Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Tinsel
Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present | Hank Stuever
6 posts | 6 read | 5 to read
A heartfelt, hilarious look at the evolution of a half-trillion-dollar American holiday Hank Stuever turns his unerring eye for the idiosyncrasies of modern life to Frisco, Texas, a suburb at once all-American and completely itself, to tell the story of the nations most over-the-top celebration: Christmas. Stuever starts the narrative as so many start the Christmas season: standing in line with the people waiting to purchase flat-screen TVs on Black Friday. From there he follows three of Frisco's true holiday believers as they navigate through the Nativity and all its attendant crises. Tammie Parnell, an eternally optimistic suburban mom, is the proprietor of "Two Elves with a Twist," a company that decorates other people's big houses for Christmas. Jeff and Bridgette Trykoski own that house every town has: the one with the visible-from-space, jaw-dropping Christmas lights. And single mother Carol Cavazos just hopes that the life-affirming moments of Christmas might overcome the struggles of the rest of the year. Stuever's portraits of the happy, mega-churchy, shop-until-you-drop community in Tinsel are revealing and riotously funny, showing how our ancient rituals of celebration have survivedand succumbed tothe test of time.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
peanutnine
post image
Pickpick

An honest look at the consumerism behind Christmas. Hank spends the season with different families in Texas in 2006, exploring everything from shopping traditions to Christmas lights displays. It is a real reflection on how the holiday is treated, especially before the recession hit the country. It is filled with biting sarcasm and lovely 00s throwbacks.
This was a gold mine for #WGWordSearch words: 1102 found just listening to the audio

41 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
Emilymdxn
post image
Pickpick

Funny, thought provoking and occasionally sad, I really liked this non fiction look at shopping and decorating and capitalism‘s place in America‘s christmases, based on interviews with families of Texans in the mid 00s. It felt strangely historical looking back before the financial crash and how different things were then. I recommend as a very different ‘festive read‘ than normal.

#wintergames2021 #mistletoemaniacs @Clwojick +26

Clwojick 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
peanutnine I just started this one and I'm enjoying it so far! 3y
50 likes2 comments
blurb
peanutnine
post image

Starting off #wintergames with a nonfiction audiobook on my way to work today! It's actually kind of hilarious so far
@StayCurious #teamgamesleighers

StayCurious Cool! 3y
35 likes1 comment
review
JoeMo
post image
Pickpick

In this book, the author looked at how several individuals and families celebrate Christmas in Frisco, TX. He looks at how commercial, huge, and sometimes how disappointing the holiday can be. The reader gets to know a number of unique individuals to include their quirks and faults along with their better qualities. Fans of NPR shows like This American Life and Snap Judgement will probably enjoy this work.

17 likes2 comments
blurb
JoeMo
post image

Here‘s my TBR list for December!
#wintergames2020
#teamreadnosedreindeer (25 points)
#readyourway

TheSpineView Great list!❤📚 4y
StayCurious This looks fun! 4y
22 likes2 comments
blurb
BookNAround
post image

Day 5 of #bookadventcalendar This is billed as hilarious, which I will definitely need to lighten my mood/anxiety when my to do list is still long and Christmas is getting ridiculously close. @LeahBergen

LinesUponAPage Sounds fun! Enjoy. 5y
LeahBergen This sounds great! Stacked. 😄 5y
57 likes3 stack adds2 comments