The Fun Book For Christmas

By Melina Gerosa Bellows
Andrews McMeel, $9.99, 86 pages

An alternate title for this book could have been “Unique Holiday Suggestions for Adults”; the PG-13+ contents also suggest a title change, as nothing on the book’s cover would deter children from picking it up by mistake.  Ratings aside, Bellows clearly had fun writing down her various Christmas memories in the prologue, though the font changes and sporadic bold lettering make reading a bit difficult.

While only eighty-six pages long, this pocket-sized suggestion book holds several distinctive ideas and recipes for spicing up one’s holiday experiences, all the while stressing that one remember to take a moment to actually relax. Bellows’ suggestion that one buy a quality girdle in order to “look five pound thinner for parties” displays a playful sort of realism that most folks will appreciate. Good suggestions abound: make a day of artfully wrapping gifts (in lieu of the average slap-dash packaging), deliver a decorated tree to a family in need, start a tradition where family members exchange “crazy” slippers, sing carols at a retirement community wearing the tackiest holiday sweater imaginable, swap houses with a family in another country for the holidays, take a nature walk on Christmas afternoon, or gather all your friends for a large-group skating party. A few of the ideas caused raised eyebrows, such as “give a gift to your least favorite body part,” which in this reader’s office provoked a lot of jokes about air-filled seating rings. On the whole, this was a charming little book overflowing with nostalgia, as well as some good ideas guaranteed to generate a smile.

Reviewed by Meredith Greene