When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
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Book Reviews of When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Book Review: 'Flames' a Surprise Treat from 'This American Life' host
Summary: 4 Stars
Book Review: Walking with Woody Allen and David Sedaris
Summary: 3 Stars
I had seen "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" by David Sedaris on numerous previous trips to the book store. It's the cover that caught my eye each time - an impressionist human skull with a smoldering hand-rolled cigarette clenched in its teeth. (Little did I know till later that this was a Van Gogh painting) Knowing nothing of the author, or the subject matter, I nonetheless held the hardcover volume in my hands willing to try it on the basis of the cover art alone. Perhaps it was the recession, or something that came along to divert my attention, I always returned it to the shelf and moved on.
Until this summer, that is. It's a bit of a tradition of mine when at the shore to stop in a boardwalk or near-the-beach book store and pick up some summer reading for those cool ocean breeze evenings. And at such an occasion, there again was the skull, beckoning me closer. By this time the transition to paperback had happened, so the financial stars aligned for me to actually purchase it.
I tell you this to drive home what my thoughts were when I started reading. I had no idea that David Sedaris was already an author of some renown, or that his pieces appear in the New Yorker, or that he appeared regularly on National Public Radio. I'm not sure what I expected, maybe something deeply dark and sinister. It was a blank canvas. But of course what I discovered is the slightly off-beat and different world of Mr. Sedaris.
After reading the book as I try to rationalize Mr. Sadaris, what I've arrived at is that he is sort of a very gay version of Woody Allen. And I do mean very gay, as Mr. Sedaris's homosexuality is front and center in many of the pieces. But the neurosis and borderline narcissism of Mr. Allen is right there as well. Imagine a very different take on a movie scene with Mr. Allen and Diane Keaton - they are walking through the streets of New York, as Mr. Allen unburdens himself to Ms. Keaton:
WA: So then he invited me into his apartment - I was terrified.
DK: So, what happened next?
WA: Well we sat down and had a drink, and then he asked me if I'd like him to give me a shotgun.
DK: A shotgun? You mean when he blows pot smoke into your mouth?
WA: Well yeh, he had to explain that. At first I thought he was suggesting we drive out to some backwoods place in New Jersey. I was so embarrassed...
A lot of "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" reads like this, and these are the stories that mostly lay limp on the page. Recountings of various family and school/work situations, some punctuated with occasional funny punch-lines that ultimately have the feel of dinner conversations that have gone on a bit too long. So many of these pieces seem to have been written in a style where the intent is for them to be spoken aloud to an audience, rather than as literary works in their own right.
But not everything falls into this category. There are moments of true inspired greatness, and it seems these heights are attained when Mr. Sedaris lets go the template of the talk-show speaker, and lets his mind wander. By far the best piece to illustrate this is "Memento Mori", which I've reread several times and still laugh as hard as the first time. Here, a human skeleton that hangs in his home (a bizarre birthday request from his partner) begins to speak to him, in a twisted sort of modern retelling of the Poe's Tell Tale Heart. It is an exceptional piece, truly warped and twisted in a Monty Python-esque sort of way, and demonstrates the potential that Mr. Sedaris has to take things to a truly different level. There are several other very good pieces as well - "Town & Country", and "Aerial" to name a couple.
Which brings me back to Woody Allen.
Most of Mr. Allen's work is not exceptional. In many ways, he makes the same movie over and over again, each just a slightly different neurotic take on relationships. But we collectively forgive Mr. Allen these misfires, because he has an ability to occasionally envision something really unique, and takes us to a cinematically special place with films that forever remain with us. We wait for these, and relish them when they arrive. A short list I readily think of would include "The Purple Rose of Cairo", "Radio Days", and "Zelig". This is not Woody Allen the neurotic, but the cracked-smile satirical genius who can take us all with him to delight in his special world.
I'd like to see Mr. Sedaris take this step. He's clearly capable of it. Why should his books just be a collection of bits and pieces targeted to live audiences? Let's see a coherent piece that makes sense as a novel, where he can just let go with his quirky and truly funny worldview, and leave the stereotypical baggage at home. It would be a pleasure to read, if it happens.
For now, three stars seems to suffice for this effort. There were great moments, but they were packed between a lot of table conversation that was pretty much forgettable.
Book Review: Competent, But Not His Best
Summary: 3 Stars
I disclose up front that I am a huge Sedaris fan. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" was one of the most acidly funny books I ever read, and his short story "The Santaland Diaries" is nothing less than a masterpiece. And, I do not expect Sedaris to be "funny." Much of his most elegant prose, especially about his family, is not. But I admit to being very disappointed in "When You Are Engulfed in Flames."
I cannot explain exactly why I was disappointed. It's not that the writing, overall, was bad. It was just not terribly interesting. And while I got the point of tales like his companion, Hugh, proving his love by treating a noisome boil, for example, the world-weary, catty observational humor and the high-strung emotionalism just largely fell flat this time, almost sounding contrived. And the last tale about quitting smoking in Tokyo was, in my opinion, a stream of consciousness nightmare. And overall, there is a gloom settled over these pages. Since this was Sedaris' "mid-life crisis" book, I cannot object to that overmuch, but the sometime artless joylessness made "Engulfed" a numbing chore.
But, the book has side-splitting and thoughtful gems, too. The tale of Mrs. Peacock, the smelly babysitter from hell, the external catheter called "The Stadium Pal," and a harrowing piece about the nature of guilt and shame when he befriends an old sex offender shunned by society are Sedaris at his vintage best. Funny, but always thought provoking.
So, on balance, half the book is wonderful, half less so. If you are a Sedaris fan, you will enjoy it, but be prepared for some odd forays that do not work well. If you are new to Sedaris, this is not the book for you. "Naked," "Barrel Fever," and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" are where your attention should be.
Recommended, but with noted reservations.
Book Review: Not really sure if it is supposed to be humor or satire?
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought David Sedaris's "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" at the airport because I needed something to read on the plane. I had recalled seeing some good reviews of his books and they seemed to be quite popular. I am not sure if his little vignettes into his life are supposed to be humorous or satirical. I think one professional reviewer described his genre as "quirky memoir". I guess that fits. I do know it took until page 211 to get an actual, out loud laugh from me. The author was describing how he tormented his sisters when he was younger by telling them just before bed that a particular spider they had seen earlier in the day would likely find them again that night. I can relate to that. I think a lot of my problem with the book is that I just cannot relate to the life of a gay man with, essentially, an East Coast upbringing. I think it is the same reason I could never really get into Sex and the City; I just can't relate to a group of mature women looking for romance in a cosmopolitan setting. There were a few more laugh out load moments after that, but mostly the stories just seemed a bit contrived and the author just a bit too sarcastic and whiny. By comparison, I am now reading "Driving Like Crazy" by P.J. O'Rourke and that has got me laughing my rear end off. I think if you really want to read someone who is funny try Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Anthony Bourdain or even Michael Pollan who can turn a wry, witty phrase just as subtly as flipping a fried egg with chopsticks.Book Review: quirky and fun for a sedaris newbie
Summary: 3 Stars
this was my first Sedaris book and although not totally blown away, it was definitely entertaining and good fun. i listened to the audio version, which is narrated by Sedaris himself and although this is not an old book (pub. 2008), the dry sarcasm and tone of his voice was reminiscent of an older style of stand up comedy.
the book is written in short stories of various happenings in Sedaris's life, including babysitting experiences of his younger days, what it what like going public about being gay, his crazy neighbors (which i can completely relate to!) and a more recent effort to quit smoking. there were definite highs and lows in the stories, with some absolutely hysterical laugh out loud moments in between. some stories held my interest more than others, notably That's Amore and The Smoking Section, but regardless, it was worth the time spent and i would probably pick up another Sedaris book someday.