Status
Checked out
Due 29 May 2023
Genres
Description
From the perils of French dentistry to the eating habits of the Australian kookaburra, from the squat-style toilets of Beijing to the particular wilderness of a North Carolina Costco, we learn about the absurdity and delight of a curious traveler's experiences. Whether railing against the habits of litterers in the English countryside or marveling over a disembodied human arm in a taxidermist's shop, Sedaris takes us on side-splitting adventures that are not to be forgotten.
User reviews
LibraryThing member antonomastic
This book was funny, as many of David Sedaris's books are but I found myself not laughing as much as I do upon a first read of his work. This is due to the insertion of fiction pieces in between the memoir anecdotes, which was kind of jarring. He did the same thing in Barrel Fever which is probably
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my least favorite of his books. These short stories were written in the same tone as his non-fiction and until he identifies a characteristic or trait that he doesn't share with the fiction narrator, it can be impossible to tell the difference. His memoir writing is his strength and I would have liked to see more of it instead of the weaker short fiction pieces which were often very broadly drawn and approached a level of caricature that approached overdone. I would have given this four stars if it had stuck to the memoir format. Show Less
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
I think I've finally had my fill of David Sedaris's essays. Until now, I've found them like a train wreck - knowing I'm not going to like what I discover, but daring to take a peek anyway.
I hated this book on a visceral level. Beside the sufficient and gag-worthy phlegm, feces, and pee in this
She's out of her wheelchair finally, but if it were up to me, I'd put her back into it.
After the funeral, scores of perfectly dreadful people came by the house.
"You know," I said, "I hear those words and automatically think, Handicapped or, Learning disabled, but aren't a lot of your students just assholes?"
Just as an FYI...these examples are by far not the worst of them.
If this brand of humor turns readers on, I'll be glad to allow such other readers to wallow in and amuse themselves with this kind of writing. For me, I'm calling it quits.
I hated this book on a visceral level. Beside the sufficient and gag-worthy phlegm, feces, and pee in this
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book, there was enough other written material to offend anyone (assuming that you're not one of those reviewers, like Juliana Barbossa of Associated Press, who call David Sedaris "the funniest guy around"). I don't think humor at the expense of another's weakness is funny. It's not even faintly humorous.She's out of her wheelchair finally, but if it were up to me, I'd put her back into it.
After the funeral, scores of perfectly dreadful people came by the house.
"You know," I said, "I hear those words and automatically think, Handicapped or, Learning disabled, but aren't a lot of your students just assholes?"
Just as an FYI...these examples are by far not the worst of them.
If this brand of humor turns readers on, I'll be glad to allow such other readers to wallow in and amuse themselves with this kind of writing. For me, I'm calling it quits.
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LibraryThing member Oreillynsf
Not bad, but not as good as previous collections. There's a deeper darkness to this set of essays that for me was a bit offputting. It has a few essays, though, that are laugh out loud. If you are a Sedaris fan, you won't regret buying it. If you have never read David Sedaris before, start with
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Holidays on Ice or When You Are Engulfed in Flames Show Less
LibraryThing member Jspig
I'm rating this against other Sedaris books. It's not as laugh out loud hilarious as Naked or Me Talk Pretty One Day, but the stories are mostly funny and heartfelt.
My favorite stories were about his childhood, family and travels. Highlights were Memory Laps (David's time on his childhood country
Sedaris also includes several fictional bits, some relating to politics. These stories were fun and bordered on ridiculous.
My favorite stories were about his childhood, family and travels. Highlights were Memory Laps (David's time on his childhood country
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club's swim team), and The Happy Place about his first colonoscopy.Sedaris also includes several fictional bits, some relating to politics. These stories were fun and bordered on ridiculous.
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LibraryThing member triscuit
If I could give this book six stars, I would. I laughed out loud at least once every two pages and when I reached the end I started it over again. Never met a Sedaris book I didn't like and this one is a combination of the best parts of all the others - brutally honest but loving tales of his
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father; hilarious observations of life in France and England; his aversion to Chinese food; the endearing insoucciance of French dentistry; and 6 monologues from the lower echelons of American vox populi. Show Less
LibraryThing member burnit99
I don't know anybody who covers quite the same range as David Sedaris. He writes these wildly funny reminiscences of growing up, and observations of life as we know it that you'd have to look at sideways if they came in over your TV. Dave Barry came close. Maybe if you mixed Dave Barry with Mark
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Twain. But David Sedaris occasionally comes up with something that resonates with a sad poignancy, and you have to wonder what he could write if he tried to use only the not-funny hemisphere of his brain. All I know for sure is, if I ever go on a gastronomic tour of the world's great cuisines, I'm crossing China right off my list. Show Less
LibraryThing member freelancer_frank
This is a book about the trials of misanthropy. A somewhat patchy ragbag of witticisms, it is a triumph of form over content. Sedaris turns in humor like a technocrat - occasionally hitting the mark but too often sliding into the wilds of cynicism and self-pity.
LibraryThing member jvandehy
David Sedaris tells stories about his experiences. The stories are not that interesting, but they are the fodder for interesting writing. Mr. Sedaris is a video camera that gets turned on intermittently and records out of a beat up backpack from odd angles and questionable focus and filtering. The
and records some very average stuff
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treasures are the life experiences that really would not be caught any other way but by this haphazard recording. and records some very average stuff
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LibraryThing member lanewillson
Now this is the David Sedaris I've enjoyed so much! It's rare for me to read a writer's work back to back. Normally my attention span is far too short to create the momentum needed to stay with the same type of book, let alone same writer.
In part because of when it became available from the
The voice of Sedaris is, at least it seems to me, genuine when writing about his own life, and his interaction with the world around him. Even though there are incredible differences between his life and my own, if for no other reason than I am one of the dreaded “conservatives” for which he holds such disdain and disgust, his writing makes his experiences seem familiar to me. In his writing and its space in my mind that which is common fills in the spaces where differences might be found. Even the thing about David that frightens me most, his meth use, still leads to a place of understanding.
He never uses the word addicted or addict, and I no right to diagnose him. He is the only person who can define David Sedaris as someone addicted with the noted exception of his teeth. Appearntly having had all of David and his meth they could handle, the teeth abandoned him before he was 50 years old. Like women and children on the Titanic, teeth are the only part of the body met with understanding at their fleeing the human vessel. All other organs great and small, liver, spleen, heart and nails, are doomed to go down with the ship.
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is the newest of his writings, and my newest favorite.
In part because of when it became available from the
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library, but also in part because I was so shocked how little I liked the Sedaris work I had just finished, I jumped right into Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls praying that my last experience was a fluke, but still fearing there would be a "Say it ain't so Joe" moment.The voice of Sedaris is, at least it seems to me, genuine when writing about his own life, and his interaction with the world around him. Even though there are incredible differences between his life and my own, if for no other reason than I am one of the dreaded “conservatives” for which he holds such disdain and disgust, his writing makes his experiences seem familiar to me. In his writing and its space in my mind that which is common fills in the spaces where differences might be found. Even the thing about David that frightens me most, his meth use, still leads to a place of understanding.
He never uses the word addicted or addict, and I no right to diagnose him. He is the only person who can define David Sedaris as someone addicted with the noted exception of his teeth. Appearntly having had all of David and his meth they could handle, the teeth abandoned him before he was 50 years old. Like women and children on the Titanic, teeth are the only part of the body met with understanding at their fleeing the human vessel. All other organs great and small, liver, spleen, heart and nails, are doomed to go down with the ship.
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is the newest of his writings, and my newest favorite.
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LibraryThing member alanna1122
As a long time David Sedaris fan I was really looking forward to this book. It has been a while since I have read one of his since I didn't read his last book which I believe was completely a work of fiction.
I really enjoyed this book. When David Sedaris is funny - there really isn't anyone who is
Some of these stories will become classics - I loved the early one about his dentist. There were others that I thought were really strong too.
But nestled among all the ones that I loved were some that I really disliked. I never like it when he expounds on his love for the macabre. It makes me really uncomfortable. I also could have done with out the gross out chapter about his trip to China. I thought the fiction pieces were not as strong as his essays. But even with this criticism I would still recommend this book to any fan of his work.
I really enjoyed this book. When David Sedaris is funny - there really isn't anyone who is
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funnier. I feel like after reading and listening to him on the radio for so many years that when I read his voice it is almost like the voice in my head takes on his voice. Some of these stories will become classics - I loved the early one about his dentist. There were others that I thought were really strong too.
But nestled among all the ones that I loved were some that I really disliked. I never like it when he expounds on his love for the macabre. It makes me really uncomfortable. I also could have done with out the gross out chapter about his trip to China. I thought the fiction pieces were not as strong as his essays. But even with this criticism I would still recommend this book to any fan of his work.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Essays making humor out of awkwardness and occasional pathos, especially when Sedaris discusses the cruelty of his father.
LibraryThing member SigmundFraud
This is the first Sedaris book I have read. I expected it to be funnier than it was. Not to say there wasn't some delicious humor in the book. It reads easily. The prose flows. I am tired of novels with faltering prose.
Worth a read if you have nothing better to do.
Worth a read if you have nothing better to do.
LibraryThing member diovival
I expect there will be more David Sedaris books appearing in my future. This was at times laugh out loud funny.
LibraryThing member CasualFriday
The latest essay collection from David Sedaris has some laugh-out-loud moments, but perhaps fewer than I would have wished. Sedaris does seem to get a little darker as he goes along. A bit about visiting Costco with his brother-in-law was screamingly funny, and as always, his take on travel and on
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language is a hoot. But there was some stuff about his childhood that came dangerously close to self-pity, to my ears anyway. And the first essay, in which a taxidermist sees into his soul and knows he wants to see grotesqueries – was funny, very funny, but also kind of telling. Like I said, dark. Show Less
LibraryThing member Pretear
Very funny, per usu. My favorite was the colonoscopy story. I listened to this on audio and I probably looked like a completely insane person walking around target laughing out loud with my headphones on.
LibraryThing member Daydrm
I always find it difficult to review a David Sedaris book. I love his writing and humor but explaining why leaves me starting and stopping sentences with a silly grin and a "you've just got to read the book yourself" shrug. If you have read Sedaris you get what I am saying. If you haven't, and you
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enjoy sarcastic, biting humor, then go grab any of his books now. This particular book is a collection of short stories that as best as I can tell are about Sedaris growing up in his highly unconventional home. This isn't a new subject for him but it is always an enjoyable ride as he describes his family and his insights. Show Less
LibraryThing member les121
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls is right up there with Sedaris’ best works. I utterly loved it.
LibraryThing member PeskyLibrary
(Book on tape review)
A new collection of essays by David Sedaris is always something I truly look forward to. Don’t read the book but DO LISTEN to it- you need to hear him telling the stories. These stories are funny but at times they do border on the line of bad taste. I don’t know how he
A new collection of essays by David Sedaris is always something I truly look forward to. Don’t read the book but DO LISTEN to it- you need to hear him telling the stories. These stories are funny but at times they do border on the line of bad taste. I don’t know how he
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does it but you have to laugh when he tells the story of his colonoscopy. The book ends with a strange couple of stories written for the FORENSICS speech contest where teenagers memorize a story and then tell the story before a panel of judges. -Chris, Staff- Show Less
LibraryThing member dtn620
Same old Sedaris, which is as much as I could have expected. I've got to hand it to him, he did make my commute to work pretty entertaining for a week since I was caught up on my book, internet justice, and snack podcasts.
LibraryThing member nivramkoorb
If you are a David Sedaris fan then you should enjoy this book. After his last fable book which was disappointing it was good to see him back to what we love best about him. If you haven't read any Sedaris books then this collection is not as funny as his earlier work but it is very good. One day I
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will have to listen to him on tape because I hear that is the best way to enjoy him. As it stands he is still one of our best humorists so if want a good laugh with a touch of poignancy then pick this book up. Show Less
LibraryThing member St.CroixSue
I love David Sedaris and I was enthralled with this book. I was entertained through two 20 below zero days, reading and wanting his quirky stories to go on forever. I find Sedaris masterful in turning everyday observations and encounters into uniquely humorous vignettes.
LibraryThing member Y2Ash
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls: Essays, etc is Sedaris's latest book of essays detailing the odd observations about his life. It is always refreshing to see life and all of its quirkiness through Sedaris filtered eyeglasses and continuing hilarious to hear about his unique childhood with his
As much as I like the essays, I liked the "etc." part a lot. The asides included Health-Care Freedoms and Why I Want my Country Back and Just a Quick E-mail. The former included a really good acronym for a profane word. The best, and possibly only, I've ever seen. Those little tangents are great for a giggle.
David Sedaris is in his 50's and I felt it. There was a kind of growth in Owls that was missing from his previous work. Essays are usually reflective but this bunch seemed particularly so. Perhaps it was because of such work like The Happy Place which he describes the events and the procedure of his colonoscopy or maybe it's because he mentioned it fifty times. Who knows? Either way, it was nice to see because I felt I grew up with him and these are the last dog days of summer.
I can't wait for his next one!
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family.As much as I like the essays, I liked the "etc." part a lot. The asides included Health-Care Freedoms and Why I Want my Country Back and Just a Quick E-mail. The former included a really good acronym for a profane word. The best, and possibly only, I've ever seen. Those little tangents are great for a giggle.
David Sedaris is in his 50's and I felt it. There was a kind of growth in Owls that was missing from his previous work. Essays are usually reflective but this bunch seemed particularly so. Perhaps it was because of such work like The Happy Place which he describes the events and the procedure of his colonoscopy or maybe it's because he mentioned it fifty times. Who knows? Either way, it was nice to see because I felt I grew up with him and these are the last dog days of summer.
I can't wait for his next one!
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LibraryThing member stuart10er
We heard David Sedaris at a reading in London earlier this year. Some of the stories in this book we heard first in the reading. Funny and well written, but these seem to be more surface scratching events than some earlier explorations of his family, his early life, times when things weren't as
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cozy and comfortable as they clearly are now. A funny but safe viewing of comfortable middle-age. Show Less
LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
The humor of David Sedaris is something that will offend some (or perhaps many) people, but for the most part, I thoroughly enjoy it. This collection of essays and various other pieces was read by the author, and that made it all the more enjoyable.
There is not too much profanity, but a great deal
Mr. Sedaris can take the most mundane subjects and make me see them in a new light. He pokes fun at everyone around him, but not as much as he mocks himself. I don't often laugh out loud even when something tickles my funny bone, but I found myself doing that on more than one occasion with this audio presentation.
A couple of the stories were especially poignant, something I didn't expect. His story about loggerhead turtles will stay with me for a long time.
Although I haven't read or listened to everything the author wrote, I have read several of his works. One of them just didn't work for me, but whether that is because of my mindframe at the time or his, I cannot say. I'll continue to read what he has written and hope each work appeals as much to me as this collection did.
There is not too much profanity, but a great deal
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of irreverence, and I would suggest this work for “mature audiences.” If you are especially conservative, you may not see the humor in much of what he has to say, but I loved his political opinions.Mr. Sedaris can take the most mundane subjects and make me see them in a new light. He pokes fun at everyone around him, but not as much as he mocks himself. I don't often laugh out loud even when something tickles my funny bone, but I found myself doing that on more than one occasion with this audio presentation.
A couple of the stories were especially poignant, something I didn't expect. His story about loggerhead turtles will stay with me for a long time.
Although I haven't read or listened to everything the author wrote, I have read several of his works. One of them just didn't work for me, but whether that is because of my mindframe at the time or his, I cannot say. I'll continue to read what he has written and hope each work appeals as much to me as this collection did.
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Very enjoyable and funny read! Sometimes, down right hilarious! I love the way Sedaris writes about his father and mother, and I'd go so far as to say that I would love to meet his pop! I also really enjoy the subtle and not so subtle bashing of the conservative right of this country! Bravo! May
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favorite in this collection is "Just A Quick E-mail" which is evil and nasty and just like some of my favorites of his from the past! Delicious! Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Humor — 2014)
Grammy Award (Nominee — 2014)
PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay (Finalist — 2014)
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2013)