Merry Christmas, America!: Megawatt Displays Across the U.S.A.

By Bruce Littlefield

Book Overview

Every town has that house that outdoes itself at Christmas. Legendary for miles around, it is the place to see dazzling holiday decorating of the eye-popping, traffic-stopping sort. This flickering showcase bedecked with tens of thousands of lights is hard to resist--and ignore--as often every square inch is caked in Christmas, from snowmen to elves, carousels to candy canes. But who lives in that house--and houses like it around the country And what compels this Christmas-decorating fervor Author Bruce Littlefield finds the answers on his quest to locate the most spectacular Christmas displays across America. His adventures take him to the front lawns and doors of people in cities and towns from coast to coast who have a flair and fanaticism for doing Christmas right--whose goal is giving the world an illuminated, inflated, decorated gift. Littlefield shares his firsthand encounters with people for whom Christmas is a year-round labor of love--the people who spend mind-boggling amounts of time and money transforming their houses and yards, and even those of the neighbors, into unique Christmas fantasylands that are spectacles of individual expression and must-see destinations for the rest of us. These portraits of Christmas range from tacky to refined, outlandish to poignant--and the reasons they are created vary, too--but all are dazzling in their own ways, and the passionate people who dream them up have entertaining stories and anecdotes to tell that will make this Christmas the brightest, merriest, happiest Christmas ever. Just follow the lights.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061348295
• ISBN13: 9780061348297
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Christmas displays

I like this book. It was interesting to see how differently people decorate their homes. If you can't get out over the Holidays to see local displays, this book is the next best thing.

Lights and More Lights

Bruce Littlefield let's the Christmas lights shine on. MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMERICA! MEGAWATT DISPLAYS ACROSS THE USA explores a piece of modern Americana, holiday light decorations that is annual tradition for many households and public spaces during the Christmas season. From the light displays at major New York department stores, such as Macy's to kitsch lawn décor in Richmond, Virginia, Littlefield examines this electric light phenomenon, which is very much a part of American popular culture. Readers will get a glimpse of how and why Americans light up the holiday season. There is plenty of lighted ornaments and light displays of various shapes and sizes of Santa Claus, snowmen, penguins, reindeers, and pink flamingos that adorn the pages of this book - yes, pink flamingos and even palm and aluminum Christmas tree. One will be amazed of the effort it takes to plan and painstakingly arrange these displays. The colorful photographs by Cal Cary, tips on decorating, and short narratives associated with the holidays are interesting and beautifully show this unusual past time. Littlefield includes the story behind Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the text of Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas." In addition, there are little bit of Christmas trivia embedded within the pages of the book, such as how many Christmas trees are planted and cut each year and the existence of the Charles W. Howard Santa School in Midland Michigan. Overall, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMERICA! is a quite a unique book. With its display of the fun and zany side of Christmas that many Americans partake in each year, Littlefield captures the joyous holiday moments with great illumination.

Ho-Ho-Ho

I just received this book. What a treasure. I have already read it cover to cover. What an interesting life Bruce must have had to be able to write so witty and wonderful a story. Many of the people in the book are people you would want to know. Written with charm and respect for the people he interviewed, this is a must have book. You won't be sorry you gave it as gifts to put under your own Megawatt Christmas Tree!!!

A must have if your a Christmas display lover.

Love the book, If you love Christmas lights and decorations, you'll love this book. well written and great photos of some of the nicest displays across America.

THE PERFECT GIFT!!!

This book is spectacular - a coast to coast adventure in lights and ho ho ho. I am a fan of Bruce Littlefield's books. He always captures his subject with laugh-out-loud realness and heartfelt friendliness. He talks to the families that go over-the-top in what he calls "full-frontal decorating" and he also shares decorating tips & how tos, and very cool Christmas fun facts. Do you know how Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer came to be or what Charles Schulz told network executives about his Christmas special? It's fascinating... and I've realized it is also the perfect gift... my clients will love! This book is gorgeous and puts the heart back in Christmas!