Snark! The Herald Angels Sing: Sarcasm, Bitterness and the Holiday Season

by Lawrence Dorfman

Bah! Humbug! It’s that time of year again….Time to spend too much, drink too much, eat too much, smile falsely, dig down deep to try and find “good cheer,” battle crowds, try to find parking in over-crowded lots, ignore surly clerks, bartenders, waiters, valets, and parking lot attendants, all in the pursuit of that moment of happiness known throughout the world as…dun, dun, dun: the Holidays. Has there ever been a time more suited to tapping into snark? With commentary, jokes, and quotes regarding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year’s; on bad presents, worse in-laws, horrible children, and much more glorious excess. Enjoy such rotten sugar plums as:

     • “Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.”—Victor Borge
     • “If someone screws up on their gift, there are seven more days to correct it...No awkward explanations of virgin birth...No Irving Berlin songs.”—Among the Top Ten Reasons to Love Hanukkah
     • “What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.”—Phyllis Diller

Snark, the Herald Angels Sing is destined to be a holiday classic.

Genres: Christmas, Humor, Nonfiction, Comedy

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2011

About the author

Lawrence Dorfman has more than thirty years of experience in publishing, where he honed his snark chops. He lives in Hamden, Connecticut, like you really care.

Reviews

[Dayna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had this book on my shelf for some time, but when the Christmas decorations went up in Wal Mart the day after Halloween I pulled it off the shelf and laughed myself silly. It is the perfect read for the seriously jaded and terminally Scrooge-like among us. A charming way to spend an hour or so between now and Christmas.

[Renee Alarid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for my husband but found it among my books when I was cleaning up. Lawrence Dorfman has a real knack for snarkiness. I love to be snarky, and I consider it a hobby, so I had to give it a read. I appreciate his humor amongst family gatherings, office parties, and surviving the holidays. Snark! The Herald Angels Sing: Sarcasm, Bitterness, and the Holiday Season is an excellent reminder that we are all human. The holiday season would be more comfortable with making light of the holidays' hubbub instead of being so damn serious.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed this more if I picked it up from time to time and read a short section of it. Unfortunately, I read an audio edition and so I didn't have that option. (The edition I read is part of the collection of the National Library Service for the Print Disabled and so it is not commercially available.) If I had read it in Braille, I suspect it might have earned four stars, but I'm not sure and so I went with my gut when rating.

[Larry Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected much more clever humor. It was snarky, but not in an inventive way. Lot's of quotes from famous people which were okay (some laughs there) but the author's sense of humor left me unimpressed. Some may find it funnier than I did. Great illustrations and nice cover. It could be popular as a bathroom reader during the holidays.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. It had some funny stuff, but ended up just rude and crude. Not recommended.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bah!Humbug! "Snark!" celebrates all the dysfunction of the Holiday season in a humorously subversive, snarky and irreverent way. Laughter ensues, often to the point of tears.
Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah/Kwanzaa and New Year!

[Stacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this out because I needed a Christmas book for a book challenge and this seemed well-suited to my grinchiness. It's actually just a compilation of holiday themed quotes and jokes. The little content contributed by the author was less snarky than grumpy. I gave up after half the book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something to help you through all of the crass commercialism and manufactured sentiment.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way too funny! just what we need when the festivities have jumped the shark!

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the holidays too much to take this book too seriously, but some of the chosen quotations did make me laugh out loud!

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing says snark like Christmas Snark. For those, who just love all the goodness of the Holidays.

[Debra Beckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny!

[Crystal Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interestingly irreverent look at holiday traditions.