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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780316779234
ISBN: 0316779237
Label: Back Bay Books
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 144
Publication Date: November 01, 1998
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Studio: Back Bay Books
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review:
Holidays on Ice is a collection of three previously published stories matched with three newer ones, all, of course, on a Christmas theme. David Sedaris's darkly playful humor is another common thread through the book, worming its way through "Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!" a chipper suburban Christmas letter that spirals dizzily out of control, and "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol," a vicious theatrical review of children's Christmas pageants. As always, Sedaris's best work is his sharply observed nonfiction, notably in "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," the tale of a memorable Christmas during which the young Sedaris learns to see his family in a new light. Worth the price of the book alone is the hilarious "SantaLand Diaries," Sedaris's chronicle of his time working as an elf at Macy's, covering everything from the preliminary group lectures ("You are not a dancer. If you were a real dancer you wouldn't be here. You're an elf and you're going to wear panties like an elf.") to the perils of inter-elf flirtation. Along the way, he paints a funny and sad portrait of the way the countless parents who pass through SantaLand are too busy creating an Experience to really pay attention to their children. In a sly way, it carries a holiday message all its own. Read it aloud to the adults after the kids have gone to bed. --Ali Davis
Product Description:
A new holiday classic--six of the most profound Christmas stories by the author of the bestselling "Naked" and "Barrel Fever"--is now in a paperback edition perfect for stocking stuffing.
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
One of the funniest and most entertaining stories Sedaris has ever written is the first story in this book, "SantaLand Diaries," his story about working as an elf in a department store Christmas display. It turns out that it is actually borrowed from one of his other books, Barrel Fever. The second best story I would say is "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," which is borrowed from his book Naked. It's a story about an unfortunate woman who is friends with David's sister Lisa. Those are the only two nonfiction stories in this collection.
The other four stories are all fiction, and while they are creatively written I don't find them as interesting as Sedaris' true accounts of his own life. The fiction stories are over-the-top ridiculous. They're not bad, just not what I'm used to and not what I expected.
Here are the stories:
"SantaLand Diaries" (from Barrel Fever)
"Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!"
"Dinah, the Christmas Whore" (from Naked)
"Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol"
"Based Upon a True Story"
"Christmas Means Giving"
"Season's Greetings" is a seasonal letter written to friends and family, telling of the crazy events of the last year. "Front Row" is about attending childrens' Christmas plays, giving reviews of the actors, etc. "Based Upon a True Story" is about a man giving a Christmas speech from the pulpit, with an ulterior motive. "Christmas Means Giving" is about competitive and materialistic neighbors.
If you want to read something really unusual from Sedaris, namely fiction, then check out this book, otherwise buy one of his other books for his more typical fare.
Rating: -
Not the best book I have read by him, but a great book in general!
Rating:  -
David Sedaris's humour and experiences over the Christmas holiday season is just what the Dr. may order to help you through a hectic and over stressed holiday season. Very funny. It could make a long distance road trip in the dead of winter enjoyable!
Rating:  -
This is the first David Sedaris book I've purchased and attempted to read. The first couple of chapters were interesting and funny but didn't have anything to do with dealing with family. It was about his Christmas job. I didn't necessarily like his view of families and children in which the humor was a little too dark for my taste. Halfway through, there was really more mundane daily stuff that didn't hold my attention. I didn't have any interest in finishing this book.
Rating: -
I had checked out this book at the college library back in 2004 by chance. It was my first exposure to David Sedaris and I later realized I'd known of his family through Amy Sedaris on "Strangers With Candy." Since then, I've read all of his books and ran into other author's like him (Augusten Boroughs comes to mind.) I took my dad for his birthday two years ago to see David Sedaris read live, from his then upcoming book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames.
I don't think there is a single Sedaris book I would not recommend. I've bought several copies of this book as holiday presents to cheer up grumpy family members and co-workers. I doubt any of David Sedaris's humor is lost on even the scrooge-iest of Scrooges. The book is short and broken into several articles/ segments as heard on NPR in the 90's (they occasionally replay them to this day.) Fast and quick and always a pleasure!
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