8 member(s) found this review helpful.
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.
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
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.
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
hilarious! a perfect introduction to David Sedaris or a must-have for an established fan.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
"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.

Jason R. (
jrehde30) wrote on 8/4/2008...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very funny book! I read this when I was at the beach and was laughing out loud. I definitely would read this book again.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Funny, ironic, sad, allegorical, wise ... and of course, witty!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Brilliant, wonderful adult read-aloud holiday tales. An annual read at our house...truly gut busting hilarious!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Cool holiday stories--good writer but just not for me.

Sandy A. (
SandyA) wrote on 2/19/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book has the Santa Land Diaries in it (which David Sedaris read from on This American Life).
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Light, fun reading. Perfect for lounging on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa.