SubscribeDavid Sedaris’ latest book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, is a must read. For those unfamiliar with Sedaris’ previous work, the author specializes in hilarious stories of his family and anecdotes about every day life. Each story brings with it a familiarity; these characters are just like the characters you know in your own life. Well, maybe not JUST like them, but Sedaris brings out the humanity in each of the people he writes about so that you can love them or spite them right along with him.
His most recent novel includes anecdotes about a crotchety neighbor, vacationers in France and Sedaris’ own battle with quitting smoking. These stories are told with such brilliant wit that there is no way to stop reading. I’d go into more detail, but I’d hate to ruin a punchline by trying to prove myself right.
I started this book waiting in an airport for our plane to begin boarding. My husband, listening to his iPod, repeatedly admonished me for laughing so hard I was shaking his seat. I’m sure others around me may have wondered what was wrong with me, but I didn’t care. The joy of this book is entering a world where you don’t care what others think, you just get to sit back and observe the idioscynchracies of life.
- Kristin
Diverxtrme