7.8 /10 1 Votes7.8
3.7/5 Barnes & Noble Publication date December 1997 Dewey Decimal 813/.54 21 Country United States of America | 4/5 Goodreads Language English OCLC 37187549 Originally published December 1997 Genre Essay ISBN 0-316-77998-9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Media type Print (Hardcover and Paperback) Pages 128 pp (first edition, hardcover) Similar David Sedaris books, Humour books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Holidays on Ice is a 1997 collection of essays about Christmas, some new and some previously published, by David Sedaris.
Contents
- Holidays on ice by david sedaris
- SantaLand Diaries
- Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family
- Dinah the Christmas Whore
- Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol
- Based on a True Story
- Christmas Means Giving
- References
Sedaris is named by Time as America’s Favorite Humorist and was named by The Economist as one of the funniest writers alive. This is one of his first works, which when originally published, was re-released with additional new passages, most of which have been previously cited by other authors.
Some online fans have written that Sedaris' style of writing on this particular collection is precise, at times dark, and very funny.
The most popular essay is “Santaland Diaries”, which is Sedaris’ take on working as an elf at a department store grotto during Christmas season.
"Holidays on Ice" was re-released in October 2008 by publisher, Little, Brown & Company. The book has 176 pages.
Holidays on ice by david sedaris
SantaLand Diaries
"SantaLand Diaries" recounts Sedaris' experiences working as an elf at Macy's department store. The essay was originally broadcast on NPR, and is also included in Sedaris' first book Barrel Fever.
Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!
A Christmas letter from the Dunbar clan detailing matriarch Mrs. Dunbar's slow descent into insanity during the holiday season — belied by her insistently cheerful tone — as she is forced to cope with the discovery of her husband's infidelity, the resultant prostitute stepdaughter left in their care, and her drug-addict daughter's premature pregnancy. Also first published in Barrel Fever.
Dinah, the Christmas Whore
Sedaris recalls the Christmas that he was taken on a late-night ride downtown by his sister, Lisa, to rescue a prostitute from her abusive boyfriend. This story was also published in Sedaris' 1997 book Naked.
Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol
A review of the local grade school's Christmas pageant.
Based on a True Story
Where a member of the media begs a church congregation for information on a heartbreaking story.
Christmas Means Giving
Where battling neighbors try to outdo each other with holiday generosity.