When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by David Sedaris
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Book Reviews of When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Book Review: Vintage Sedaris
Summary: 4 Stars
Sedaris could describe rice and make me laugh. Seriously, I don't think there's any other writer who makes me laugh out loud so often. Here, he gives more of the same, which, in my opinion, is just what I want him to do. Quirky memoirs, mostly about his family, oftentimes lewd, but always hilarious. He describes his neighbors, people in the seats around him on public transportation, and his attempts to learn Japanese and quit smoking, among other things. And there's nobody more suited to read a Sedaris book than the author himself. Yes, his nasal, someone snooty voice can take a moment to get used to, but it brings his sarcasm to life perfectly. If you're not a Sedaris fan, this book certainly won't make you one. But if, like me, the guy cracks you up, then this book will do the same.Book Review: I was absent....
Summary: 2 Stars
I was absent the day they explained WHY I'm supposed to like David Sedaris. I understand he's popular and I went into this reading adventure (okay, listening adventure; I borrowed the audiobook from my library) wanting so badly to like it. Maybe it was Mr. Sedaris' reading voice, maybe it was elevated expectations but I made it a mere 2 discs before deciding to cut my losses and go back to listening to Howard Stern on my drive in to work. I'm sorry, fellow amazoners...but I'm putting Mr. Sedaris in my increasingly expanding "I don't see what all the hoopla is about" pile. He will join episodes of "Modern Family" and "English Patient" and they can all sit around, smoke cigars and talk about how wonderful they are.
Book Review: Relatable Essays on Mundane Events
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a rookie Sedaris reader, so I am unsure how this compares to his older material. I found the bulk of the stories to be simultaneously interesting and familiar at the same time.
Sedaris recounts his days living in various pockets of Europe and the US and encounters every day menaces that we all have came across: the rude cab driver, the misunderstood neighbor, the apathetic couple, the loud passenger on a plane.
As far as humor is concerned, I never uncontrollably laughed but thought the author's insight was clever and probably resulted in a mild laugh an average of once per story. In the end, I enjoyed the various adventures and the stories/lessons Sedaris was sharing.
Book Review: Mrs. Peacock Lives In Infamy....
Summary: 5 Stars
Loved this book - absolutely priceless!
The other parents at my son's Tae Kwan Do studio still look at me funny.... ("There's that woman who sits in the corner reading and bursts into laughter every few minutes...").
Ah. Little do they know the wonderful reason...
This book and "Naked" are the only two Sedaris books I've read thusfar; looking forward to reading all of his books.
Sedaris is quite gifted at mining humor from the dry and mundane "everyday" happenings of life.
(I'm quite sure I'll never forget Mrs. Peacock, her "margarine hair" or her forced back scratches. (Gives me the willies just thinking about it...!)
Book Review: Lame
Summary: 1 Stars
This was the selection of the month of a book club of which I am a member. This author's popularity is enormous, as I realized when someone stopped me at lunch and mentioned that he had noticed me reading this book.
That should have been a tip-off. Anything enormously popular has got to be worthless.
That said, the book is horrid, of absolutely no interest. Waste of paper, ink, binding materials, cardboard, transportation costs, and air. I read three or four chapters and that was it for me.
Disposable trash.
Skip this.
For those of who who don't understand what 'useful' means, it does NOT mean that you agree with the review.