Naked
by David Sedaris
★★☆
Sedaris is always funny, but this isn't one of my favorites of his. The stories are a bit more tragic than humorous and tend to highlight his family's dysfunction, but not in a good way. He’s poking fun at his life, but most of the things he discusses just aren’t funny, not even in his hands. He writes about hitchhiking with a handicapped girl, his alcoholic mother making fun of him with his teachers, his fear of people discovering he’s gay; all of which left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
I’ve been unable to stop laugh while reading some of his books, but this one barely gave me a few chuckles. Maybe the pain he felt was a bit too fresh when he wrote them, but they came across lacking in his usual cheeky sarcasm. I’d recommend his book Me Talk Pretty One Day, over this one.
7 comments:
Ah, see, this is the only Sedaris book I've read, and I wasn't especially interested in reading anything else of his afterwards. Even though everyone and their dog raved about him. But I must have chosen the wrong one to start with! Maybe I'll have to give him another chance.
Kathy - Definitely try another, Me Talk Pretty One Day is particularly good. He's not for everyone, but I think Naked is not a good representation of his best work.
The first book of his I read was Holidays on Ice, which was hysterical. I haven't 'read' any of the others but listened to the audio of this one and Me Talk Pretty One Day. I actually liked this one better than you but I think that was in large part because I was listening to him tell the stories. It put a whole lot more humanity into what are, as you point out, sad stories. To Kathy I would definitely recommend Holidays on Ice and I HIGHLY recommend it and his other books on audio (I checked them out from the library). He is a great storyteller.
Carl is so right about how hearing him read his own stuff really adds another dimension. And you are so right about this not being his best. I like Me Talk Pretty One Day all right, but I love Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim the most. His newer stuff tends to be better, if you ask me.
Holidays on Ice was absolutely hysterical! I need to re-read that one!
I've heard mixed reviews on this one -- will pick up Me Talk Pretty One Day instead, thanks!
I have not read Sedaris although I have good things about his Me Talk Pretty One Day. I am sorry you did not enjoy this book much thoug!
Carl and Jeanne - So right! There is no better way to read Sedaris than through audio... unless you can see him live. Then it's even better.
Coffee and Jeanne - I really liked Dress Your Family and Holidays on Ice too. Those were some of the earliest I read of his. There's a lot of great stuff to choose from.
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