The Works of David Sedaris

[Deleted]

I've just cracked the new book and am enjoying it. I find his vocal intonation so unique that now it's impossible to read his stuff without hearing his nasal, whiny, sarcastic voice in my head, which (I think) adds a lot to even the mildest of his stuff. If you haven't heard him read his work, there's YouTube stuff out there worth catching.

[Nysha]

Listening to his books is almost better than reading them. Someone sent me the youtube link to his appearance on Letterman, where he does the bit about the Stadium Pal and I thought I was going to die laughing. Even though I had already bought "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" in book form, I picked it the audio CDs last week. I have a 4 hour round trip drive to school 4 days a week and this really makes it go by quickly.

[Deleted]

Definitely, his books were definitely meant to be read by him - it's a totally different experience and so, so enjoyable for car rides. We call it "listening to stories". But then, we're dorks.

[Ripley]

Maybe I'll try getting an audiobook, then. I loved his Christmas book, but none of the others have really grabbed me. I find myself thinking, "I know I should be laughing hysterically, but I'm just...not."

[kkslider]

It's worth a try, Ripley. His delivery is perfection. In one of the stories there's a spot where he says "straight-up disGUSting," in this clipped, fussy way, and now I'm incapable of pronouncing the word any other way. (Although it's never as funny when I do it.)

David S is the only car listening that can unite me and my 14-year-old son. We both sit there giggling like idiots.

[biondetta]

I really should listen to more of his stuff on audio. I'm always in tears of laughter when I do listen. His delivery just adds to the stories. My favorite still remains the one where the students are trying to explain Easter in their limited French. The absolute best part for me, though, is the very last line. The first time I heard it, had me almost literally rolling on the floor with hysterical laughter. It was so perfectly done. You can listen to the story here.

[lowercase]

Biondetta, that story absolutely kills me. "He nice, the Jesus."

I had a book signed by him years ago at Boston's Symphony Hall, and I mentioned to him how much I love "Jesus Shaves," and he said "You don't think '6 to 8 Black Men' is too similar, do you?" It made the hour-plus wait worth it!

I'm going to see him again in October in New Haven, CT, with my [very, very conservative] parents. I found "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" to be a little raunchier than his other books, so I'm a little nervous about it. I've already warned them that the reading may contain some language and strong adult themes that I'm not entirely comfortable with them hearing.

[Deleted]

"He die one day and then he go above of my head to live with your father. He weared of himself the long hair and after he die the first day he come back here for to say hello to the peoples. He nice, the Jesus. He make the good things and on the Easter we be sad because somebody makes him dead today."

"The rabbit of Easter, HE bring of the chocolate! He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand, he have a basket and foods!"

[poodle]

I am a HUGE Sedaris fans and definitely agree about the experience of it being read outloud by the author.

Unfortunetly, I really didn't like the latest book "When You Are Engulfed By Flames." It felt kind of bitter to me?

But I've never disliked any of his work before. So maybe it's worth a reread.

Anyone else finding the same thing?

[Karrit]

I am almost done with "Flames" and I really like it. As mentioned in previous posts, I can't help but read it hearing his voice.