Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 254
 De' Ja' Sedaris June 9, 2008
paygenie (California, USA)
36 out of 40 found this review helpful
Writer/humorist David Sedaris' sixth book delivers the hilarity and razor-sharp wit, social commentary, and tenderness of his previous books, but fans of Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and Naked may be in for a bit of a disappointment. His previous smashing success has made it increasingly hard for him to top himself. Upon diving into Sedaris' latest collection of autographical essays, one can't help but feel De' Ja' Vu. Any fans will have already seen all of these essays featured in the New Yorker magazine already over the past three or four years. I was a bit disappointed to get the "Wait a minute, I've read this before!" feeling with the opening story, "It's Catching," about his mother-in-law's medical bout with a worm living under her skin. But I guess we can't really blame Mr. Sedaris for the fact that we love him so much that we've already read pretty much all of these in The New Yorker, Esquire, etc. magazines.
Fans of Augusten Burroughs will enjoy Sedaris and also recognize him as a much more believable writer of the memoir. Unlike previous collections which each focus on one part of his life, "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," covers the range of Sedaris' anecdotal life: from childhood and life at home with his mom and sisters, to his adult life, including when he first moved to Paris and dropped out of French classes and ran around telling everyone "D'accord" because of his limited vocabulary. Because this book covers such a wide Sedaris life range, it feels almost like a "best of" kind of collection.
The book manages to only give you a good quiet laugh, not the rollicking hilarity of his previous works (check out "Santaland Diaries" from 'Holidays on Ice,' where Sedaris chronicles his days working as a Macy's elf, and "Repeat after Me" from 'Dress Your Family...' and 'David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall). But remember this is David Sedaris here, so a quiet laugh still far exceeds any other American humorist writing today. Some of the highlights in this collection include: "Keeping Up," a day around the zoo with Sedaris and his partner Hugh, and in the mind of Sedaris' during a lover's quarrel; "Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie?"--Sedaris chronicles his trial use of an external catheter (Window seat in a cross-country non-stop flight? Don't mind if I do!); "Memento Mori," one of the funniest stories here, chronicling Sedaris' purchase of an actual human skeleton, and the ensuing spookhouse terror of keeping it in his home; and the memorable "What I Learned," Sedaris' speech to graduates of Princeton, his alma mater.
Fans will want this book to add to their Sedaris collection, but it could also be a good, safe introduction to Sedaris newbies, as the 10-15 page essays here aren't as bizarre as previous works ('Naked' being the weirdest). Where the book is worth a read (or a purchase) is in the 60-some page "The Smoking Section" memoir. Here Sedaris chronicles his life as a smoker, from childhood when he first began to smoke (including how in school they went on field trips to the cigarette factory and were given cigarettes to "take home to your parents"), to his efforts to quit by moving to Hiroshima. (The title of the book is derived from an actual public smoking warning during his stay in Japan.)
This is so-so Sedaris, which is still a heckuva lot funnier than anyone else out there. For more laughs, check out his other books, PLUS don't be surprised if you get addicted to his audiobooks, which he and his sister Amy Sedaris read. The audiobooks themselves are gold as his readings make the essays even more hilarious.
 Very disappointing - not funny June 17, 2008
Annette (USA)
27 out of 44 found this review helpful
I was hoping for a good laugh on a long train ride. This book isn't funny. I'm 3/4 through the book, and I got two chuckles out of it. In the last five stories, animals get abused or hurt. In one story, a goat is chained in the backyard and left to starve. In another, a horse is used in beasiality porn. In another, a mouse is burned alive. The list goes on.
Sorry for not thinking that that's just soooo entertaining!
His stories are no longer truly funny, as in previous books (eg Me Talk Pretty One Day). They are vignettes of life -- observations and thoughts. Just that.
The only story I enjoyed is the one that was already previously published in the New Yorker (of Wildflowers and Weed). It seems that that the author has run out of material.
 Great Book, Lousy product June 5, 2008
jon cortez (Reseda, Ca)
25 out of 53 found this review helpful
Yet again, another lousy packaging by Hachette Audio. After ordering "The Ultimate David Sedaris Box Set" last year from the same publisher, I should have been wary of buying this. I love hearing David Sedaris read his own stories in his inimitable style, but I really hate the way they are packaged in both of these sets. Like the previous collection, the CD's are packaged in blank cardboard sleeves with no artwork or track listings, which will eventually scratch up the CD's if left in them. The CD's, when put on my computer to copy to Itunes, showed no track listings. Track names were listed on the CD, but this is just a lazy and a cheap way to present such a talented and funny author who deserves so much better. Dissapointing, especially for the $34.98 list price. Hachette Audio, you suck.
 Keep it coming June 4, 2008
Mary T
21 out of 61 found this review helpful
David Sedaris's new book is finally out after me waiting, like, a whole month for it. It's about time. My only question is, why is he spending so much effort making appearances when he should be back at home writing another book? Anyway, this is just an introduction to say everyone should buy this book, like 10 copies at least, to give away to nephews, nieces, aunts, neighbors, people in the check out line at the grocery store who smile at you, and just about anyone else you come across who knows the words to Isn't It Lovely. And I guess I don't mind that he's touring. I'm sure he needs a break and to socialize from time to time. If anything, it's another way he can gather more material for more stories. Excellent job Mr. Sedaris. I'm a big fan. THANKS.
Pathetic June 20, 2008
Sheila Karlson (Livermore, CA USA)
16 out of 34 found this review helpful
Well, I really looked forward to this book as I read Sedaris's other books and did laugh out loud a lot. This one is different. It seems as though the author got a bit lazy and really did just write down everything that went through his head. This is what you do to get ideas for a book, not what you do to write a book. The stories are not particularly funny and in some cases Mr. Sedaris comes close to pornography (two women in a bedroom with a horse), for example. I won't go into detail. The scene is not pretty. I think Mr. Sedaris has lost his touch. If I could return this book, I would. I refuse to donate it to the library as I wouldn't want to reduce the intelligence of the local community.
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