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Holidays on Ice: Stories
Holidays on Ice collects six of David Sedaris's 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 in the backseat of a van or police car. It should be read with your eyes, felt with you...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
November 1st 1998
by Back Bay Books
(first published October 1st 1997)
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To the tune of “Frosty the Snowman”
Da-vid Se-daris
Was a writer oh-so-droll
With a quirky style and take on life
That will put you on the floor.
Da-vid Se-daris
Writes the weirdest stuff you’ll see
About the Christmas whore and the Macy’s elves
And deathly children’s pageantry.
There must have been some crazy
In the Sedaris family tree
‘Cause David ain’t the only one
Have you seen his sister Amy?
Oh! Da-vid...more
Da-vid Se-daris
Was a writer oh-so-droll
With a quirky style and take on life
That will put you on the floor.
Da-vid Se-daris
Writes the weirdest stuff you’ll see
About the Christmas whore and the Macy’s elves
And deathly children’s pageantry.
There must have been some crazy
In the Sedaris family tree
‘Cause David ain’t the only one
Have you seen his sister Amy?
Oh! Da-vid...more
view all 7 comments
So it might be a little cruel of me to review a book about Christmas when Christmas is off most of our radars, but, hey, there's still snow on the ground where I live so I'm allowing myself this review.
Like most people, I have often laughed at the strange humor David Sedaris illuminates in his past books, Naked being the funniest, IMO. When I was given a copy of HOLIDAYS ON ICE I knew what I was about to get into, so it sat on my shelves for a few months. On a whim, I plucked it ...more
Like most people, I have often laughed at the strange humor David Sedaris illuminates in his past books, Naked being the funniest, IMO. When I was given a copy of HOLIDAYS ON ICE I knew what I was about to get into, so it sat on my shelves for a few months. On a whim, I plucked it ...more
After reading the first short story, I thought this was going to be a delightful book. "SantaLand Diaries," after all, had me rolling down the isle of the plane on which I was reading it... Okay, I was just giggling constantly with frequent bursts of loud laugher interspersed. No rolling, but still very humiliating on the whole. At any rate, I came home in a dither to read the other stories as well. Ugh. Appalling. Not a single chuckle among them. Worse, they were gross, often o...more
Okay. Let it be said: "Santaland Diaries," the first essay of this book, is wonderful. But the rest of the book is basically filler; this was before Sedaris found his niche (humor essayist), and it really shows. He should never, ever write fiction, for example, and yet he tries to here. The results are not pretty, or even very readable.
It's also notable that half of the pieces in this short book have appeared in other collections of his. So, really, this is not worth buying...more
It's also notable that half of the pieces in this short book have appeared in other collections of his. So, really, this is not worth buying...more
David Sedaris is messed up! I can't even begin to tell you, you'll just have to read these Christmas stories on crack and find out for yourself.
Holidays on Ice is a collection of six short stories all wrapped up in a black Christmas bow. They are dark, sarcastic, evil, irreverent, funny, real, revealing, and sweet.
SantaLand Diaries recounts Sedaris's experience working as a Christmas elf in Santaland at Macy's in Manhattan. He encounters overzealous, self-centered, and...more
Holidays on Ice is a collection of six short stories all wrapped up in a black Christmas bow. They are dark, sarcastic, evil, irreverent, funny, real, revealing, and sweet.
SantaLand Diaries recounts Sedaris's experience working as a Christmas elf in Santaland at Macy's in Manhattan. He encounters overzealous, self-centered, and...more
In 2004 I was in a relationship where partner and I had very different ideas of what the holidays should look like. He's all about family and one-up-manship in the category of who brought the most unique/popular gift and who created the best dish for the potluck end of the Christmas meal.
Me, I'd rather vacate. So I packed up the dog this one year and drove to a secret get-away for Christmas alone. (Think "ahhh," not "awww") His gift to me was this book on CD, which I li...more
Me, I'd rather vacate. So I packed up the dog this one year and drove to a secret get-away for Christmas alone. (Think "ahhh," not "awww") His gift to me was this book on CD, which I li...more
The first story was amazing, listening to David Sedaris sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" like Billie Holiday had me rolling on the floor laughing..I cracked up so many times through out the story..
The other stories though, were very mediocre, not funny at all, sometimes even gross..So the first one gets sparkling, chrismasy 4 stars from me, and the others get 1, average- 2stars for the book.
The other stories though, were very mediocre, not funny at all, sometimes even gross..So the first one gets sparkling, chrismasy 4 stars from me, and the others get 1, average- 2stars for the book.
I'm afraid my book-selection privileges will be revoked by my book club for choosing this one.
I enjoy David Sedaris, in part because of his constant vigilance for finding the worst in people. Exploring the darker side of man makes for funny personal essays.
But when he turns to fiction, he has absolute creative control over his subjects. Instead of reporting on someone's shortcomings, he's inventing them. Perhaps this power is too much - he can't seem to help but crea...more
I enjoy David Sedaris, in part because of his constant vigilance for finding the worst in people. Exploring the darker side of man makes for funny personal essays.
But when he turns to fiction, he has absolute creative control over his subjects. Instead of reporting on someone's shortcomings, he's inventing them. Perhaps this power is too much - he can't seem to help but crea...more
This was my introduction to David Sedaris, and I have to say I found a couple of the stories very, very funny. "The SantaLand Diaries" - about Sedaris' job as an elf at Macy's during the Christmas season - was absolutely hilarious. It took me back to my collegiate summer job at Walt Disney World, where I, too, was forced to deal with pushy adults, bratty kids, and an uncomfortable and unflattering uniform. I also thought "Delilah the Christmas Whore" was entertaining - as muc...more
My mother was a little crazy.
She saw people looking through our windows, heard them whispering under our porch, spotted private family conversations in the newspaper, unexpectedly screamed profanity at people who looked suspicious (sometimes while we were in a restaurant or some other very public location), and thought the writing on trucks and other vehicles that passed us on the road were coded messages just for her. … It was a bit creepy.
My father didn’t help. R...more
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The Holy Terror
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
nobody
Recommended to The Holy Terror by:
Jeannine
There were only three stories in this collection that I didn't absolutely despise; Santaland Diaries, Dinah the Christmas Whore, and 6 to 8 Black Men were the only ones that were even remotely funny. The rest I honestly wish I had never read. I'd suggest reading these in the store or borrowing the book from the library if you really want to read it. Don't waste your money on this collection, especially the hardcover version, unless you really want to spend money on stories about a baby killed in...more
I enjoyed the majority of this book, but I felt it suffered by opening with "SantaLand Diaries" and following it with the snarky Christmas greeting story. "SantaLand Diaries" was easily my favorite thing about the book, so it was a tough act to follow. Still, I enjoyed the book enough to make it an annual Christmas read. (First read it last year, reading it a second time now.)
I was pretty disappointed in this collection and not just because that most of these essays and stories have been published in other books he has written that I already have. Nevertheless, some of the essays will bring a smile to anyone's face who wants to experience eccentric and unconventional Christmas tales (I'm looking at you, "Dinah, the Christmas Whore"!).
This is a quick read around the holidays (or anytime). Hilarious!
"the santaland diaries" alone made it worth the read. absolutely hilarious. the other stories...not so much. definitely not his best.
Although I have heard many of David Sedaris' works read by the author, I still have to say that the first selection in this audio collection is one of my favorites. Entitled "The Santaland Diaries" it is funny in a voyeuristic sort of way, in the way it is hard to look away when there is a "scene" in public. The funny of a man reduced to wearing a green velvet suit and playing an elf while working at Macy's in New York City. Sedaris gives the reader (or in this case, the li...more
Another wonderful Sedaris read! This one is a collection of stories previously published in his other books, as well as some new ones, all relating to the holidays. David Sedaris is one of the few authors whose works make me laugh out loud.
My favorite story of his is called "Six to Eight Black Men," and it describes how different Christmas traditions are elsewhere. The title comes from a conversation he has with a Dutchman, who claims that St. Nicholas dresses like the p...more
My favorite story of his is called "Six to Eight Black Men," and it describes how different Christmas traditions are elsewhere. The title comes from a conversation he has with a Dutchman, who claims that St. Nicholas dresses like the p...more
It's David Sedaris, of course it's five stars!
Not to mention that in this book, Sedaris is discussing one of his funniest topics - family.
This book is worth reading if for no other reason than for the Dunbar family holiday newsletter. You know the cheesy, bragging, generic letters you get from some people around the holidays? The kind that are supposed to sum up the entire past year (well the good parts anyway)? Yeah, this makes a total mockery of it and I DARE you not to...more
Not to mention that in this book, Sedaris is discussing one of his funniest topics - family.
This book is worth reading if for no other reason than for the Dunbar family holiday newsletter. You know the cheesy, bragging, generic letters you get from some people around the holidays? The kind that are supposed to sum up the entire past year (well the good parts anyway)? Yeah, this makes a total mockery of it and I DARE you not to...more
I became a fan of David Sedaris last year, and when my sister gave me this collection of holiday-themed stories and essays I jumped right in. The pieces range from ostensibly autobiographical to completely fabrcated. One may tell the fictional (not to mention absurd) tale of two rich families trying to outdo each other in attempts at hoarding more holiday spirit, and another recounts the soul-crushing time Sedaris spent employed as a Christmas Elf at Macy's department store.
Much like...more
Much like...more
Julie
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people with a slightly warped sense of humor
Recommended to Julie by:
Cyber Book Club
One of the December books for the Cyber Book Club.
Okay, this is my first experience with David Sedaris. He writes really well, and I found myself chuckling at the book in places, but just as often my mouth was hanging open in shock at what the characters were doing/what they were saying, especially in the fiction pieces. I could have done without "Monster Mash" entirely, and lived my life very happily. I also found myself a little put off by the descriptions of Sedaris's at...more
Okay, this is my first experience with David Sedaris. He writes really well, and I found myself chuckling at the book in places, but just as often my mouth was hanging open in shock at what the characters were doing/what they were saying, especially in the fiction pieces. I could have done without "Monster Mash" entirely, and lived my life very happily. I also found myself a little put off by the descriptions of Sedaris's at...more
I read the original version of this collection a few years ago and really enjoyed it so I jumped at the chance of reading the stories again and the new additional stories! The new stories are definitely a welcome addition!
Of the original stories, The SantaLand Diaries starts the collection off on a hilarious note. You get to read bout the inner workings of being a department store Christmas elf. The crazy santas, elves and customers! Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!! sta...more
Of the original stories, The SantaLand Diaries starts the collection off on a hilarious note. You get to read bout the inner workings of being a department store Christmas elf. The crazy santas, elves and customers! Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!! sta...more
Read for Christmas cheer and spirit. What the situations lack in originality they sometimes make up for in... originality.
SantaLand Diaries- The most famous essay in the collection and the only one to make me laugh out loud: "I normally avoid leaflets but it breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco." Made me laugh out loud mostly because taco is a funny word. Just heard Sedaris read this on the radio before my own reading so mostly skimmed and read the parts not...more
SantaLand Diaries- The most famous essay in the collection and the only one to make me laugh out loud: "I normally avoid leaflets but it breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco." Made me laugh out loud mostly because taco is a funny word. Just heard Sedaris read this on the radio before my own reading so mostly skimmed and read the parts not...more
This is my first encounter with Sedaris, except for a humor essay collection that he edited, I think. Anyway, that collection was awful, and the word, "ehh," comes to mind with reading this small holiday collection. A few titters glitter throughout but, on the whole, disappointing, sad: depressing. I used the last two words in describing the above humor essay collection.
I understand the M.O.'s of most comedians and humorists...sad, depressing, violent, penniless childhoods. I...more
I understand the M.O.'s of most comedians and humorists...sad, depressing, violent, penniless childhoods. I...more
In this Christmas-flavored collection of short stories (both nonfiction and fiction), David Sedaris examines, deconstructs, satirizes, and otherwise gleefully rips apart the traditional notions of holiday cheer. In “Christmas Means Giving,” for example, Sedaris adopts the fictional persona of a competitive neighbor to poke fun of seasonal good will, imagining the cliché of “it is better to give than to receive” as just another way to “keep up with the Joneses.” “Jesus Shaves” and “Six to Eight B...more
I needed a break and a laugh sounded good, so I picked up this little tome that had been patiently waiting its turn on my bookshelf. Never you mind that it's mid-August, I can read about the holidays whever I feel like it.
This was the first time I'd read anything by David Sedaris and I have to say I was going in with some pretty high expectations. I work in a bookstore, and people tend to gush about him, especially when they hear him read his work aloud. Maybe it was the height of t...more
This was the first time I'd read anything by David Sedaris and I have to say I was going in with some pretty high expectations. I work in a bookstore, and people tend to gush about him, especially when they hear him read his work aloud. Maybe it was the height of t...more
I keep trying to like David Sedaris but I just don’t find him that funny or entertaining. Three books in, he’s like the sad-sack but reasonably witty guy in your sophomore writing class that was amusing while the semester was going but you don’t feel a strong urge to connect with on Facebook when it's time to move on. His observations are dry, cynical and devoid of insight. I picked up this slim volume at the library book sale and thought it would be funny to read in June with Christmas ages awa...more
I think I finally know what it is that bugs me about David Sedaris.
I've always felt like I was missing the bus when it came to his stuff, because everyone else seems to think he's the funniest guy of all time, etc., etc., but I think I finally put my finger on it: I just don't like his third-person stories. When he writes about himself and his experiences (first person), it’s hilarious. When he gets into the whole "And now I'm going to tell a twisted story (third person) with l...more
I've always felt like I was missing the bus when it came to his stuff, because everyone else seems to think he's the funniest guy of all time, etc., etc., but I think I finally put my finger on it: I just don't like his third-person stories. When he writes about himself and his experiences (first person), it’s hilarious. When he gets into the whole "And now I'm going to tell a twisted story (third person) with l...more
I read David Sedaris, Holidays on Ice, which is a collection of Sedaris' holiday-themed essays. I really like Sedaris, but I don't necessarily like reading him. I'm a big fan when he is on This American Life and I've also listened to audio versions of his books and enjoyed them. Mainly, I think the fact that he reads them himself gives real personality to the essays, and then reading them on the page, they fall a bit flat for me.
My favorite essay in this collection was "Front...more
My favorite essay in this collection was "Front...more
If you're into wholesome family holiday classics, this book may not for you. If you're into laughing really hard, sharp wit, and eccentricity, then this book is written specifically for you. I think most people who've read even one of Sedaris's short stories can readily recall his tone upon hearing his name. His style is comedy fueled, but also leaves you feeling as if Sedaris has magically imparted in you some great wisdom about family, love, and the human experience. "Holidays on Ice"...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Christmas Classic! | 2 | 12 | Dec 21, 2007 11:29am |
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist and radio contributor.
Sedaris came to prominence in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "SantaLand Diaries." He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994. Each of his four subsequent essay collections, Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day...more
More about David Sedaris...
Sedaris came to prominence in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "SantaLand Diaries." He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994. Each of his four subsequent essay collections, Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day...more
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