A Christmas Blizzard

Garrison Keillor

Save:

'A Christmas Blizzard' by Garrison Keillor is a unique and whimsical Christmas tale that follows James Sparrow, a wealthy entrepreneur who detours his Christmas trip to Hawaii to visit his roots in Loose Leaf, North Dakota. The book introduces readers to a cast of odd and eccentric characters, including James' dying uncle, his long-suffering wife Joyce, and even a dead friend who has transformed into a wolf. Through witty prose and imaginative storytelling, Keillor weaves a narrative filled with humor, nostalgia, and unexpected twists that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

The writing style of 'A Christmas Blizzard' is described as a wild tour de force, combining elements of humor, satire, and whimsy reminiscent of works by comedic legends like the Marx Brothers, Red Green, and Monty Python. Keillor's storytelling is praised for its ability to blend traditional Christmas themes with quirky inventions and backhanded humor, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Characters:

The characters are quirky and eccentric, showcasing a mix of humor and deeper emotional themes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by long, humorous sentences that mimic the author's monologue style, blending satire with colorful, descriptive prose.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot combines surreal humor with a Christmas journey, focusing on a man's reluctant return to his roots and encounters with odd characters.

Setting:

Set primarily in a rural town during the Christmas season, the story contrasts rural life against urban backgrounds.

Pacing:

The pacing is variable, often slowed by lengthy descriptions, but punctuated with bursts of humor.

It was an old familiar nightmare, the one about men in black hoods chasing him through tall grass toward the precipice overlooking jagged rocks and great greenish waves rolling and crashing in the aby...

Notes:

A Christmas Blizzard is a short novel by Garrison Keillor that reads like his Lake Woebegon monologues.

The book contains fresh humor and surreal moments, including unexpected situations in an ice fishing shack.

It's not a typical warm and cuddly Christmas story; it leans towards satire and requires the reader to suspend disbelief.

The narrative features bizarre characters, such as a female NRA member with a breast removed and a dying uncle with humorous quirks.

James Sparrow, the main character, is a wealthy entrepreneur who dislikes Christmas and is trying to escape to Hawaii.

The story includes vivid and comedic descriptions, with references to projectile vomit in the snow.

There are dream sequences and a range of quirky side characters, including an undercover FBI agent.

Keillor's book combines elements of love, humor, and dark nostalgia.

The prose can be dense and requires patience with long sentences and character backgrounds.

It's suggested that the story is better enjoyed as an audio book read by Keillor himself.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains potential triggers including dark humor and surreal imagery that may be unsettling to some readers.

From The Publisher:

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.

What can you read after
A Christmas Blizzard?

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.