Merry Christmas, America!: Megawatt Displays Across the U.S.A. (Paperback)

by Bruce Littlefield (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Every town has that house that outdoes itself at Christmas. Legendary for miles around, it is the place to see dazzling holiday decorating of the eye-popping, traffic-stopping sort. This flickering showcase bedecked with tens of thousands of lights is hard to resist--and ignore--as often every square inch is caked in Christmas, from snowmen to elves, carousels to candy canes. But who lives in that house--and houses like it around the country? And what compels this Christmas-decorating fervor?

Author Bruce Littlefield finds the answers on his quest to locate the most spectacular Christmas displays across America. His adventures take him to the front lawns and doors of people in cities and towns from coast to coast who have a flair and fanaticism for doing Christmas right--whose goal is giving the world an illuminated, inflated, decorated gift. Littlefield shares his firsthand encounters with people for whom Christmas is a year-round labor of love--the people who spend mind-boggling amounts of time and money transforming their houses and yards, and even those of the neighbors, into unique Christmas fantasylands that are spectacles of individual expression and must-see destinations for the rest of us.

These portraits of Christmas range from tacky to refined, outlandish to poignant--and the reasons they are created vary, too--but all are dazzling in their own ways, and the passionate people who dream them up have entertaining stories and anecdotes to tell that will make this Christmas the brightest, merriest, happiest Christmas ever. Just follow the lights.

About the Author

Bruce Littlefield is a New York-based designer, writer, and restaurateur. Hailed as a "design and lifestyle guru" by Publisher's Weekly, he is the author of the recently published Garage Sale America and Airstream Living, and co-writer of the best-selling Use What You've Got and Other Business Lessons I learned from My Mom with real-estate magnate Barbara Corcoran. Originally from the south, decorating for Christmas is as natural as breathing to Bruce, and each December finds him attempting over-the-top mischief. His personal collection of Christmas treasures can be found displayed proudly every hol iday season in a 1940s Catskills' farmhouse, which he renovated and decorated himself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Collins Design (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061348295
• ISBN-13: 978-0061348297
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #691,416 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have if your a Christmas display lover. , November 4, 2007

By	Michael Liquori - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Love the book, If you love Christmas lights and decorations, you'll love this book. well written and great photos of some of the nicest displays across America.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ho-Ho-Ho, November 11, 2007

By	Bunny "tallycat14" (columbia, SC) - See all my reviews

I just received this book. What a treasure. I have already read it cover to cover. What an interesting life Bruce must have had to be able to write so witty and wonderful a story. Many of the people in the book are people you would want to know. Written with charm and respect for the people he interviewed, this is a must have book. You won't be sorry you gave it as gifts to put under your own Megawatt Christmas Tree!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lights and More Lights, December 24, 2007

By	R. DelParto "Rose2" (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Bruce Littlefield let's the Christmas lights shine on. MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMERICA! MEGAWATT DISPLAYS ACROSS THE USA explores a piece of modern Americana, holiday light decorations that is annual tradition for many households and public spaces during the Christmas season. From the light displays at major New York department stores, such as Macy's to kitsch lawn décor in Richmond, Virginia, Littlefield examines this electric light phenomenon, which is very much a part of American popular culture.

Readers will get a glimpse of how and why Americans light up the holiday season. There is plenty of lighted ornaments and light displays of various shapes and sizes of Santa Claus, snowmen, penguins, reindeers, and pink flamingos that adorn the pages of this book - yes, pink flamingos and even palm and aluminum Christmas tree. One will be amazed of the effort it takes to plan and painstakingly arrange these displays. The colorful photographs by Cal Cary, tips on decorating, and short narratives associated with the holidays are interesting and beautifully show this unusual past time. Littlefield includes the story behind Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the text of Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas." In addition, there are little bit of Christmas trivia embedded within the pages of the book, such as how many Christmas trees are planted and cut each year and the existence of the Charles W. Howard Santa School in Midland Michigan.

Overall, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMERICA! is a quite a unique book. With its display of the fun and zany side of Christmas that many Americans partake in each year, Littlefield captures the joyous holiday moments with great illumination.