When I first started reading this book, I found myself disappointedly thinking that it was just more of the same from David Sedaris - stories that either make you laugh out loud or make you cringe (or more often both). Don't get me wrong - he's still funny - but I was expecting more from this one... some evolution in style or content. I liked his earlier books because they were more raw, the stories a bit more unexpected. The beginning of this one felt a little recycled, and I was ready to be done reading it.

But then about two-thirds of the way through, the stories lost their formulaic feeling, and an unexpected poignancy crept in. I ended up really enjoying the the last few stories, in particular the last, titled The Smoking Section.

I think the editors started out with the lightest stories and saved the best for the end. I wish I'd read it backwards.