When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by David Sedaris
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Book Reviews of When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Book Review: Competent, But Not His Best
Summary: 3 Stars
I disclose up front that I am a huge Sedaris fan. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" was one of the most acidly funny books I ever read, and his short story "The Santaland Diaries" is nothing less than a masterpiece. And, I do not expect Sedaris to be "funny." Much of his most elegant prose, especially about his family, is not. But I admit to being very disappointed in "When You Are Engulfed in Flames."
I cannot explain exactly why I was disappointed. It's not that the writing, overall, was bad. It was just not terribly interesting. And while I got the point of tales like his companion, Hugh, proving his love by treating a noisome boil, for example, the world-weary, catty observational humor and the high-strung emotionalism just largely fell flat this time, almost sounding contrived. And the last tale about quitting smoking in Tokyo was, in my opinion, a stream of consciousness nightmare. And overall, there is a gloom settled over these pages. Since this was Sedaris' "mid-life crisis" book, I cannot object to that overmuch, but the sometime artless joylessness made "Engulfed" a numbing chore.
But, the book has side-splitting and thoughtful gems, too. The tale of Mrs. Peacock, the smelly babysitter from hell, the external catheter called "The Stadium Pal," and a harrowing piece about the nature of guilt and shame when he befriends an old sex offender shunned by society are Sedaris at his vintage best. Funny, but always thought provoking.
So, on balance, half the book is wonderful, half less so. If you are a Sedaris fan, you will enjoy it, but be prepared for some odd forays that do not work well. If you are new to Sedaris, this is not the book for you. "Naked," "Barrel Fever," and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" are where your attention should be.
Recommended, but with noted reservations.
Book Review: Not really sure if it is supposed to be humor or satire?
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought David Sedaris's "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" at the airport because I needed something to read on the plane. I had recalled seeing some good reviews of his books and they seemed to be quite popular. I am not sure if his little vignettes into his life are supposed to be humorous or satirical. I think one professional reviewer described his genre as "quirky memoir". I guess that fits. I do know it took until page 211 to get an actual, out loud laugh from me. The author was describing how he tormented his sisters when he was younger by telling them just before bed that a particular spider they had seen earlier in the day would likely find them again that night. I can relate to that. I think a lot of my problem with the book is that I just cannot relate to the life of a gay man with, essentially, an East Coast upbringing. I think it is the same reason I could never really get into Sex and the City; I just can't relate to a group of mature women looking for romance in a cosmopolitan setting. There were a few more laugh out load moments after that, but mostly the stories just seemed a bit contrived and the author just a bit too sarcastic and whiny. By comparison, I am now reading "Driving Like Crazy" by P.J. O'Rourke and that has got me laughing my rear end off. I think if you really want to read someone who is funny try Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Anthony Bourdain or even Michael Pollan who can turn a wry, witty phrase just as subtly as flipping a fried egg with chopsticks.Book Review: Sedaris at his Best
Summary: 5 Stars
David Sedaris has always been dry, clever and often quite funny. When You Are Engulfed in Flames starts out familiarly so, with some entertaining stories and some stories falling flat. If you make it through the first half and have had a pretty good laugh but wouldn't put it up there, prepare to be amazed.
In the second half, David Sedaris shows his pure talent, pushing life to the edge with beautiful wit, sarcasm and the best dry humor around.
His Japan segment is sheer brilliance as he recalls his quite interesting and hilarious tales in a foreign country - but the other stories don't disappoint either. A must read, Sedaris ups his game to a sometimes relatable and always hilarious level. Never have I been more enthralled in Sedaris' work and I'm a big fan and have read most.
Throughout the beginning, some of the dry humor just really isn't that funny and at some points it seems almost as if its trying to be funny and loses the dry quality. The Harvard essay just didn't hit me that well, with some well placed jokes but what really came off as an uninteresting, mildly humorous tale. I've often found that Sedaris does his best when observing the life around him, not when creating a fictional world.
His family interactions aren't presented in a new light in the early, yet still funny, chapters and there are some hilarious stories but still nothing compared to the second half, a brilliant observance of mere life.
Book Review: Fun, short, true stories by NPR's funniest voice in comedy.
Summary: 4 Stars
Another hilarious collection of essays by David Sedaris. This was another book that I read aloud to my husband. A lot of this book had to be read in private though, and not around relatives. It's definitely adult reading and adult language!
The portraits he paints of every day people doing things that are absolutely crazy in a way that makes them seem mundane is his calling card and he does this to excellent effect in this new novel. Whether it's the woman that lives alone in an apartment building that acts like she runs the place (and really does), the crazy people he hitchhikes with in the early 70's, his parent's take on art, or the people he meets in his attempt to quit smoking in japan, it's all written with a humorous edge and a sarcastic wit that makes even the most outcast and odd palatable.
There were several parts where he seemed to go over the edge beyond funny into really being almost sad, pathetic, or even hateful. But, the rest of the book is so well written and his humor continues to be so endearing that you can't help forgiving it as you continue on.
When You Are Engulfed In Flames is an excellent, strange, but very well written series of comedic looks into David Sedaris' life and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to read some fun, short, true stories by NPR's funniest voice in comedy.
Book Review: Sedaris's Flames shine bright
Summary: 5 Stars
David Sedaris has to be one of the greatest writers who ever lived. I say this because while other best-selling writers teach you compelling lessons (David McCullough), encourage your inner conspirator (Dan Brown), show you new and scary worlds (Michael Crichton), or take you off into fantasy (J.K. Rowling), Sedaris writes about the mundane and somehow makes it fascinating. Each of the many stories in his books are like literary candy: short, sweet, and easily digestible. That is not to say that he is entirely frivolous, though the books are far from serious, as at each turn Sedaris is able to make quick incisive quips about the absurd and awkward world he tries in vain to live in.
For those unfamiliar with Sedaris's work, he sort of writes about the way life happens to him. The man on the plane who can't stop crying to the point of it being annoying. Being invited on vacation with the town's child molester. Chronicling his life in time spent not smoking. I started following Dave with Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, back in high school and with the exception of Naked have been impressed by what I read. My inner high school self wants to say that Corduroy is still my favourite, but my 20-something self believes When You Are Engulfed in Flames, is his masterpiece.
Read it.
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