A Christmas Blizzard: A Novel

( 34 )

Overview

The inimitable Garrison Keillor spins "a Christmas tale that makes Dickens seem unimaginative by comparison" (Charlotte Creative Loafing)

Snow is falling all across the Midwest as James Sparrow, a country- bumpkin-turned-energy-drink-tycoon, and his wife awaken in their sky- rise apartment overlooking Chicago. Even down with the stomach bug, Mrs. Sparrow yearns to see The Nutcracker while James yearns only to escape-the faux-cheer, the bitter cold, the whole Christmas season. An...

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A Christmas Blizzard

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More About This Book

Overview

The inimitable Garrison Keillor spins "a Christmas tale that makes Dickens seem unimaginative by comparison" (Charlotte Creative Loafing)

Snow is falling all across the Midwest as James Sparrow, a country- bumpkin-turned-energy-drink-tycoon, and his wife awaken in their sky- rise apartment overlooking Chicago. Even down with the stomach bug, Mrs. Sparrow yearns to see The Nutcracker while James yearns only to escape-the faux-cheer, the bitter cold, the whole Christmas season. An urgent phone call from his hometown of Looseleaf, North Dakota, sends James into the midst of his lunatic relatives and a historic blizzard. As he hunkers weather the storm, the electricity goes out and James is visited by a parade of figures who deliver him an epiphany worthy of the season, just in time to receive Mrs. Sparrow's wonderful Christmas gift. Garrison Keillor's holiday farce is the perfect gift for the millions of fans who tune into A Prairie Home Companion every week.

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Editorial Reviews

Kristi Lanier
…has clear parallels to Dickens's A Christmas Carol—except it's nuttier…In this manic lead-up to Christmas Eve, Keillor exhibits his brilliance for drawing spot-on caricatures.
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
Keillor returns to the snowy Midwest to deliver a Dickensian tale of Chicago yuppies James and Joyce Sparrow, who venture to Looseleaf, N. Dak., to see James's dying uncle, braving a deadly blizzard and equally deadly small town eccentrics. The simple and well-written story is taken to fresh heights by the author's obvious pleasure in reading his own work. This polished production brims with seasonal cheer, caustic wit, and Keillor's signature folksy style. A Viking hardcover. (Nov.)
Washington Post
“In this manic lead-up to Christmas Eve, Keillor exhibits his brilliance for drawing spon-on caricatures.”
—The Washington Post
Plain Dealer
“Rife with imagination and humor.”
—Plain Dealer
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780143119883
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 10/25/2011
  • Pages: 192
  • Sales rank: 94,546
  • Product dimensions: 7.74 (w) x 5.06 (h) x 0.52 (d)

Meet the Author

Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor was born in Anoka, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota-one more English major. The writer and host of A Prairie Home Companion, he is also the author of the bestselling Lake Wobegon novels. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and New York City.

Biography

Garrison Keillor is the author of thirteen books, including Lake Wobegon Summer 1956, Wobegon Boy, and Lake Wobegon Days. From 1999-2001, Keillor wrote a column "Dear Mr. Blue: Advice for Lovers and Writers" on Salon.com. Keillor's popular Saturday-night public radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, is in its twenty-seventh season. He lives in St. Paul with his wife and daughter.

Author biography courtesy of Penguin Group (USA).

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    1. Also Known As:
      Gary Edward Keillor (real name)
      Garrison Keillor
    2. Hometown:
      St. Paul, Minnesota
    1. Date of Birth:
      August 7, 1942
    2. Place of Birth:
      Anoka, Minnesota
    1. Education:
      B.A., University of Minnesota, 1966

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 34 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(15)

4 Star

(5)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(6)

1 Star

(5)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 34 Customer Reviews

  • Posted December 5, 2009

    Weird

    This is one of the strangest book I've read. It was like a dream sequence, actually more of a nightmare. Kind of like a ghoulish Scrooge, with neuroses and freaks. If you long to hear Keilor's familiar voice, this is not the book for you.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 1, 2011

    Let down.

    I wanted a warm and fuzzy read over the holidays, this wasn't it. It was a strange story and my mind kept wonder about the next book I would be reading. Not captivating enough.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 29, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    We Are Still Married: Stories and Letters
    The Book of Guys: Stories
    Wobegon Boy
    Lake Wobegon Days

    Keillor testifies that Christmas has a validity all its own.

    Garry, I can call you Garry, right? I've seen you do PHC live many times. I've listened for 20 years. I've spent most of my adulthood in Lake Wobegon at some point. So I see this little book on B&N's website that I hadn't read and I thought, "A Christmas story...how wonderful and topical and I'm traveling and I have time to read", and I buy it. What a wonderful decision.

    This is a light and airy story of one mans' fate at the hands of a cruel harsh season. It is a delight to read for all fans of GK. And if you aren't or haven't been-well, it's a short easy introduction to the GK style of story telling that is at once captivating and funny, and in the end rewarding and warrm.

    And hey, if you don't like it, I guarantee you will know someone who will, and at that point give it away. Share this story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 4, 2013

    I have enjoyed Garrison Keillor for years. A Christmas Blizzard

    I have enjoyed Garrison Keillor for years. A Christmas Blizzard didn't disappoint me. I savored the chapters throughout my chaotic holiday season, setting aside quiet time to be able to fully appreciate the nutty characters and imaginative twists and turns in this story. Funny and almost hallucinogenic with imagination, this is a book I intend to read again, and recommend to anyone who would appreciate a truly untraditional Christmas story.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 23, 2012

    Blizzardclan Territory ~ Hunting Grounds

    ~ Snowstar

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 23, 2012

    ME TO LUNA

    What the frick! Why did some one lie about this girls death! If she really did die then i feel bad but if not what kind of person would lie a lie like THT!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 5, 2012

    To Snowstar aka Anna

    Siblings are soooo annoying.I feel bad for u. yours must be really annoying!You should see my brother!!!!One day he got dandalion seeds and put them in my hair for no good reson.he just decided to be annoying that day i guess.
    Come join immortalclan at shoh result two.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 23, 2012

    Med den

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 5, 2012

    Scourge

    I am so srry snowstar........i behaved very rashmly....i was very angrey that bloodgoddess was im my camp but....i think i went a little to far on revenge......i hope you can forgive me...........i commited a terrble crime and if i could trade laces with you....i probaly would. My crime is.....that if i became your friend instead of opposeing you......you proably wouldnt have died....becuse if i was your friend you would had a reason to try to stay alive...and i decied to becoe your friend and you probaly had so much greif in your heart with no comfort....i hope you can read this from heaven and forgive my sin.....

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2012

    Um i herd that the girl who rped this goddess and snowstar died

    I thought thre were no gids and godess al did she really die

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2012

    Silver

    Im not sure if the person is dead or not. If shes dead then i will miss her. If shes just lost her nook then i hope shell get it back soon.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2012

    Snowpaw

    I feel so bad

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 15, 2010

    Fun read

    More great stories from Garrison Keillor.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2010

    Seasonal Storm

    Garrison Keillor has been busy of late, writing a great deal and writing very well. A Christmas Blizzard made a fantastic gift for the season, especially for those of us in Lake Wobegon country.

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  • Posted December 22, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Storm Story.

    At the beginning, this tale was laugh out loud funny and entertaining. Yet, by the time I read to chapter nine, page fifty-four, my interest in James' plight had diminished; therefore lack of interest stopped me at page fifty-four and I did not read any further. This novel is good to read as a storm story, you know, when there is a storm brewing outside and you have no other story to read.

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  • Posted November 26, 2009

    This audio book is a great way to get yourself into the holiday spirit!

    James Sparrow, millionaire owner of an energy drink company, hates Christmas. Though he can't bring himself to admit it to anyone, his fear of getting his tongue stuck to frozen metal haunts him throughout the cold Chicago winter. Seeking to escape he jumps in his private jet and takes off for Hawaii. When he gets stranded in a blizzard during an impromptu stop in his hometown of Looseleaf, North Dakota he will have to face his fears. With the assistance of a variety of strange and wondrous helpers (Big Hair Lady, a wolf, and cousin Liz) he discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
    What could be better then a hilarious and heartwarming Christmas story written and read by Garrison Keillor?! I listened to the audio version and Keillor's rich and distinctive voice only add to this pitch perfect Christmas tale. As you would expect, it is hysterically funny and touching too. This audio book is a great way to get yourself into the holiday spirit!

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  • Posted November 24, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    THE IRREPRESSIBLE KEILLOR AT HIS BEST

    The zillions of fans who enjoy Garrison Keillor's trademark warm , folksy humor may be a mite surprised and delighted I might add to discover that he can also be caustic - entertainingly so. Of course, a great deal of the pleasure in this tale is in the reading by Keillor - there's that unforgettable voice, familiar, spellbinding as he relates A CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD.

    It is, of course, the holiday season, a least favorite time of year for energy drink company mogul James Sparrow and the happiest time for his wife, Joyce, Unfortunately, this year Joyce can't pursue her multitudinous yuletide preparations as she has the flu. James wants to leave it all behind, hop on his jet, and hide out for a while at their vacation home in Hawaii.

    However, that's not going to happen as he receives a phone call with sad tidings - his Uncle Earl is dying in Looseleaf, North Dakota. So, James has no choice but to rev up the plane and head for his hometown. Once there he's not only almost buried by a sudden snowy blizzard but also by a horde of relatives and old friends.

    For reasons perhaps not even known to the inscrutable James he passes himself off as a CIA agent and agrees to "hide" in an ice fishing cabin on the local lake. Well, this sort of exposure and dramatic change from the comforts of his ten-room apartment in Chicago can cause all sorts of strange reactions. Strange may be an understatement in the case of James - a confrontation with a wolf, the Big-Hair Lady, and a Chinese wise man.

    Keillor is the king allowing us not only to enjoy his unparalleled narration but his fertile imagination in A CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD. Oh, and by the way, Uncle Earl is just fine.

    Enjoy!

    - Gail Cooke

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 8, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 26, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 14, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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