I realized some books back...that I don’t read Sedaris for the laughs, although he makes me laugh: I read him for his honesty ... What I admire most about Sedaris is that he examines aging with the same vigor, curiosity and grim glee that he showed in his earlier books, when he wrote about his younger self. He’s as alive and angry now as he was then; every year seems to be formative ... There are 28 essays in the book and, inevitably, some have more going for them, and more in them, than others ... Another reason I love reading Sedaris: He knits the present to the past so that they become the same thing; for him being alive has always been strange and atrocious, contradictory, unfair and hilarious.
If the scope is narrow, the Sedaris tone still charms, even as it advances to a state of crankiness that makes him look like a gay Larry David ... Which is to say, when it’s good it’s still good ... Beneath the whimsy, there has always been a savage side to Sedaris, and an even more deeply buried layer of sentiment ... As with so many pro curmudgeons, the impression one gets of Sedaris after reading him is of someone who feels things deeply and is probably, at root, a soppy guy.
Combines the freshness of speech with the elegance of writing — and is also extremely funny, even (or especially) when the subject matter is dark. With his eighth decade looming, Sedaris here understandably circles the subjects of age and mortality ... Sedaris subscribes more to the view of a writing tutor he once had who told him: 'The only rule of anything in comedy is that you should always be as tasteless as possible.' Put funny first and the wisdom and warmth can follow. However much his imitators crib from him, that’s the insight that makes Sedaris the best in the game.
With his laconic delivery, Sedaris lures the reader into believing that the topic under discussion might be unremarkable, a you-and-me-in-this-together moment. But then, given Sedaris’ worldview and world weariness, eventually a knotty twist or spicy dash is delivered with the realization that Sedaris’ land is unparalleled, and its people are peerless.
Such a delight to read — compelling, insightful, funny and powerful at many moments too in its message ... I fell in love with this book right from the opening pages ... If you haven’t read him before, start with this book — then go back to read and listen to all the rest of his stuff. You’ll be glad you did!
Funny and heartfelt ... Throughout, Sedaris’s wit and keen awareness of life’s absurdities are on full display. These essays are among the best of his career.
