Customer Reviews

Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have in my paws a brand new copy of Festivus. It is very, very funny. I especially like the fact that the tone is wry (the author knows a bit too much about Festivus, and he knows he knows too much). The editorial comments--particularly under the picture of the poor cat with the lion cut--are very welcome indeed. Lord knows why people celebrate Festivus, but this book shows that they really do. Read all about it. Also, the book would make a good gift for people you like but doen't want to spend much on. Obviously, Seinfeld fans will eat it up.

Festivus isn't just a holiday book, it is a cult classic. Forget about buying holly and a wreath this year, just get this book and your whole idea about the holidays will transform into something hilarious. Seriously, this book will make you cry with laughter and could end all of your "holiday blues".

As anyone who has seen the Seinfield episode entitled, "The Strike," knows, Festivus is, was and will always be a holiday invented by George's father as a reaction against the commercialization of Christmas. For me and thousands (probably not tens of thousands), it has struck a chord and every December 23rd, we make sure the aluminum pole is up while we list our grievances and test our strength.

Allen Salkin has done a fantastic job of combining the lore and myth of Festivus with the truth and background of this mysterious, now-not-so-fictional holiday. (It turns out that some the co-creators of that particular Seinfeld episode had some family history around this important addition to the Winter Solstice calendar!)

As Festivus gains in popularity and contributions to the Human Fund overflow, I predict that this book will be a key addition to the religious doctrine of this solemn holiday.

Final disclosure/correction -- While I have some grievances, I never told anyone that I wanted my wife to get rid of her stuffed Tigers!

Everything you ever wanted to know about Festivus, and some stuff you would rather not know (nail impaled shrimp anyone?). Entertaining text and photographs, weird kind of scary drawings. Brings up some interesting ideas about religious celebration in general. Heck who knows, in 200 years Festivus might be as big as Halloween. Makes excellent bathroom reading.

My friends and I always talked about having a Festivus party and thought we were the only ones original and subversive enough to attempt it, but as Allen Salkin thoroughly reveals, we were not. Turns out, people all over the country have been celebrating Festivus since the Seinfeld episode aired, adding their own uniquely hilarious twists on the 3 essential elements of the holiday; the pole, the airing of grievances, and the feats of strength! The book is packed with enough accounts and images of Festivus revelers nationwide to turn even the steeliest reader onto its low-budget charms. I received the book as a Secret Santa gift at work (ironic, no?) and am spreading the gospel to my two brothers, who will both find this tight little tome tucked into their respective stockings this holiday season.

And in the spirit of Festivus, Three Grievances:

1. Gypsies don't excite me the way they used to.
2. The girl across from me looks better in her denim mini.
3. My boss's refridgerator smells like a rancid bait shop.

Seriously, you'll need to be wearing a Depends (make that two) whilst reading this book! Allen Salkin and Jerry Stiller make a great comedic duo. After I read the book I read Allen Salkin's blog- this guy is hilarious! I am totally going to have my own Festivus party now. I need to train for thumb wrestling (read the book and you'll understand) Festivus for the rest of us!

Allen Salkin shows us the many ways that Frank Constanza's holiday has become such an important event for growing numbers of people every year. The author shows that Festivus is so much more than simply Feats of Strength and Airing of Grievances. The books offers recipes and other hints to help enjoy the best Festivus ever. This book is a sure fire hit, a hilariously wry treatment of a pop culture phenonema, one that that will help Festivus continue to thrive. The only thing missing is The Festivus Pole which, apparently spawned by the author's book, is now for sale at "TheFestivusPole" with the entire package you'll be sure to enjoy a Festivus Miracle.

Allen Salkin is the most creative, quirky writer today. He takes Festivus and gives us a super clean, fun holiday that "the rest of us" can enjoy. Particularly if you can't stand the holidays, you can turn to Festivus - it's like group therapy for holiday nay-sayers. But I love Salkin's writing and follow his work closely. I suggest you dig into this fantastic piece of work, and by the way, it's a GREAT stocking stuffer too!!

I got this as a gift and didn't think I was going to like this but I didn't hate it. Mostly books that are about TV shows that have gone off the air feel kind of forced and depressing like a biography of the Olsen Twins or something but even though this has NOTHING to do with the Seinfield show it was kind of interesting. There sure are a lot of weird people out there looking for an excuse to have a party, that's for sure. I guess this isn't supposed to be a comedy book it's supposed to be like a travel guide to this one little corner of Americana and if that's what it's trying to do it's pleasant enough. Three stars, why not.

While "The Strike" wasn't quite as good or memorable as the "Puffy Shirt" or "Soup Nazi" episodes, the one thing it did bring was real-life celebration of Frank Costanza's Festivus. Oh, and what a merry, merry holiday it is! I had no idea so many people were actually celebrating this thing, but it's hard not to laugh at recipes like "Chocolate Salami" and song sheets for "So Good You Do Not Smell." I nearly fell off my couch reading Stiller's intro. Who knew he was a Prada and Gucci man? Salkin is a fine and smart writer, but like any good writer he doesn't overtell the stories and allows the humor to come naturally. Highly recommended if you hate getting stuck in Midtown during Christmas season, or are looking for a fun, inexpensive gift to give your friends who aren't deserving of your affection.