Rating: 
Summary: He's better on the radio
Review: So I'm at [a bookstore] and I figure I'd pick up a quickfree read while I drank an italian soda and munched a strudel. Freeread being a few bits from DS' Barrel Fever. It's not really quite the same sort of material that I'm accustomed to from This American Life et al. The opening piece is a homoerotic fantasy about DS's codependent relationships with various celebrities and frankly falls a bit flat. I only read three pieces selected at random & I'm comparing them to cherry-picked pieces on TAL, but it seemed to fall short of my expectations. I'd certainly recommend seeing for yourself before ordering this book blind. What I read far from measured up to the various radio pieces that anyone reading this is likely to be familiar with.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the timid at heart, but brutally funny.
Review: WARNING! This book is not for the timid or the squeemish or the easliy offended or the... HOWEVER, the humor is break-open-your-chest-laughing, wash-the-day-away funny. Some of the stories I have re-read several times, and my gal is getting sick of me trying to read them to her, because I cannot. I start and wind up falling off the bed laughing.Highly recommend. He's a genius. Just my twisted sort of humor.
Rating: 
Summary: You'll laugh out loud
Review: If you liked NAKED, you'll like BARREL FEVER. David Sedaris succeeds at fiction almost as well as he does at non-fiction. All the stories in this book prove that Sedaris is funny as hell and that he can write pretty darned good too. Just thinking about the story "The Last You'll Hear from Me" still makes me laugh just thinking about it. I want "The Bible says that it's all right to cast the first stone if someone dead is telling you to do it" engraved on my headstone. If you haven't read NAKED, pick it up first. If you have read NAKED and liked it, you must buy this one too.
Rating:
Summary: Always Funny
Review: I've read two books in the last four months. I know that doesn't soundimpressive, but I've been busy with a relationship that ended verypoorly -- anyway. The thing is, both of the books were very funny, andI highly recommend them to anyone who loves to laugh and read a goodbook too....
Rating:
Summary: terrific
Review: David Sedaris' writes with a wit and wisdom that is nearly unparalleled. "Barrel Fever" is a wonderful introduction to his work. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Hysterical and witty.
Review: David Sedaris writes with such ease of wit, that the reader can't help but laugh at his collection of delicious stories. Unlike most collections, there is no filler in this book. All the stories and essays are a treat, and his now infamous tale "The Santa Land Diaries" remains enjoyable and hysterical even after many repeated readings. A thoroughly wonderful read!
Rating: 
Summary: How come I can't give it ZERO stars?!?
Review: After reading Naked I was sure this book would live up to my high expectations. It definitely did not. I am a fan of Sedaris' caustic, sardonic, and slightly poignant sarcasm, this book was sadly lacking. You don't have to be "timid of heart" as another reader/reviewer indicated, to be offended and disgusted by some of these stories. Vulgarity and depravity is scrumptious if it's witty and funny...this was not.
Rating:
Summary: David Sedaris is a Dangerous Genius
Review: I first bought NAKED, and because I loved his writing style and dark humor I was compelled to buy BARREL FEVER. I even recommended BARREL FEVER to my friends and co-workers BEFORE I read it because I was SO sure it would be as wonderful if not more so than NAKED. But I was shocked, dismayed, taken aback by the book. It was not quite what I expected. I still love Sedaris' essays--VERY much! The struggling writing in me is terrifically jealous of his keen ability with the language and his twisted wit. But I was disappointed and a little disgusted with his fiction pieces. They are not for the timid of heart, so take heed, fellow booksmiths and bookworms.
Rating:
Summary: Easy read, pretty entertaining...
Review: Although not all the stories were laugh out loud funny as I was led to believe from all the rave reviews, it was still pretty damned entertaining; especially 'SantaLand' and the 'suicide letter'. Those are the two stories that had me chuckling to myself. The others sometimes lost me. But overall a good read... great for a long commute. Definitely recommend it! I look forward to reading more of his work.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!!!
Review: David Sedaris has become my favorite author. His wit and incredible ability for satire makes him one of the funniest writers today. This, as well as all of his other books, are highly recommended. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!
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