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A review by mattyvreads
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This is an underrated collection from David Sedaris. Great writing. Smart, funny. Had some laugh out loud moments.
Sedaris sometimes uses shocking language as a method to make fun of ignorant or repugnant people, but in practice, it just comes off as him using outdated or harmful language. His use of the N word and the R word, even in quote, are jarring in this book.
Take that away, and it’s a really well-written, hilarious, heartfelt, and occasionally moving piece of literature.
I particularly enjoy “Road Trips”, “That’s Amore”, “Solution to Saturday’s Puzzle”, and “Crybaby.”
Sedaris sometimes uses shocking language as a method to make fun of ignorant or repugnant people, but in practice, it just comes off as him using outdated or harmful language. His use of the N word and the R word, even in quote, are jarring in this book.
Take that away, and it’s a really well-written, hilarious, heartfelt, and occasionally moving piece of literature.
I particularly enjoy “Road Trips”, “That’s Amore”, “Solution to Saturday’s Puzzle”, and “Crybaby.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia