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12 Terrors of Christmas Hardcover – May 1, 2006

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 488 ratings

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Edward Goreys off-kilter depictions of Yuletide mayhem and John Updikes wryly jaundiced text examine a dozen Christmas traditions with a decidedly wheezy ho-ho-ho. 1. Santa: The Man. Loose-fitting nylon beard, fake optical twinkle, cheap red suit, funny rummy smell when you sit on his lap. If hes such a big shot, why is he drawing unemployment for eleven months of the year? Something scary and off-key about him, like one of those Stephen King clowns . . .
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From the Publisher

A closer look..

Gorey humor christmas

Front cover

Hardcover Smyth-sewn casebound book, with jacket

Gorey humor christmas

Interior spread

Tiny reindeer!

Gorey humor christmas

Interior spread

The carols!

Gorey humor christmas

Interior spread

The specials!

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pomegranate Communications (May 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764937103
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764937101
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.21 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.12 x 0.34 x 6.32 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 488 ratings

About the author

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John Updike
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John Updike was born in 1932, in Shillington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Harvard College in 1954, and spent a year in Oxford, England, at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. From 1955 to 1957 he was a member of the staff of The New Yorker, and since 1957 lived in Massachusetts. He was the father of four children and the author of more than fifty books, including collections of short stories, poems, essays, and criticism. His novels won the Pulitzer Prize (twice), the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Rosenthal Award, and the Howells Medal. A previous collection of essays, Hugging the Shore, received the 1983 National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism. John Updike died on January 27, 2009, at the age of 76.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
488 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the illustrations quirky and entertaining. They describe the humor as dry and amusing, providing a humorous relief from holiday stress. Many consider the book a great Christmas gift and stocking stuffer. However, some readers feel the text is not clever or insightful, with an unsatisfactory flow of poems. Opinions are mixed on the concept, with some finding it well-done and beautifully printed, while others consider it underdeveloped and thin.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention "Illustrations"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the illustrations. They find the book quirky and well-crafted, with wit and beautiful printing.

"Loved the craziness of the book" Read more

"...The art work is typical Gorey which often times works better without the text! Still a must for Gorey collectors...." Read more

"...The book itself was very well done and beautifully printed, but yea... pay attention to the item dimensions." Read more

"Although the illustrations are typical Gorey, John Updike’s text is bafflingly tin-eared and amateurish, an appalling hash, truly and amazingly inept..." Read more

18 customers mention "Humor"15 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it amusing, dry, and entertaining. The book incorporates sarcasm and dark undertones, providing a unique perspective on Christmas. Readers appreciate the Gorey drawings.

"...The text describes various holiday scenarios and flips the script, incorporating sarcasm and dark undertones...." Read more

"...It’s funny though and I love the illustrations." Read more

"It's a little book with the Gorey sense of humor. Delightful if you are a fan!" Read more

"...hardback books for stocking stuffers, as I love the dark humor and drawings of Gorey...." Read more

12 customers mention "Gift value"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good gift for Christmas. It's a quick read and a nice addition to their Christmas collection. The book offers a different perspective on the holiday, looking at the darker side.

"It's the perfect gift for a senior in high school who is too cool for Christmas...." Read more

"An absolutely perfect gift for any Scrooge on your Holiday list!! I am keeping one for myself." Read more

"Got both 12 Terrors books. Good gifts" Read more

"...It's a quick read, and sure to be a holiday favorite. Insert a little fear and macabre into your tinsel-strewn home with this book...." Read more

5 customers mention "Read time"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's read time. They say it takes less than two minutes to read and has a Jim Gaffigan-like vibe. It's a quick, unique read with quirky illustrations and story.

"...It's a quick read, and sure to be a holiday favorite. Insert a little fear and macabre into your tinsel-strewn home with this book...." Read more

"Really tiny book, took all of five minutes to finish it...." Read more

"This is a perfect quick, unique read. Illustration and story are quirky. Truly an Edward Gorey classic...." Read more

"...I saw this book on Amazon and bought it. It took less than two minutes to read, and had the vibe of commentary by Jim Gaffigan or Andy Rooney...." Read more

4 customers mention "Stocking stuffer"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book as a stocking stuffer.

"...This will be a great stocking stuffer." Read more

"...They literally mean, it makes a good stocking stuffer...." Read more

"This is a stocking stuffer, about 2x2. I wasn't expecting a miniature book." Read more

"Great stocking stuffer..." Read more

10 customers mention "Concept"6 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the concept. Some find it well-done and nicely printed, with unique illustrations. Others feel the concept is thin, underdeveloped, and amateurish.

"...The book itself was very well done and beautifully printed, but yea... pay attention to the item dimensions." Read more

"I don’t know what I was expecting, but this was unimpressive...." Read more

"bought for a friend's gift. It is in very nice condition." Read more

"...column he wrote for the New Yorker, which is no sin, but it's just not very good, the holiday season jokes rather uninspired; maybe a little dated?..." Read more

6 customers mention "Text quality"0 positive6 negative

Customers find the text unengaging and lacking wit or humor. They also mention that the flow of the poems is poor.

"...It’s not witty and the flow of the poems isn’t great, at least not to me…maybe I just don’t get it." Read more

"Although the illustrations are typical Gorey, John Updike’s text is bafflingly tin-eared and amateurish, an appalling hash, truly and amazingly inept..." Read more

"Not quite what I was hoping for. Updikes writing is much lighter and isn't quite as compatible with Gorey's illustrations, especially compared to..." Read more

"...the illustrations but was disappointed that Updike's text wasn't particularly clever, funny or insightful...." Read more

A twist on the holiday fun
4 out of 5 stars
A twist on the holiday fun
If you're looking for a way to feel grim on a holiday, this book might just help out. The text describes various holiday scenarios and flips the script, incorporating sarcasm and dark undertones. The art work is typical Gorey which often times works better without the text! Still a must for Gorey collectors.If you like this style of book then you might also enjoy a fairytale about a little girl and a haunted house: The Stumps of Flattop Hill
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
    Loved the craziness of the book
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
    If you know someone with an unusual sense of humor, gift them some Gorey art. This will be a great stocking stuffer.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022
    It's the perfect gift for a senior in high school who is too cool for Christmas. I gifted this person with Gorey books before, and they didn't complain. I didn't open the plastic wrapping, but I am sure the book is in excellent condition. It was about $4 cheaper than the price at Daedalus. It came very quickly and was well-packaged for shipping.
    15 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
    The media could not be loaded.
    If you're looking for a way to feel grim on a holiday, this book might just help out. The text describes various holiday scenarios and flips the script, incorporating sarcasm and dark undertones. The art work is typical Gorey which often times works better without the text! Still a must for Gorey collectors.
    If you like this style of book then you might also enjoy a fairytale about a little girl and a haunted house: The Stumps of Flattop Hill
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A twist on the holiday fun

    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
    If you're looking for a way to feel grim on a holiday, this book might just help out. The text describes various holiday scenarios and flips the script, incorporating sarcasm and dark undertones. The art work is typical Gorey which often times works better without the text! Still a must for Gorey collectors.
    If you like this style of book then you might also enjoy a fairytale about a little girl and a haunted house: The Stumps of Flattop Hill
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    33 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
    An absolutely perfect gift for any Scrooge on your Holiday list!! I am keeping one for myself.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
    Given as a gift, greatly appreciated. interesting book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2023
    This little book combines two of my all-time favorite literary people.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2022
    I don’t know what I was expecting, but this was unimpressive. It’s not witty and the flow of the poems isn’t great, at least not to me…maybe I just don’t get it.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Sarah Tipper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short book with a dark Gothic charm to it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2021
    This is a lovely book but incredibly short, it is absolutely a stocking filler, providing a pleasant ten minutes of entertainment. The pictures make me think of the film The Nightmare Before Christmas. It has a dark Gothic charm.
  • Vivi Figueira
    5.0 out of 5 stars Críticas ao Natal em 12 tópicos!
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 11, 2019
    Se você gosta muito de Natal talvez vá gostar pouco ou nada deste livro.

    Um livro pequenininho, menor que uma mão, mas afiado nas críticas em relação ao Natal e seus derivados, começando pelo Papai Noel, barba frouxa de nylon, roupa vermelha barata, aquele cheiro engraçado de bebida quando você senta no colo dele. Se ele é grande coisa, porque passa onze meses do ano desempregado?
    É por aí, este é o primeiro de 12 tópicos sobre o Natal escritos por John Updike.
    As ilustrações só podiam ser do enigmático Edward Gorey!
    Customer image
    Vivi Figueira
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Críticas ao Natal em 12 tópicos!

    Reviewed in Brazil on February 11, 2019
    Se você gosta muito de Natal talvez vá gostar pouco ou nada deste livro.

    Um livro pequenininho, menor que uma mão, mas afiado nas críticas em relação ao Natal e seus derivados, começando pelo Papai Noel, barba frouxa de nylon, roupa vermelha barata, aquele cheiro engraçado de bebida quando você senta no colo dele. Se ele é grande coisa, porque passa onze meses do ano desempregado?
    É por aí, este é o primeiro de 12 tópicos sobre o Natal escritos por John Updike.
    As ilustrações só podiam ser do enigmático Edward Gorey!
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
  • Brian Coleman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Product received in excellent condition.
    Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2019
    Product received in excellent condition and as described. Enjoyed thoroughly and would recommend seller again. A++
  • M. Th. Binder
    2.0 out of 5 stars Boring
    Reviewed in Germany on July 3, 2020
    The jokes are lame. Only recommendable for very very boring people.
  • monica
    5.0 out of 5 stars carinissimo
    Reviewed in Italy on January 16, 2018
    lo conoscevo già e ne ho comprate varie copie per le amiche per i regali di natale. soddisfatta
    anche se ho notato che sono stampati in cina