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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4136.Holidays_on_Ice?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Holidays on Ice" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169993125m/4136.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4136.Holidays_on_Ice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Holidays on Ice</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2849.David_Sedaris">David Sedaris</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9544709?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars Reading this copy of Santaland Diaries clearly illustrated how deeply the cover art and the book's condition affect the reader's first and subsequent perceptions of the writing. Instead of buying this book, I borrowed a sad little copy from the library. It didn't even have a proper spine. The once red now faded to pink in parts, slightly tattered front and back cover of almost-construction paper got even worse when I noticed - STAPLES -instead of the spine it needed. The bad impression went to worse and then even worse than that when I started reading it. The font convincingly looked like it was typed pre-computer - ick. I checked the dates and it was either 1996 or 1998. I know computers were around then. 
 
 Are you kidding? Where was the Holidays on Ice copy with the artful, glossy, seductive black and white photo-illustration of the iced-down drink? 
 
 I really considered handing this copy back to the library after seeing what terrible shape it was in, but I had been looking forward to reading this at Christmastime for a couple of weeks. Instead, I persevered. The awful art, tattered and faded cover, staple binding and dated font irked me for about two pages before his writing brought me completely into the story. It was short enough that I could read The Santaland Diaries section in the library. 
 
 David, as Crumpet then Blisters, has several funny lines and sections as he retold his Christmas experience working as an elf at Macy's and his thought processes leading up to his application there. Unfortunately, the bad impression of this copy left a substantial aftertaste that lingered in my mind after reading. I thought his ...Corduroy... book was so much funnier, sharper, and more satisfying.
 
 This copy was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello through Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/607901?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Julia's review
rating:

recommended for: large printing conglomerate editor as a cautionary tale;someone working a demeaning part-time job
status: Read in December, 2007

Reading this copy of Santaland Diaries clearly illustrated how deeply the cover art and the book's condition affect the reader's first and subsequent perceptions of the writing. Instead of buying this book, I borrowed a sad little copy from the library. It didn't even have a proper spine. The once red now faded to pink in parts, slightly tattered front and back cover of almost-construction paper got even worse when I noticed - STAPLES -instead of the spine it needed. The bad impression went to worse and then even worse than that when I started reading it. The font convincingly looked like it was typed pre-computer - ick. I checked the dates and it was either 1996 or 1998. I know computers were around then.

Are you kidding? Where was the Holidays on Ice copy with the artful, glossy, seductive black and white photo-illustration of the iced-down drink?

I really considered handing this copy back to the library after seeing what terrible shape it was in, but I had been looki...more

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