Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris

7 reviews

mattyvreads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

This is an underrated collection from David Sedaris. Great writing. Smart, funny. Had some laugh out loud moments.

Sedaris sometimes uses shocking language as a method to make fun of ignorant or repugnant people, but in practice, it just comes off as him using outdated or harmful language. His use of the N word and the R word, even in quote, are jarring in this book.

Take that away, and it’s a really well-written, hilarious, heartfelt, and occasionally moving piece of literature.

I particularly enjoy “Road Trips”, “That’s Amore”, “Solution to Saturday’s Puzzle”, and “Crybaby.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Ableism, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Homophobia

Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia

hmih's review against another edition

funny slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Cancer, Addiction, Child death, and Death of parent

lucinotlucy's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Cancer

kia_y_k's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Drug use, Addiction, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

claired01's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

littlebookaddict's review against another edition

funny informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

The book was intriguing, chaotic, and weird. I loved the writing style and the way it was a collection of essays. I liked the book up until the last portion, it was in my opinion boring, triggering, and needlessly too detailed. Overall though it definitely was a good read, but i wouldn’t read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Cancer, and Drug use

battybookworm's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

I read this ages ago and only remembered the spider story. I think that one is still my favorite but overall the stories were fun and easy to listen to. I feel like Hugh featured a lot in this one and I especially love the comparisons of his opinions to David’s, I think it adds to the voice of David’s stories and makes them feel real and personal.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Medical content

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

There is a story about David’s neighbor who is believed to be a pedophile. Him being caught, sent to prison and then returning are referenced and discussed. There’s also multiple discussions about cancer and people dying. The final story describes quitting smoking for the entirety of its telling.