When You Are Engulfed in Flames

David Sedaris is a writer who appreciates the finer things in life. The finer things we either ignore or simply don't see on a day-to-day basis. Throw in a dripping glob of neuroses and an erudite air of resignation and you too can arrive at the astute observations he so dutifully illustrates in his latest book, When You are Engulfed in Flames.

I think of Sedaris as an unconventional connoisseur of sorts. From sweat angels to the acumen of easily procuring dishwashing jobs, Stadium Pals, flaming mice, husbandry for spiders named "Big Chief Tommy", confronting airplane irritants, and finally to "finishing" smoking while learning Japanese, his musings evoke a nostalgia for times and things past never yet experienced.

This particular collection of essays centers around movement. Specifically regarding travel, Sedaris shares his experiences either en route to or upon arrival of the multitude of destinations to which he's traveled, some foreign, some domestic, all bizarre. Whether it be Japan, Thailand, France, the West Coast, Chicago, North Carolina, New York or wherever-have-you, his stories are ironic in that they all focus not on his destination, but rather the inner processing of his immediate surroundings, most notably his melancholy paranoia and courageous cynicism. It's more about the people he meets and his subsequent detachment from the normal workings of the world, not just the places he visits. It is the journey apparently, not the destination that matters. Sedaris' latest book is sublimely resigned, a comforting read for when the good times are indeed literally killing you.

I have to say I can't see what all the fuss was about with this book. It is barely entertaining. A bit insipid. Pleasant for a little while, like a tepid bath, but then you want to get out of it.

I have found that if I wouldn't want the author of a book of essays as a dinner guest, I won't like the book. The author of this comes across as shallow, superficial, and whiny - not your ideal dinner guest. Saying negative things about yourself is only funny if the audience DOESN'T believe its true. I admit I only got about 1/3 of the way through this book; it just didn't seem likely to improve THAT much in last 2/3.

I would instead recommend "What on Earth Have I Done?: Stories, Observations, and Affirmations" by Robert Fulghum as a much more positive and enjoyable book.

Normally I love David Sedaris and can't wait for his books to come out, but this one was a disappointment. It's very dark and moody and it took me forever to finish it. Not his best work.

David Sedaris
Little Brown and Co., 2008
ISBN: 9780316143479
3 Stars
Not my style...
David Sedaris style is understated humor. When Your Are Engulfed In Flames is a collection of his short stories and essays. I have not read any of Mr. Sedaris' previous books. I did find a few humorous moments, but nothing that made me laugh aloud or even brought a little chuckle. However, that does not make Sedaris a bad writer; it makes his style not my style.