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The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays
The Dreaded Feast will act as a balm for the millions of people who face Christmastime with a mixture of dread and obligation. Whether it’s the last-minute shopping, the unappealing office party, or the prospect of more than 24 hours with family, it’s never easy. The anthology, which includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on these and many more related subjects, deflates...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by Harry N. Abrams
(first published October 1st 2009)
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Bound December 24, 2009
Miami SunPost
http://miamisunpost.com/themorgue/200...
Rah Rah, Humbug!
Behold, The Dreaded Feast
John Hood
Even the merriest of men and women sometimes suffer a pang of foreboding come holiday time. Others just plain can’t stand the damn season. But whether you’re the type to make a list and check it twice beginning in summer and can’t wait to get your friends under the mistletoe or you’d just as soon have Scrooge to Christmas dinner before he was visited by any bothersome gho...more
Miami SunPost
http://miamisunpost.com/themorgue/200...
Rah Rah, Humbug!
Behold, The Dreaded Feast
John Hood
Even the merriest of men and women sometimes suffer a pang of foreboding come holiday time. Others just plain can’t stand the damn season. But whether you’re the type to make a list and check it twice beginning in summer and can’t wait to get your friends under the mistletoe or you’d just as soon have Scrooge to Christmas dinner before he was visited by any bothersome gho...more
"If you don't have yourself a merry little Christmas, you might as well kill yourself."
John Waters
With the holiday season now officially beginning sometime in September, it's hard to still show enthusiasm by the time the Big Event actually rolls around, and one can be forgiven for exhibiting Grinch-like tendencies by mid-December.
Never fear. You're not alone, and many beloved authors are here to help with funny stories and essays about surviving this season of enforced joy and merriment.
$$$ -...more
John Waters
With the holiday season now officially beginning sometime in September, it's hard to still show enthusiasm by the time the Big Event actually rolls around, and one can be forgiven for exhibiting Grinch-like tendencies by mid-December.
Never fear. You're not alone, and many beloved authors are here to help with funny stories and essays about surviving this season of enforced joy and merriment.
$$$ -...more
9 likes · like · see review
view all 6 comments
Very funny, and a classic collection. The Dreaded Feastwill act as a balm for the millions of people who face Christmastime with a mixture of dread and obligation. Whether it’s the last-minute shopping, the unappealing office party, or the prospect of more than 24 hours with family, it’s never easy. The anthology, which includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on these and many more related subjects, deflates the notion of the “perfect” holiday season, and allows the reader to commiserate and ba...more
A collection of stories about the holidays, no matter what faith you practice, and those of us who fear them. Very funny, very personal tales that should please most anyone who has ever thought that maybe they should cancel that year, or come up with the excuse, "I have to work this holiday..." Very much recommended and a perfect balm for the enforced cheerfulness of the season.
To see the entire review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...
To see the entire review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...
This is basically the anti-Christmas book, and if you have a dark sense of humor, odds are you'll love it.
The first essay is by John Waters, and it's my favorite of the bunch. But there are also essays from David Sedaris (but not, sadly, The Santaland Diaries), Augusten Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, Dave Barry, Robert Benchley, Mark Twin, Jonathan Ames and Chris Radant (the short story that inspired Home for the Holidays), plus a ton more.
Also, the cover is fantastic.
The first essay is by John Waters, and it's my favorite of the bunch. But there are also essays from David Sedaris (but not, sadly, The Santaland Diaries), Augusten Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, Dave Barry, Robert Benchley, Mark Twin, Jonathan Ames and Chris Radant (the short story that inspired Home for the Holidays), plus a ton more.
Also, the cover is fantastic.
As with any anthology, some of the selections are better than others. I particularly enjoyed the entries from James Thurber and George Plimpton. The entries from John Waters, Augusten Burroughs and David Sedaris can be found elsewhere and therefore I had already read them. Some of the stories are completely humorless and are downright depressing, which is a little shocking in a collection that is presented as humor. Overall, the collection is a nice antidote to holiday sappiness overload, but it...more
A good collection. Some of the (few) poems are particularly wonderful. I particularly enjoyed the contemporary contributions by, for example, Dave Barry, as the book is basically by humorists. While the collection is extremely and well varied, the level of actual humor is uneven--at least for me! But I do recommend it because a few of the pieces are laugh-out-loud, and who doesn't need that to survive the holidays?
This is a perfect example of a bunch of literary types trying to be clever. I was expecting some really good essays based on some of the contributors--Dave Barry, David Sedaris, Augusten Burroughs, etc. But mostly this is writing that goes over, above, around, behind and under the top to try to be cynical. Blech.
I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time! This was a great read, very funny and, oddly enough, made me think. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a good chuckle, or who has troubles with the holiday season.
The first couple stories in the book were funny, clever and wickedly cynical. But then it went downhill from there. 90% of the stories felt like page fillers. Not the Christmas story roundup I was hoping for.
*snicker* *snicker* *snort*
Whenever I read a piece by David Sedaris, I hear his voice inside my head, as if he were reading to me...
Whenever I read a piece by David Sedaris, I hear his voice inside my head, as if he were reading to me...
Many authors are represented. I enjoyed about 1/2 the stories, and the best of all of them are the Santa Responds letters.
Some of the stories were very, very good, and some came off as mean-spirited.
All right. Next Christmas when I need a pick-me-up? Just read one or two essays from this. All of the writers have a good sense of humor about the holidays, and this book really doesn't need to be read all the way through as I had wanted to for two years. From now on it's a "I just need to read something quick and funny" book.
I enjoy Chris Radant's voice.
For every story I liked, there were four more I didn't.
Funny, sometimes dryly, essays on the holidays.
I laughed out loud more than once.
I laughed out loud more than once.
An eclectic mix of writing, mostly negative, about the holidays.
I was really excited about this book, but I just couldn't get into many of the stories. I finally gave up on it after 2 or 3 years of trying to read it and only getting about halfway through the collection.
Sep 28, 2012
Gail
marked it as to-read
cassie
Funny! A must read around the start of the holiday season each year.
I loved it!! :D
I love sarcasm so I really enjoyed it!
I love sarcasm so I really enjoyed it!
Apr 27, 2013
Cindy
added it
Feb 03, 2013
Caitlyn
marked it as to-read
Jan 17, 2013
sosser
marked it as to-read
Jan 06, 2013
Patty
marked it as to-read
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