heyitstim's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
If I can ever write something 1% as good as "In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried", I will die a happy man.
"Cosmopolitan" was incredibly strong as well
"Cosmopolitan" was incredibly strong as well
sarahbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of the short story compilation, be it by one writer or, as in this case, a variety of different authors. I love David Sedaris (I first heard of this book when I saw him speak on a tour to promote "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim"). He has a keen storytelling ability, and a sharp sense for impeccable writing in others, also.
notoriouszoe's review against another edition
4.0
Not Sedaris's writing, but a collection chosen by him. They were good stories, but might be disappointing if you're in the mood for Sedaris instead.
menniemenace's review
3.0
That "Bullet to the Brain" story is so good. Everything else wasn't really that impressive.
galentorrey's review against another edition
4.0
entertaining, funny and twisted---as always. read this in one day...quick read.
murph_the_serf's review against another edition
2.0
Short story collections are usually hit or miss given the form itself but this collection falls much more often on the "miss" side. I'm not sure what made Sedaris choose these pieces to include other than better works by these normally very adept authors. The Dorothy Parker and Jhumpa Lauri pieces stand out as two of the worthwhile pieces but overall I would skip this and just read a Sedaris-penned book.
nicolec417's review against another edition
3.0
I decided to stop this with two stories left. The collection had some really strong pieces, and I can see how David Sedaris is inspired by some of these, but others were dull and just haven't stayed in my brain long enough to make an impression.
pipercurda's review against another edition
3.0
sedaris is one of my favorites and I mistakenly thought this was another of his books. in fact, it is a collection of essays and short stories that are some of sedaris’ favorites and, upon learning this, i was still just as intrigued to read the words that someone I enjoy enjoys.
some of the stories were great, some were less great. there wasn’t much cohesiveness, though I’m not sure that should be expected of an anthology. more than anything, it was good exposure to some more prolific writers that i’ve yet to read.
would give 3.5 stars if possible.
some of the stories were great, some were less great. there wasn’t much cohesiveness, though I’m not sure that should be expected of an anthology. more than anything, it was good exposure to some more prolific writers that i’ve yet to read.
would give 3.5 stars if possible.
rhiannoncs's review against another edition
2.0
This was a fine collection - some stories I had read, most I hadn't. A lot of the selections are very much what one expects from the "literary short story" - starkly written stories about children learning a hard life lesson, adults struggling with the futility of daily existence, etc. Not that there's anything wrong with those kinds of stories per se, but I sort of felt like I had already read this book at least once a semester for the five years I worked on my English degree, if you know what I mean.
There were a couple of standouts for me, though - "The Best of Betty" springs to mind.
There were a couple of standouts for me, though - "The Best of Betty" springs to mind.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
One of the reasons that I love David Sedaris is that he shares my love of reading and books. In his introduction, Sedaris reflected about books and wrote that, in his opinion, "a good one would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit. This led to a kind of trance that made the dullest work, the dullest life, bearable." And he claimed that "I believed, and still do, that stories can save you." Exactly! David Sedaris wrote the introduction to this book and he has picked his favorite short stories to be enjoyed by readers. The authors are as varied as the stories and include Alice Munro, Dorothy Parker, Tobias Wolff, Lorrie Moore, Patricia Highsmith, and Flannery O'Connor. I picked up this book expecting it to be authored by David Sedaris and, after my initial surprise, found myself engrossed in the wonderful short fiction.