Rob's review of When You Are Engulfed in Flames

When You Are Engulfed in Flames When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by David Sedaris
156533
Rob's review  
rating: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
bookshelves: 2008, anthology, bedside, own, vermont
recommended for: if you thought "Dress Your Family..." was a misstep for Mr. Sedaris (or his publisher)
status: Read in July, 2008

A solid ★★★★ and damn near close to ★★★★★ that we'll settle for ★★★★½. But then again, I'm a serious Sedaris fiend.

When You Are Engulfed In Flames makes Sedaris' previous collection, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, seem like a disaster, a complete train wreck. Which is unfair because I think that Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is a strong collection with some exemplary essays. And also because I get the feeling that it was a more personal werk for him, that he's a bit more exposed and vulnerable in those essays.

Thematically, When You Are Engulfed In Flames is a reprise of Me Talk Pretty One Day -- highly focused on language and style, on the humanity of humiliation and (to echo some other reviewers) those dark places where our sentimentality tends to get the best of us. But it's a counterpoint melody to Me Talk Pretty One Day -- arrogant where the other was modest, chagrined where the other took delight.

...more
Like this review?   yes   (2 people liked it)  flag



comments (showing 1-1 of 1) (1 new)

dateDown_arrow    newest »

message 1: by Rob (new)
07/08/2008 05:43PM


back to top

all of Rob's books »