letters, from a woman who's clearly gone around the bend, but who remains cheerful in a brittle sort of way [this is the second most frightening tale in this book, so be warned!]. "Christmas Means Giving" [THE most frightening tale, IMO] is about a well-off couple who start competing with their neighbors for "most charitable family in town," with mind-blowingly over-the-top results; and "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol" features a professional theater critic who turns a very severe eye on a local grade-school production of "A Christmas Carol" - I laughed a lot, but again, it's got an edge.
I love Sedaris, and if you're weary of too much forced holiday cheer he might be the perfect antidote!
I first encountered Sedaris' writing with the now-classic "SantaLand Diaries," his account of his stint as a Macy's elf. That's also the funniest entry in the book, though "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" [one of his life-with-my-family essays] is also hilarious. As with all of Sedaris' work, even the funniest bits have dark edges; he's not to everyone's taste, and some of the other entries here are pretty strong stuff, which might offend or even horrify some folks, so proceed with caution...
"Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!" is a very black-humored take on those chatty Christmas letters, from a woman who's clearly gone around the bend, but who remains cheerful in a brittle sort of way [this is the second most frightening tale in this book, so be warned!]. "Christmas Means Giving" [THE most frightening tale, IMO] is about a well-off couple who start competing with their neighbors for "most charitable family in town," with mind-blowingly over-the-top results; and "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol" features a professional theater critic who turns a very severe eye on a local grade-school production of "A Christmas Carol" - I laughed a lot, but again, it's got an edge.
I love Sedaris, and if you're weary of too much forced holiday cheer he might be the perfect antidote!
I'm taking this book to the special meetup at the Mass. Transportation Building in Boston tonight. Hope someone enjoys it!
Kindly given to me with another Sedaris book as they're on my wishlist. I'm going to try and save this for Christmas...I wonder if I'll be able to wait?
Thanks very much GoryDetails.
Thanks very much GoryDetails.
I've already read the excellent Santaland Diaries in another book of Sedaris short stories and essays.
I love his writing and his comic take on the world. Any stories featuring his mother are always welcome; she didn't mince her words and his retelling often makes me laugh out loud. Dinah the Christmas whore is my favourite apart from The SLD. Laugh out loud funny. Ho ho ho! ;-p
I love his writing and his comic take on the world. Any stories featuring his mother are always welcome; she didn't mince her words and his retelling often makes me laugh out loud. Dinah the Christmas whore is my favourite apart from The SLD. Laugh out loud funny. Ho ho ho! ;-p
Journal Entry 5 by Cinderess at Covent Garden, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, December 12, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (12/13/2011 UTC) at Covent Garden, Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
My cunning RABCK plan is to read the rest of the stories on the coach to London, then drop the book off at a lovely Bookcrosser's place of work in the afternoon. What could go wrong?!
Journal Entry 6 by Vekiki at Greater London, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Nothing went wrong, your cunning plan worked perfectly :) thank you so much for leaving this for me - just listening to my mum talk over ''our'' christmas plans yesterday I was already starting to revolve, so I will take this with me over the hols to distract me when the glitteryness all gets too much
now, why is it that chocolate coins taste so much better than just normal chocolate?
now, why is it that chocolate coins taste so much better than just normal chocolate?
Journal Entry 7 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (9/4/2012 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Spotted this on someone's wishlist so sending it off as an SGG surprise :) Enjoy!
Thank you for a lovely Christmas themed surprise, Vekiki! Now I have to find out what SGG means. Something ?? Gift Giving? I'm happy about this gift, no matter what the mysterious S stands for:)
Journal Entry 9 by dotdot at Stockmann in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (12/23/2012 UTC) at Stockmann in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This tifle was on my wishlist. Due to ever so generous Bookcrossing community, I received two copies of this book in a shore time. I pass this copy on to other readers.
Every day before Christmas I release a book from my bookshelf. Holidays On Ice is book # 23 of my 2012 BookCrossing Advent Calendar. It can be found in Stockmann's (downtown department store), somewhere near Christmas flowers, at 1.15 pm.
Merry Christmas!
Every day before Christmas I release a book from my bookshelf. Holidays On Ice is book # 23 of my 2012 BookCrossing Advent Calendar. It can be found in Stockmann's (downtown department store), somewhere near Christmas flowers, at 1.15 pm.
Merry Christmas!