Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present (2009)

In Tinsel, Hank Stuever searches out the most outlandish cultural excesses as well as the secret beauties of modern America s half-trillion-dollar Christmas holiday. When Stuever s narrative begins, he s standing in line with the people waiting to purchase flat-screen TVs at Best Buy on Black Friday. From there he follows Tammy Parnell, the proprietor of 'Two Elves with a Twist,' a company that decorates other people s houses for Christmas; Jeff and Bridgett Trykoski, owners of that one house every town has with Christmas decorations visible from space; and single mother Caroll Cavazos, who hopes that the life-affirming moments of Christmas might overcome the struggles of the rest of the year. Steuver s portraits are at once humane, heart... full descriptionfelt, revealing and very, very funny. (less description)

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Categories: Christianity, Holidays, Social Sciences, Humor, Biographies & Memoirs, Religion & Spirituality, Nonfiction, Entertainment