In David Sedaris's world no one is safe and no cow is sacred. A manic cross between Mark Leyner, Fran Liebowitz, and the National Enquirer, Sedaris...
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Jun 12, 2007
Minnie
rated it: 
Another "bestseller" from the humorist; I bought this in blind faith only because it was a Sedaris. However, I admit I was a tad disappointed. In some of the essays, it felt like he was trying too hard to be funny; the stories seemed to lack the punch found in "Naked," "Me Talk Pretty One Day," or "Holidays on Ice."
If you must read this, borrow it from a library or buy it used. It works well as a paper-weight.
If you must read this, borrow it from a library or buy it used. It works well as a paper-weight.
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Nov 14, 2008
Caris
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I can never get a David Sedaris book to last. I usually measure the time it takes me to read a book in days or weeks, but with Sedaris I'm forced to count minutes and hours.
I attended one of his readings a few weeks ago. I paid something like forty dollars for balcony seating, fearing for my life the entire time. When he finally came out, I had a good view of the top of his head. I was fairly disappointed. I had been looking forward to this for months and all I was going to get to s More...
I attended one of his readings a few weeks ago. I paid something like forty dollars for balcony seating, fearing for my life the entire time. When he finally came out, I had a good view of the top of his head. I was fairly disappointed. I had been looking forward to this for months and all I was going to get to s More...
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Dec 22, 2008
Stacey
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First, a disclaimer: I listened mostly to the audiobook which, upon closer inspection is titled "Barrel Fever: and Other Stories," not the subtitle from the print version (Stories and Essays), even though the cover art is the same. I was so confused by the audiobook that I was moved to check out the print version from the library to see what the he-e-double-hockey-sticks was happening. It was like David Sedaris on shuffle and I did not understand it at all. There were these like 5 m
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Feb 09, 2011
Tyler
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For me, Barrel Fever is mostly a love-hate relationship in that in it comprised of many different, mostly insane stories which aren't related to each other. The main component within Barrel Fever is a sardonic satirical style which is used to construct the majority of the stories which details the harshness of humanity, a loss of compassion, and the lack of intelligence within most of society. Sedaris' style differs greatly between the stories but it still manage to make the novel entertaining
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Mar 09, 2010
Aaron
rated it: 
If you like sarcastic wit and dark humor, then you really should consider giving David Sedaris a try. Previously, I had only read a collection of Christmas essays and stories built to connect with "Santaland Diaries." This was his first book, which is made up of 12 stories and four essays.
The stories are made up of an interesting combination of exaggerated tales such as a speech from an Academy Award winner, a young man who is running through a series of celebrities he may More...
The stories are made up of an interesting combination of exaggerated tales such as a speech from an Academy Award winner, a young man who is running through a series of celebrities he may More...
Jan 23, 2010
Weston
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Even though this is one of David Sedaris's earliest offerings, I did not read it first. I came onto Sedaris's sardonic wit through the fantastic essay collection "Me Talk Pretty One Day." After laughing my way through those 200 plus pages I was hungry for more by the author. Being a completest, I usually read everything I can by authors that I enjoy.
Coming from the high that was "Me Talk Pretty..." I was a little put off by "Barrel Fever," the next title More...
Coming from the high that was "Me Talk Pretty..." I was a little put off by "Barrel Fever," the next title More...
Nov 15, 2009
Colin
rated it:
Although many of his stories are filled with delusions of grandeur and insane self absorption, when Sedaris does it, somehow it's still funny. For example:
"The press is having a field day over my relationship with Mike Tyson. We tried to keep it a secret, but for Mike and me there can be no privacy...We look so good together, everyone wants pictures..."
"Mike and I are arguing over what to name our kitten. For the record, a long haired cat is one thing, More...
"The press is having a field day over my relationship with Mike Tyson. We tried to keep it a secret, but for Mike and me there can be no privacy...We look so good together, everyone wants pictures..."
"Mike and I are arguing over what to name our kitten. For the record, a long haired cat is one thing, More...
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May 04, 2011
Alex
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This is the first Sedaris book that I've read that wasn't just a collection of essays; it's more than half composed of short stories. It's also the first book that he published, so that has to be part of it. Somehow I failed to miss that it was divided between "stories" and "essays" in the contents, and quickly found myself confused because Sedaris doesn't have a bitter ex-wife or a double amputee daughter. To my knowledge.
The stories are a strange mix and, as far a More...
The stories are a strange mix and, as far a More...
Sep 10, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
After several "WTF" moments, I just let myself enjoy these stories. Sedaris is a humorist, and this book is divided into two parts. The first is a collection of short stories, the second are autobiographical essays.
I'm really not a short story person. I like a story that allows me to really get into the characters, not a one where I finally figure out a character and the story is over. However, the stories were enjoyable. It's just not my thing.
The essays w More...
I'm really not a short story person. I like a story that allows me to really get into the characters, not a one where I finally figure out a character and the story is over. However, the stories were enjoyable. It's just not my thing.
The essays w More...
May 19, 2011
Gabriel
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David Sedaris has become one of my favorite writers. He's funny, he's brutally honest, and he looks at life through a unique lens that I've grown to love. But I'll be honest: if this had been the first book by Sedaris that I read, I probably wouldn't have found any of this out because I wouldn't have been tempted to pick up another of his books ever again.
Okay, so it wasn't unreadable. In fact, it was often funny and it did shed a light on the stupidity in society, something that I'v More...
Okay, so it wasn't unreadable. In fact, it was often funny and it did shed a light on the stupidity in society, something that I'v More...
Apr 12, 2010
PlatKat
rated it:
The books begins with a tempestuous tabloid recount of the author's numerous affairs with famous figureheads, including boxer Mike Tyson who apparently has a softer, gayer side that none of us knew about. Throughout the first chapter, the most prevalent thought in my mind was "What the fuck am I reading?" But of course, this is David Sedaris we're talking about here, and perhaps the barrage of non-fiction literature I've been reading up to this point hadn't prepared me for the sillin
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Dec 06, 2010
Lana.
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David Sedaris was coming to Edmonton. I wasn’t able to go see him speak, so I looked for the next best thing: his books and his recordings. Barrel Fever came up on the library search list and I didn’t remember reading it before – perfect.
Unfortunately, several stories in I realised I have read this one – but I must have blocked it from my mind.
First of all, the stories (75% of the book) were sad in a cruel sort of way. It asks us to laugh at people and characters w More...
Unfortunately, several stories in I realised I have read this one – but I must have blocked it from my mind.
First of all, the stories (75% of the book) were sad in a cruel sort of way. It asks us to laugh at people and characters w More...
Apr 30, 2009
Patrick
rated it:
Sedaris' SantaLand Diaries is absolutely hilarious. It is a great critic of middle class consumerism and the absurdity that it brings in what is suppose to be a religious holiday.
I think this is Sedaris at his best when he makes fun of the general middle class culture and himself not anyone in specific. I also tend to prefer his writing his personal experiences over his work of fiction although I did enjoy My Manuscirpt, Glen's Homophobia Newleeter Vol. 3, No. 2, Season's Greeting More...
I think this is Sedaris at his best when he makes fun of the general middle class culture and himself not anyone in specific. I also tend to prefer his writing his personal experiences over his work of fiction although I did enjoy My Manuscirpt, Glen's Homophobia Newleeter Vol. 3, No. 2, Season's Greeting More...
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Aug 20, 2008
Marcus
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This book is pretty good, though I didn't really find my stride until we moved out of the realm of fiction, and into the world of creative non-fiction. His essays were absolutely great, while his early pieces seemed to be written solely for the author. I'd recommend Me Talk Pretty Some Day, or Dress Your Family in Corduroy above this one.
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Sep 16, 2011
Melissa
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I'm a bit of a Sedaris virgin but I'd heard great things so I went in with fairly high expectations. Overall, this collection isn't so bad. None of the stories are bad, but they're not fantastically funny either. I will say, this review would have received a lower review if not for 1 story and 1 essay in this collection. The story "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!" and the essay "SantaLand Diaries" completely save the collection. I found both to be crazy funny
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Jul 15, 2011
J
rated it:
(FROM JACKET)In David Sedaris's world, no one is safe and no cow is sacred. A manic cross between Mark Leyner, Fran Lebowitz, and the "National Enquirer, Sedaris's collection of essays is a rollicking tour through the national Zeitgeist: a do-it-yourself suburban dad saves money by performing homw surgery; a man who is loved too much flees the heavyweight champion of the world; a teenage suicide tries to incite a lynch mob at her funeral; a bitter Santa abuses elves.
David Sedaris made More...
David Sedaris made More...
May 07, 2011
Kevin
rated it:
At first I was alternating this book with short stories from Philip K. Dick. I couldn't handle PKD's total absence of characters, and Sedaris's stories that were ultimately about nothing but character were a great substitute. Then, of course, I would tire of the blaring ego and introspection in Sedaris's stories and go back to something that wasn't just navel-gazing.
By the end of this book, though, I'd finally started to warm to what Sedaris was doing, and some of the later shorts d More...
By the end of this book, though, I'd finally started to warm to what Sedaris was doing, and some of the later shorts d More...
Nov 03, 2010
Ayse
rated it:
Funny, but the sort of precociously unaware tone of the main character/narrators in many of the stories becomes a bit gimmicky after a while. The story structure become predictable - character starts out sounding entirely reasonable while griping about something or describing a situation, character rambles on as things happen to/around them and based on their reactions to these events we start to realize they might not be all that reasonable, cut to punchline in which character reveals themselve
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Nov 26, 2010
jennifer
rated it:
A book of short stories and essays that cover all kinds of subjects. It includes his most famous essay, "The SantaLand Diaries", about Sedaris' stint as a Christmas elf at the Herald Square Macy's. His short stories include the very funny "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 2", written by a young man who can apply the word "homophobia" to about anything, including his boyfriend. The title story is about a guy who finds the angry letters his mother had written,
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Jul 14, 2010
Jerry
rated it:
I had heard about David Sedaris for a while but I had never read any of his books before. This was the first book of his that I've read and I enjoyed it for the most part. The book is split up into two parts: the first part is fictional short-stories and the second is non-fiction stories/essays.
Between the two, I liked the non-fiction stories/essays in the back part of the book more. I found those to be more funny. "Santaland Diaries" was awesome. (That by itself is five-st More...
Between the two, I liked the non-fiction stories/essays in the back part of the book more. I found those to be more funny. "Santaland Diaries" was awesome. (That by itself is five-st More...
Oct 25, 2010
Crystal
rated it:
I read 90% of this last evening after dinner. I was reading the first few essays thinking...what the hell....this is not like any of his other books. This is the 3rd Sedaris book I've read. I absolutely loved Naked and When You're Engulfed in Flames. This book starts off with a bunch of fictional short stories and then is followed up by a small group of essays in the normal style of the author's work. The book is outlandish and quite funny but STILL...its not as funny as the other 2 books of his
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Dec 16, 2009
Jason
rated it: 
the classic first book of stories from one of america's premiere living humorists. dark, twisted, cringe-inducing at times, you'll nonetheless find yourself laughing out loud on almost every page here. a great, great introduction to sedaris' work.
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May 01, 2011
Greg
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I could hear all of these stories being delivered in David Sedaris' distinct "gossipy mother" voice he does during live shows. Which is true of all of his stories to an extent, but it's especially distinct in Barrel Fever, wherein every story is heavily dependent on gossip and silly, exaggerated self-importance. Every fiction piece is either a first-person narration or in the form of a letter/speech/address. And really, every protagonist is essentially just Sedaris in slightly varying
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Sep 28, 2011
Michele
rated it:
"A collection of stories and essays by humorist and NPR commentator David Sedaris based upon his own experiences and the hidden perversity that can be found in Anytown, U.S.A. Here are images and blasphemies that nice people don't dare look at--blatantly exposed and told with the clear, casual voice of intimate knowledge. Sedaris' humor is born of compassion and his tales range from the sharing of cheery Christmas letters featuring infanticide, to experiences of the Gay and Famous (Charlton
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Dec 01, 2010
Nicolemauerman
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I reread this book for bookclub and thought I give a few of my thoughts.
This book is good, not Sedaris' best, but not his worst. This book starts with short stories and ends with four personal essays. Some of these stories can be found in "Holidays on Ice" so if you have already read this one, some of the stories might be redundant (but some of these are my favorite stories).
I have read this before and picking it up the second or third time I was surprised More...
This book is good, not Sedaris' best, but not his worst. This book starts with short stories and ends with four personal essays. Some of these stories can be found in "Holidays on Ice" so if you have already read this one, some of the stories might be redundant (but some of these are my favorite stories).
I have read this before and picking it up the second or third time I was surprised More...
Sep 12, 2011
Lauren
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I LOVE David Sedaris. His books are some of the only ones I've ever read that have actually gotten me to laugh out loud. I am going to get to see him in October, so I thought I'd do a little reading to prep for it, and went looking for the books he'd written that I hadn't gotten around to reading yet. This was one of them. I really enjoyed the essays, but what this book showed me is that I like his essays more than his fiction. The stories were good, but my hopes were too high, and they didn't l
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Jan 28, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
No secret, I'm in love with David Sedaris.
And this is my FAVORITE book by him. Not quite as well known as "Dress Your Family..." and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" (or even "Naked"), I still believe this is Sedaris' best work.
Sedaris has a way of telling a story. I have no doubt these instances happened to him, but I can only imagine he uses his artistic license to make the stories even more hilarious and witty. Particularly the stories about growi More...
And this is my FAVORITE book by him. Not quite as well known as "Dress Your Family..." and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" (or even "Naked"), I still believe this is Sedaris' best work.
Sedaris has a way of telling a story. I have no doubt these instances happened to him, but I can only imagine he uses his artistic license to make the stories even more hilarious and witty. Particularly the stories about growi More...
Jul 05, 2011
Ethan
rated it:
The most charitable thing I can say is there's a variety of humor that escapes me--an insistent deadpan, a piling of irony upon irony that's had about a twenty-year run in the U.S., and is undeniably popular.
But I don't feel charitable. Sedaris is another emperor without clothes, this book is a laughless chore, and all I could do was rub my eyes in disbelief at the NYT's positive blurb on the back cover. And yes, I've skimmed Naked and Me Talk Pretty, and it's more of the same. It's More...
But I don't feel charitable. Sedaris is another emperor without clothes, this book is a laughless chore, and all I could do was rub my eyes in disbelief at the NYT's positive blurb on the back cover. And yes, I've skimmed Naked and Me Talk Pretty, and it's more of the same. It's More...
Jul 21, 2009
Yvette
rated it:
My first introduction to David Sedaris in the late 90s was "Holidays on Ice," which I absolutely loved. I've read most of his books or listened to them as audiobooks, and the guy is hilarious and has been one of my favorite authors/essayists for years. Somehow I'd never picked up Barrel Fever, so I finally did.
The stories and essays were weird, raunchy, and sometimes pushed me out of my (relatively wide) comfort zone. There were laugh out loud moments to some stories, but More...
The stories and essays were weird, raunchy, and sometimes pushed me out of my (relatively wide) comfort zone. There were laugh out loud moments to some stories, but More...
May 12, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
3.5 stars. This was David Sedaris's first published collection of short stories and essays. As a consequence, it's a bit difficult for someone (like me) who has read all of his subsequent writings to go back to the very beginning. In Barrel Fever, Sedaris's voice is not quite what most of us are now accustomed to. The wry, self-deprecating tone is still there, but the delivery is nowhere near as sharp as we see it in Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, etc. The best two pieces in this collection are
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