The Dreaded Feast will act as a balm for the millions of people who face Christmastime with a mixture of dread and obligation. Whether it’s the last-minute shopping, the unappealing office party, or the prospect of more than 24 hours with family, it’s never easy. The anthology, which includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on these and many more related subjects, deflates the notion of the “perfect” holiday season, and allows the reader to commiserate and bask in the glow of a little dark, neurotic, and unflinchingly honest humor.   The star roster of contributors includes Jonathan Ames, Dave Barry, Robert Benchley, Charles Bukowski, Augusten Burroughs, Billy Collins, Greg Kotis, Lewis Lapham, Jay McInerney, Fiona Maazel, George Plimpton, David Rakoff, David Sedaris, Charles Simic, Hunter S. Thompson, James Thurber, Calvin Trillin, and John Waters. Praise for The Dreaded Feast: "A wonderfully irreverent look at the holidays. A must for the Christmas cynic on your list."  -USA Today  One of USA Today's 2009 "12 Books of Christmas"  "If you embrace the darker side of Christmas, then this is definitely the book for you."  -Chicago Sun-Times  "Thank the 'X' in 'Xmas' for The Dreaded Feast, [which] collects essays, short stories, and poetry that attack Hallmark holidays with all the neurotic humor one expects from contributors like Jonathan Ames, Fiona Maazel, and Calvin Trillin."  -The New Yorker  "Amid the twinkly decorations, dancing sugar plums, and ubiquitous holiday cheer, a bracing dose of dark humor might be nice, don't you think? For book lovers, we're recommending a volume that offers just that: The Dreaded Feast."  -Raleigh News & Observer