Christmas Madness, Mayhem, and Mall Santas: Humorous Insights into the Holiday Season
927851
I love this book.  Bonnie Daly's ability to look back on Christmastime experiences with ironic humor is perfection.  I look forward to Bonnie's next book!
1619753
Christmas shopping is a particular challenge in my life. This book is a  solution to this year's woes.  It is light-hearted, funny, easy-to-read,  and truly relaxing.  It can be read in any order, front to back, back to  front, or just totally at random.  You can put it down and not be confused  about characters or plots.  Keep it in your car and read when caught in a  traffic it jam.  It will lighten your frantic load.
2106811
This book has different essays from other writers and a few comedians that tell what they do at Christmas.  It was interesting to see how differently and similarly people that don't have a religious affiliation spend their time during the "holidays".
3916598
This book is hilarious!  I wanted something light, but Christmasy, to read during the busy holiday season.  Started reading this in bed one night with my husband sleeping beside me.  Next thing I know I am laughing so hard I have to get up and go into another room so I didn't wake him.  The writing is marvelous....shades of Erma Bombeck.  It is so good to know I am not alone!  Highly recommend.
4595552
I enjoy telling jokes, even corny ones. After reading this collection I'll be ready with plenty of new ones for my family and friends this holiday season. The jokes are short, witty and suitable for any crowd. The books are well organized and besides the jokes there are some interesting facts about the holidays and the traditions we celebrate.
This would make a great gift anyone would enjoy.
4178391
Sweet, breezy and funny.  This little tome of charming stories will help you de-stress during the holidays...or you can enjoy it as needed throughout the year!  A perfect stocking stuffer for yourself and the pet lovers in your life.  This book is filled with delights.  Buy it!
4487709
Cledus's newest CD, "Cledus Navidad," offers up ten tracks to delight you in the holiday season--or any other time of the year.  Fans of Cledus--and yes, you pretty much have to be demented--may be surpised to learn that he wrote only two songs on here, one of them, "Merry Christmas From the Whole Fam Damily", appearing on "Just Another Day In Parodies."
But on to this album.
"Cledus's Christmas Ball" kicks things off, a hilarious party thrown by the Cleuds-man himself.  "Stephon the Alternative Lifestyle Reindeer" isn't knock-out funny, but its humor it subtle, and its a good tune, anyway.  "Hazel's Homemade Hallelujah Punch" and "All I Want For Christmas Is Two Gold Front Teef" are probably the worst of the tracks, if that term can be used.  You'll get chuckles out of them, though, don't you worry.
"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" (much better than Cledus's parody on an earlier album) will bring back many memories for those of you old enough to remember Elmo & Patsy.  (I like the knew introduction/techno spin on the chorus, as well.)  "Only 364 More Shopping Days Til Christmas" was written (by CTJ) for all you parents out there.  "Tree's On Fire" is one of the most hilarious songs on the album--and a parody of Cash's "Ring of Fire."  The immitation of Cash's voice is half the fun, but the other half's listening to the cat get it.
"Don't Serve Beans", featuring Cledus T. Judd and "Out of Sync", is supposedly sung at a church, with a preacher introducing the band.  No instruments, but some good harmonies.  You can guess what the tune's about.
"Merry Christmas From..." (I mentioned the full title earlier) is still one of Cledus's best songs ever, a hilarious ride through two warring families' Christmas gathering.  "Santa Clause Is Watching You" is also still a delight, with Cledus bringing the song to life once again--and getting you to smile, laugh, and possibly lose control of your car.
With that last warning in mind, you might want to be careful where you listen to this album.  Like everything Cledus does, it'll get you laughin.  This man has a gift of smiles--whether he's immitating Billy Gilman (Check "Cledus Envy) or admiring Dolly Parton's "jugs of wine" (Check the album whose review your reading), Cledus T. Judd will get you to laugh.
"Cledus Navidad", everyone!
3848374
This is very funny.  Comes with a Word Document CD with a bunch of different crazy scenarios into which you can place the names of yourself, your family and loved ones, even your pet, to really turn those annual "catch you up on what's happening" Christmas Letters on their heads.  Smart and hysterical.
2332772
A short but excellent book of  Holiday stories. I really enjoyed this. I haven't read Christmas stories since I was a little boy.  This book had the edge and humor I needed. I loved that alot of it took place in the city I live in and I felt sucked in and like I was a part of some of the stories. I will definitely return this book in future holiday seasons and give it as a gift to friends and family.
154328
My family and I (two grown girls who still love stories) shared this book over Christmas. We took turns reading it to one another. I must say, this is highly recommended. This book has a certain, how shall I say, slyness to it -- it covers many "modern" topics: divorce, IKEA, and the general difficulty of "keeping it together" in a modern world. Nonetheless, here is this almost anachronistic figure of Mr. Moose, who speaks with his arch language and his old-fashioned manners, and tells quite a story.

It also presents Santa (Father Christmas) in a rather unusual light, not at all the timeworn "ho, ho, ho!"

Above all, this book captures the childlike spirit of Christmas, the magic and the wistfulness. It belongs in your Christmas box.
4558782
This fun festive book gives you a glimpse behind-the-scenes at the North Pole. It is Christmas Eve and Santa and his elves are busy, scurrying around putting last minute touches on the toys he has to deliver that night.  He is making his list and checking it twice when he notices that his reindeer are no where to be found.  That is strange and worrying as they have to take off soon and he needs them there with him.  Where on earth could they be at this late hour knowing they have all those deliveries to tend to very soon?  Santa is up to his eyeballs with work he still has to complete so he sends out Baby Santa and Rudolph to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of his fabulous flying reindeer.

Off they go on a whirlwind trip around the globe to collect the missing herd and their journey takes them to South Africa, Russian, Spain, Brazil, India, France, Australia and the United States.  Each reindeer is in a different country joining in on their celebrations and having the time of their lives.  Will they consent to come back to the North Pole to fulfill their Christmas Eve duties on time or are they having too much fun?  Will Santa be upset with them on their return or will he rejoice that they are finally home and now able to pull his magic sleigh around the world to deliver the toys to good girls and boys on time?

The illustrations are beautifully done with vibrant colours and very expressive.  The book will give opportunity to discuss how Christmas is celebrated internationally and you can contrast those celebrations to the ones you share in your own home.  A fun, seasonal book to read aloud and discuss with your kids.
2525927
Yes, well.  Krampus was quite an eye opener for me this past Winter Solstice season.  In L.A. California there is an annual parade commemorating the evil elf, and if I'd been threatened with him or be good, I'd have been a total angel.
3273445
While this book centers on topics about the Winter Solstice, there still is a weatlth of information about the holiday season, ranging from holiday customs in different countries and how they got started, various Christmas traditions and how they too got started, brief descriptions of holiday festivals (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc), even "Yuletide triva." What I found interesting was how many American Christmas traditions actually got their start in the Pagan culture.
There are also chapters on Yule gifts, hosting succesful and fun holiday parties, and numerous recipes for holiday treats. The final section lists a "daily event calendar" for the month of December. It's interesting to know how each day of the month it seems is set aside for some "celebration" or other if you choose to celebrate each of them.
Even if this holiday season is almost over, this still is a fun book to have not just as an informal "holiday reference" book, but also as a way to enjoy the entire holiday season.
2084298
This book had me in stitches with its witty delivery of wise words.  Good humor and great perspective is heaped on the Christmas anecdotes to help you navigate the season with laughter and aplomb.  A laugh a minute, with a message.  I can't wait for their next book!
3287272
As a book of essays, The Christmas Virtues brings together a bunch of different voicesfolks like Kirsten Powers, Stephen F. Hayes, Andrew Fergusonand their thoughts on Christmas. There are definitely some laughs, such as in James Lilek's chapter "The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day because you are legally permitted to punch anyone who plays that Alvin and the Chipmunks song." But there's also a good deal of depth. The book really does deliver on the "good, bad, and ugly" of Christmas, and is a nice counter to more superficial, purely feel-good stories.
2158141
I would highly recommend this book, especially during the Christmas season.  It deals with issues that are funny, sad and nostalgic.  Great gift idea!
862683
Nikki Turner Presents Street Chronicles Christmas in the Hood is comprised of five stories dedicated to showing the `hood' version of the holiday.

Holiday Hell by Dee Blackmon takes readers through Noelle's dilemma of coming up with money to exchange for her sister, who was kidnapped, by Christmas Eve.

Me and Grandma by Mo Shines tells of a grandmother's hustle to provide a good Christmas for her grandchildren, including those that were `street' related.  With the help of her notorious thug friends, she not only cooked up a great meal, but an even better Christmas.

A Christmas Song by Seth `Soul Man' Ferranti, Fats attempted to hustle from behind bars to buy presents for his children and their mothers.  When his plan foils, would he make it to Christmas in one piece?

Secret Santa by K. Elliott is about an exotic dancer, Shante, who was robbed before Christmas.  With children to make happy and not many paying customers at the club, how would she create the magic the holiday brings?

Charge It To the Game by J.M. Benjamin, another story set in prison, found Victorious in a sticky situation.  Not only was he locked up, but he could not get in touch with his girlfriend, Meeka, or his best boy, Supreme.  The situation thickens when a cellmate is bonded out of jail by someone extremely close to Victorious.  Guess what he is getting for Christmas...

Praises to Nikki Turner for the idea of creating an urban fiction, holiday-based anthology.  The stories captured the manufactured Christmas spirit; the thrill of buying gifts with money you do not have and scheming on how to get money that does not have to be returned.  Though a powerful and relative theme, the stories fell short of the expectations of such a great idea.  They grasped at the anguish versus elation that Christmas brings but did not provide enough imagery or character development to actualize its potential.

Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub