Product Description "David Sedaris's ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art," (The Christian Science Monitor) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this remarkable new book. Trying to make coffee when the water is shut off, David considers using the water in a vase of flowers and his chain of associations takes him from the French countryside to a hilariously uncomfortable memory of buying drugs in a mobile home in rural North Carolina. In essay after essay, Sedaris proceeds from bizarre conundrums of daily life-having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a fellow passenger on a plane or armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds-to the most deeply resonant human truths. Culminating in a brilliant account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris's sixth essay collection is a new masterpiece of comic writing from "a writer worth treasuring" (Seattle Times).
Praise for When You Are Engulfed in Flames:
"Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris...defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life." --Kirkus Reviews
This latest collection proves that not only does Sedaris still have it, but he's also getting better....Sedaris's best stuff will still--after all this time--move, surprise, and entertain." --Booklist
Table of Contents:
It's Catching Keeping Up The Understudy This Old House Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie? Road Trips What I Learned That's Amore The Monster Mash In the Waiting Room Solutions to Saturday's Puzzle Adult Figures Charging Toward a Concrete Toadstool Memento Mori All the Beauty You Will Ever Need Town and Country Aerial The Man in the Hut Of Mice and Men April in Paris Crybaby Old Faithful The Smoking Section
When You Are Engulfed in FlamesAugust 26, 2008 This book is just all right. It seems to be a repeat of everything else he has written.... decoratively funny, but not thought provoking.
HilariousAugust 26, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
While I have read many amusing books in the past, my response is usually an inward smile and a mental note to myself of how clever and succinct the description chosen by the author. This book however causes one to laugh out loud. A true gem!
5 Because I Am not an UniversalistAugust 26, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you don't care for this book (like one star rater swine afterbirth below) then a hand will appear on your wall and write: "Mene Mene Tekhal Upharsin Sedaris!!" {OK I know biblically its a finger but I can't conceive of Diety giving anyone the finger over a book that isn't the Book of Life etc.) and least not a book as lightweight as this. But I could be wrong (it happened before).
Anywize . . being interpreted. "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Your sense of humor is given over to the Medes and Persians. You will rott [sic <-- literary shorthand for I am too lazy to correct my spelling] in Hell for all eternity for your slandering of Humorist Sedarus unless you are an annihilist in which case you will be tormented until you get the point and then wiped out in a puff of smoke, thereby making the point moot,
ciao // gurkha
Like a letter from a friendAugust 25, 2008 This book was so enjoyable! Reading it was like receiving a letter from a friend. The style is so laid back and "everyday" that you really feel like you're in a conversation with Sedaris and I actually felt disappointed when it was over. The book is also one of those rare items that you can pick up, read any chapter, and thoroughly connect with the content. You might even find yourself running into another room to read passages to your family! :)
funny stuff and good writingAugust 21, 2008 yeah dubbleplusgood! what a fun read, crazy, zany, and neomisanthropic. cannot say i know what this last word means but---anyway, i have read naked and found it good and this last one is superduper. hut ab! which means in german: hats off to you DS!
