Rating:  Summary: Worth a chuckle Review: In an uneven series of stories Sedaris displays the same irony and sarcasm that make his bits on NPR so good. These are confessional stories about his childhood and early adulthood, and mostly are stuff you'd never want anyone to ever know about you or your family. Some of the stories really are outrageously funny. As a collection, it drags a bit. These stories suffer from the lack of the particular lilt of the voice which makes him so terrific on the radio. Without having heard it I suspect the audio version of this would be quite a bit more entertaining.
Rating:  Summary: Much better than I thought Review: I got this book for my birthday, and I was less than pleased at first: Autobiographical stories of death and other rather somber topics, sprinkled with humour - this was what I was promised at Dave Egger's "Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" - and even though that book WAS quite funny until the real book started, I didn't really connect to the humour.This is quite different here. Sedaris partly writes about stuff that could be rather tedious and boring, but which becomes interesting quickly even in the less outrageous stories pretty soon. I caught a few quizzical glances while laughing out loud in the subway twice - something that happens rarely to me (really !). I also liked Sedaris approach to autobiographical writing. He doesn't work in chronological order, and that is quite interesting, especially when certain angles appear in different stories again. I was particularly impressed by the story Ashes, which handles death absolutely non-sappy and yet heartbreaking. I'll be sure to check out Sedaris' other books - you should too.
Rating:  Summary: wow?! really? could it be?! Review: Naked tells such funny stories about David Saderis' life it's hard to believe! Starting from childhood when his neurotic mind forces him to lick light switches, to when he visists a nudist camp, this book is OUTRAGEOUS!!! Naked held some of the most ridiculous,original things I have ever read. Few books have held my attention like this. I kept finding myself lyling on the coutch reading instead of watching TV. For a while there, Naked was my TV. Joey-one false mover
Rating:  Summary: Naked by David Sedaris Review: Naked is my first book by David Sedaris and I was pleasantly surprised at how funny he is. His wit and humor provide many laugh out loud moments. In this series of essays, we learn about some of the author's trials from childhood through adulthood. He handles some pretty deep issues with a sense of humor, keeping them light and entertaining. In the end I found I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the latter half. His interaction with his mother and other members of the family, while somewhat dysfunctional, also manages to be touching and funny. As he moves into his teen years and becomes adventurous, we learn of his exploits in the art of hitchhiking and vacationing at a nudist colony. This book does have a lot of "bathroom" humor, so I wouldn't reccommend it for the easily offended reader. I have heard that Me Talk Pretty One Day is his finest yet, so will definitely read that one.
Rating:  Summary: It's the little things that count... Review: ...not only when it comes to being naked but also when it comes to writing a book. Sedaris not only has the capability to observe closely, he moreover succeeds in portraying details in well-crafted and enjoyable prose. While the book has some less interesting stories, it made me laugh out loud at other times. And the mother is simply one of the funniest characters ever.
Rating:  Summary: Very humorous memoirs Review: I had heard Sedaris speak at a local bookstore, and this collection of his was recommended highly to me. This recommendation proved an excellent one, as the book was one of the funniest things I had ever read. The memoir nature of the essays lends a lot to their humor, as many of the stories would seem contrived if not for the fact that they are true, or purported to be true.
Rating:  Summary: Nudity of the finest quality Review: Don't read this book in the company of other people. The first few times you burst into laughter, they may smile up at you with an inquisitive look, hoping to hear a short excerpt that gives them cause to do a bit of giggling themselves. The fiftieth time you do so is more likely to result in their carving out your tongue with the nearest sharp object. Fortunately, I was reading this at an airport, where every sharp object larger than a thumbtack had been scrupulously removed by the security personnel on the way in. If you enjoy humor that is as darkly twisted as it is sharp-witted, your sides are guaranteed to be hurting after the first chapter.
Rating:  Summary: Starts strong, finishes a little weaker Review: The best part of this collection of essays is the first half, the ones covering his childhood. They're funny in an offbeat and skewed way, and are easy to breeze through. Once Mr. Sedaris starts talking about his hitchhiking travels, the comedy subsides quite a bit. His last essay, Naked, was hard to get through; he tries to end with a triumphant message, but it falls flat. If you've heard him on PBS or seen The Santaland Diaries, you'll like this.
Rating:  Summary: Witty and relentless Review: Sedaris's witty and relentless observations make for an entertaining book that will keep readers laughing. I found the bathroom humor tiresome at times, but that pervades even some of the best books and movies today. Still, Sedaris stands above most writers of humor with his honesty and his keen, cruel sense of observation, especially in scenes like his excursion into nudism.
Rating:  Summary: THE MOST READABLE BOOK... AND THE FUNNIEST Review: When I bought this book I was apprehensive at first, as I went along reading this book it got better and better. I found myself laughing out loud all of the time. This book is my favorite of all the books I have ever read and is better than any other of his books. I know that every person that reads this book will recognize himself or herself in Davids world. It explores the base of his culturally challenged family with sharp wit and x-ray vision to the human psyche. Buy it for the betterment of yourself.
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