When you are Engulfed in Flames

Locations
Call Number: 817 Se, Adult Book / Nonfiction / Literary Arts / Humor / Sedaris, David
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	817 Se	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	817 Se	4-week checkout	Due 05-21-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Literary Arts / Humor / Sedaris, David	4-week checkout	Due 05-13-2024

It's catching -- Aeriel -- All the beauty you will ever need -- Old faithful -- Town and country -- Mementi mori -- Road trips -- Keeping up -- The understudy -- Adult figures charging towards a concrete toadstool -- In the waiting room -- This old house -- Solution to Saturday's puzzle -- The man in the hut -- The monster mash.
Once again, David Sedaris brings together a collection of essays so uproariously funny and profoundly moving that his legions of fans will fall for him once more. He tests the limits of love when Hugh lances a boil from his backside, and pushes the boundaries of laziness when, finding the water shut off in his house in Normandy, he looks to the water in a vase of fresh cut flowers to fill the coffee machine. From armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds to the awkwardness of having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a sleeping fellow passenger on a plane, David Sedaris uses life's most bizarre moments to reach new heights in understanding love and fear, family and strangers. Culminating in a brilliantly funny account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris's sixth essay collection will be avidly anticipated.--From publisher description.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

When You Are Engulfed in Flames submitted by Annimatronic on October 30, 2009, 7:27pm If you are familiar with David Sedaris's style of complacent self-deprecation, then you are in for more of the same in his newest collection of essays. Sedaris has a uniquely entertaining point of view (as does his sister, Amy).

Keep in mind, though, it is more of the same. Sedaris never strays too far than his circle of friends and family. And though Sedaris has led an interesting life (as a gay North Carolinian former meth user now living in France with his long-time partner), it's easy to get a little too familiar with his patterns.

If you are at all familiar with his appearance's on public radio's This American Life, it helps if you imagine him reading the stories to you. His timing and voice play a big role in pushing the humor of his stories.

All in all, an entertaining collection. But it may be time for Sedaris to expand his themes.

Social commentary through humor submitted by Jen Chapin-Smith on August 28, 2012, 11:49am Humor author David Sedaris told Jon Stewart that he travelled to Japan in order to quit smoking because he had heard that the culture shock might help. While there he read strange suggestions and safety tips for travelers, such as what you should do if you are engulfed in flames (sadly, the brochure he read gave the wrong advice), hence the book title.
David Sedaris' stories about his life are simultaneously hilarious and sad with indirect social commentary throughout.
Now an openly gay man living in Paris with his husband, Sedaris also contributes to NPR's "This American Life."
His sister Amy Sedaris also has a book, TV show and movie ("Strangers with Candy," co-starring Stephen Colbert) at the AADL.

David Sedaris submitted by leoniemmm on June 30, 2014, 11:07am this collection of personal essays is a joy to read, as always. The themes continue close to heart with Sedaris' family and friends, but there are plenty of new and enjoyable adventures. I laughed throughout the whole thing!!!

David Sedaris submitted by KOH on August 12, 2017, 7:42pm This is more of his same old stuff, but his same old stuff is funny and entertaining as always!