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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Another fabulous entry by Sedaris, narrated by him. It is funny as hell, but also loaded with some wrenching observations about family estrangement, death, aging and disability. In short it’s great.
Does a great job delving into deep themes while also moving through overarching stories. It feels like sitting down and having a long, deep conversation with Sedaris.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
I appreciated the style of writing in this book and found it humorous at times but overall it felt too scattered for me. There were some heavier topics that were made light of which bothered me at times. I know people use humour to deal with things but I prefer when there is a bit more resolution to it beyond the humour. Altogether it was a quick read that made me laugh at times. I haven’t read any of his other books so maybe there is more continuity between them but I didn’t catch an overall theme to the book.
I don't typically LOL, but this book had me laughing many times.
Merged review:
I don't typically LOL, but this book had me laughing many times.
Merged review:
I don't typically LOL, but this book had me laughing many times.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
I loved “Holidays on Ice” and “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim” because Sedaris was so funny I had to laugh out loud but this one...
Honestly ever since the first essay on his sister Tiffany I’ve been turned off. He clearly has some negative feelings toward her, but it’s not clear why. It’s hard for me to enjoy his snippy little remarks about her when I don’t even know what it is about her that makes him loath her so.
Even if I did know, I think I would want to understand her point of view.
It’s tragic how insensitive the entire Sedaris (with the exception of maybe the father) deals with Tiffany’s suicide.
I gave the book another chance and kept reading but these essays are not as funny as his other works nor are they particularly interesting.
In fact I think this book sours one’s impression of Sedaris altogether.
Besides the first insensitive essay about Tiffany, there was another one about Sedaris going with his sisters to Tokyo to buy a bunch of expensive ugly useless things. They’re frivolous, wasteful, tasteless and self-aware about it all. This story in combination with the story of how they let their troubled sister fall through the cracks paints an unflattering picture.
It’s hard to read a story written by and about someone with no redeeming qualities. I really struggle to find the motivation to continue so I’ve stopped at “The Silent Treatment”.
The one essay in this collection that was somewhat ok was “Stepping Out” about how he became obsessed with taking increasingly more steps each day to please his master, the Fitbit.
Honestly ever since the first essay on his sister Tiffany I’ve been turned off. He clearly has some negative feelings toward her, but it’s not clear why. It’s hard for me to enjoy his snippy little remarks about her when I don’t even know what it is about her that makes him loath her so.
Even if I did know, I think I would want to understand her point of view.
It’s tragic how insensitive the entire Sedaris (with the exception of maybe the father) deals with Tiffany’s suicide.
I gave the book another chance and kept reading but these essays are not as funny as his other works nor are they particularly interesting.
In fact I think this book sours one’s impression of Sedaris altogether.
Besides the first insensitive essay about Tiffany, there was another one about Sedaris going with his sisters to Tokyo to buy a bunch of expensive ugly useless things. They’re frivolous, wasteful, tasteless and self-aware about it all. This story in combination with the story of how they let their troubled sister fall through the cracks paints an unflattering picture.
It’s hard to read a story written by and about someone with no redeeming qualities. I really struggle to find the motivation to continue so I’ve stopped at “The Silent Treatment”.
The one essay in this collection that was somewhat ok was “Stepping Out” about how he became obsessed with taking increasingly more steps each day to please his master, the Fitbit.
I loved reading more about Sedaris’ family and that so much of it took place at his beach house since I was about to go on vacation to Cape Cod. It made me laugh out loud at how shameless and human he is. The chapter on him wearing a Fitbit is so relatable lol. Really enjoyed it for a fast summer read.