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Holidays on Ice
Holidays on Ice
Author: David Sedaris
HOLIDAYS ON ICE collects six of David Sedaris' most profound Christmas stories into one slender volume perfect for use as a last-minute coaster or ice scraper. This drinking man's companion can be enjoyed by the warmth of a raging fire, the glow of a brilliantly decorated tree, or even the backseat of a van or police car. It should be read with ...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780316779234
ISBN-10: 0316779237
Publication Date: 11/1/1998
Pages: 144
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 488

3.8 stars, based on 488 ratings
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
David Sedaris is at his best when writing his memories. The first of the six stories was my favorite. His description of being an elf at Macy's was hilarious and when I tried to read parts out loud to my husband, I was laughing too hard to finish. I love his sarcastic yet amused outlook on life.

I didn't love the other stories, but they were a fun read. He knows when to lay it on thick and poke fun at the hyprocrasy of Christmas and how it's about the *idea* of giving in many cases. The annual Christmas letter is also lampooned, and he goes so over the top with it that you have to laugh.

Not my favorite Sedaris book, but SantaLand Diaries alone made it worth the read.
Ladyslott avatar reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 113 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I loved When You are Engulfed in Flames and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Sedaris wit, sarcasm and ironic outlook on life, friends and family made me a fan and I am now reading his back catalog.

I picked up Holidays on Ice figuring it might be a tonic to the over commercialization of the Christmas Season. I was right and I was wrong. The first story Santaland Diaries was exactly what I was looking for, a skewering of all the things wrong with the mad rush holiday shopping season. It was funny and witty and I knew I was in for a treat. Then I read the next story, which was Greetings to Our Friends and Family, a twisted look at the ubiquitous holiday letter, it was a little too dark and nasty for me. Then I read Christmas Means Giving, a tale of keeping up with the neighbors that turns very grisly.

Several of the stories I had read before in Flames and Corduroy, so that was a bit of a disappointment, I didnt realize all the stories werent new. One of the other more memorable stories was Dinah, the Christmas Whore which was quite funny and rather touching. Of course it was a story involving Davids family, where I find his humor at its best. I also really enjoyed Jesus Saves, a hilarious story of Davids French class where everyone of a different nationality tries to explain Easter.

So overall this collection was very uneven and it actually took me a month to read this very slight book, because parts of it were just too dark and a little shocking for me.
SteveTheDM avatar reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 204 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I've listened to David Sedaris on APM's This American Life for years now, and finally decided that I'd like to read some of his books. So I requested a bunch on paperbackswap.com, and Holidays on Ice is the first that showed up.

This book has six stories; three original and three previously published. One of them, the SantaLand Diaries has been everywhere, and I'd heard about it before. It's also the best story in the book.

Overall, the book is kind of hit-and-miss. The stories based on his own life are the best (often making me laugh out loud), but his fictional pieces seem a bit forced.
reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
"Santa Land Diaries" was hysterical reading, though personally I thought "Season's Greetings" crossed the line from sarcastic to not funny, bordering on sick and twisted. Overall, the book was okay, though I liked Me Talk Pretty One Day a whole lot more.
reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
hilarious! a perfect introduction to David Sedaris or a must-have for an established fan.
Read All 39 Book Reviews of "Holidays on Ice"

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reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 42 more book reviews
Really enjoyed reading these dark, short stories. Mostly about Christmas, but can be enjoyed anytime and quite funny. I read it on the commute to and from work, and it fit the time span wonderfully.
reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 124 more book reviews
Very comical. David writes various stories that deal with the Christmas season. A definite read!
ilovebooksanddogs avatar reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 356 more book reviews
This book has 6 stories in it, the first one was hilarious and the second one pretty close (and that's the only reason I gave this 2 stars)....but it went rapidly down hill after those. In fact, this book got so bad I was gritting my teeth just trying to finish it. The last two stories were so stupid and weird I was beginning to doubt my sanity in picking this up in the first place. This is the first book of his I've ever read and honestly I guarantee I'm cured of having any urge to ever read any more by him.
reviewed Holidays on Ice on
Loved the book, Holidays on Ice, but I'm a David Sedaris fan so... what can I say. His writing is delightful.
susieqmillsacoustics avatar reviewed Holidays on Ice on + 1061 more book reviews
Sedaris' twisted humor, at times, was a bit too much for me. The stories were entertaining and somewhat funny, but just okay. Fortunately, it is a quick read. For those who like his type of dark humor, this would be enjoyable. Not really my cup of tea.
reviewed Holidays on Ice on
So funny! If you like David Sedaris, you will be pleased with this book!


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