Holidays on Ice

Holidays on Ice is a 1997 collection of essays and stories about Christmas, some new and some previously published, by David Sedaris.

For the ice show, see Holiday on Ice. For the Knoxville ice rink, see Knoxville Christmas in the City.
Holidays on Ice
AuthorDavid Sedaris
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreEssay and short story collection
PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
Publication date
December 1997
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages128 pp (first edition, hardcover)
ISBN0-316-77998-9 (first edition, hardcover)
OCLC37187549
813/.54 21
LC ClassPS3569.E314 H65 1997
Preceded byNaked 
Followed byMe Talk Pretty One Day 

Sedaris is named by Time as America's Favorite Humorist[1] and was named by The Economist as one of the funniest writers alive.[2] 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.[3]

Some online fans have written that Sedaris' style of writing on this particular collection is precise, at times dark, and very funny.[4]

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.

Contents

SantaLand Diaries

"SantaLand Diaries" recounts Sedaris' experiences working as an elf at Macy's department store.[5] 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.

References
  1. The Unexamined Life? He Never Heard of It Retrieved 17 April 2013
  2. Humour: A bucket of hydrangeas Retrieved 17 April 2013
  3. 10 Questions for David Sedaris at Time Magazine Retrieved 17 April 2013
  4. Holidays on Ice on Hachette Book Group Retrieved 17 April 2013
  5. The Funniest Elf Retrieved 17 April 2013
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.