Tinsel: A Search for America’s Christmas Present Audiobook

" Man, I am sort of on a roll with books I enjoyed! This book was a review on Christmas in this country. Like certain social networking sites, just because I am not a part of the fiesta, doesn't mean I am not interested in why other people are. The author picked an excellent town to review, an up and coming rich-ish suburb of DFW in Texas. He ended up reviewing 3 different types of families over 2006, 7 and 8 and while he didn't focus too much on the downturn that was 2008, it was still an excellent read. One family are just a couple, but they love Christmas so much the husband puts on one of those crazy light shows that people drive for miles to see. I loved those as a kid, so I liked their story a lot. The other was a "typical" family and the mother loves Christmas and for most of the year she is just pretty much a housewife, during the hols, she charges people to decorate their houses. NUTS! The third family is a single mother raising her 2 kids and she is very religious and participates in a "mega" church of sorts. All these people were interesting and I like reading about other cultures that I have been too and essentially live with, but I don't know much about. One thing that was interesting is how much money people spend on gifts. I guess I am out of the loop and it's my culture and everything and we actually talked about this over the hols, is that my parents never felt joy in giving us gifts. It was always a "chore" for them. But it's interesting to read about it. "

" The author spent three Christmas seasons in Frisco, Texas with three different families. He does tell what a Christmas in middle-class Texas is like Iand upper middle class.) Reminded me so much of home with the fake snow, lots and lots of lights and shopping. Bonus: a friend of mine is mentioned in the book, she didn't even know she was in it! "

" Funny. More of a look at suburban-America than Christmas, but still very enjoyable. I really liked Hank Stuever's style. "

" Really fascinating and entertaining. I thought I would feel superior to these people, but he wrote it in such a way that I was just involved in their challenges. "

" a kind and funny book; former Austinite spends portions of three Christmas seasons in Frisco, Texas, accompanying members of three different households as they observe the holiday "

" Enjoyable and remarkable look at Christmas celebrated in Frisco, Texas in 2006 before America's economic troubles. Written by a journalist, and you can feel his note-taking presence at the family celebrations and shopping excursions he was generously allowed to attend. Most enjoyable to me were his forays into Pastor Keith's megachurch. The end of the book brings you up to date with trips back in 2007 and 2008. Very touching. "

" OMG nothing quite captures life in suburban Dallas quite like this book. Love it! Lived it! "

" Very well written enjoyable book about the consumerism of Christmas in America. "

" This book is hilarious, heartwarming, creepy, sobering, and generally engrossing. It paints a distressingly familiar picture of the affluent "communities" of North Texas, on every page I wanted to read aloud to someone in the room as a way of saying, "see! It really is like I described." "

" I loved this; perfect Christmas Day read when under the weather. "

" Author took a slice of suburban Texas life around the Christmas holidays in 2006 and turned it into a captivating but telling slice of how Americans celebrate Christmas. I listened to the author read it and I thought he hit the voice inflections of Texas women on the nail. LOVED IT!! "

" Different kind of book for me. Not bad. "

" I really liked the writing, but didn't actually get thru this whole book. I'll probably pick it up again next Christmas. "

" IDK - It's Frisco. What more can you really say. "

" n "Tinsel," 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 nation's most over-the-top celebration: Christmas. "

" The author took his time to concentrate on several families in Frisco, Texas. I like this approach since it makes me feels like I know more about a community and its residents. "

" I loved this; perfect Christmas Day read when under the weather. "

" n "Tinsel," 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 nation's most over-the-top celebration: Christmas. "

" Wonderful, insightful, sometimes even startling book. A full review will happen soon. "

" n "Tinsel," 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 nation's most over-the-top celebration: Christmas. "

" I really liked the writing, but didn't actually get thru this whole book. I'll probably pick it up again next Christmas. "

" This is a good book depicting what our society has done to Christmas. Very well presented, the author is a likable guy. We all overdo Christmas or have family dysfunction during the holidays. I felt pangs of guilt... Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas? "

" A little smugger than I expected. "

" Author took a slice of suburban Texas life around the Christmas holidays in 2006 and turned it into a captivating but telling slice of how Americans celebrate Christmas. I listened to the author read it and I thought he hit the voice inflections of Texas women on the nail. LOVED IT!! "