Barrel Fever

Rating:
Summary: Funny, but inconsistent
Review: This predecessor to 'Naked' doesn't quite deliver the goods the way Sedaris' later book does. A mix of fiction and essays, Barrel Fever swings from weird and funny to just plain weird. The essays, highlighted by his priceless 'Santaland Diaries', far outstrip the fiction. In any case, inconsistent Sedaris is still worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: Great - a near classic
Review: I bought this book immediately after finishing Sedaris' book Naked. I found its high points to be just as good, if not better than the first, but overall the quality was uneven by Sedaris standards. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's one of the five funniest books I've ever read - especially the twisted holiday update letter. I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and a sense of humor.

Rating:
Summary: Quirky, wacky, dark, and absolutely hysterical
Review: I pass along this book to everyone I know who has a cynical screwball sense of humor. You have to be a little crazy and like life slightly twisted to love this book, but if you do, you will LOVE this book.

Rating:
Summary: Nuggets of hilarity from the twisted mind of David Sedaris.
Review: Sidesplittingly hilarious--I've bought this book for at least 10 friends just to see them try (in vain) to hold back the belly laughs.

Rating:
Summary: Weird, funny and original!
Review: Sedaris grabbed my attention with his radio pieces. His humor is so original I keep this book by my bed- so if I've had a hard day I can reread "The Last you'll hear from me" or " Diary of a Smoker" and laugh at the world and its quirks. Sedaris certainly has a penchant for seeing the absurdities of the world- he's sort of like both the Coen brother of print. This book proves he is one of the weirdest and funniest writers around .

Rating:
Summary: Santaland Diaries Rules!
Review: The Santaland Diaries is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. David Sedaris is hilarious and knows exactly what it's like to work in a job you hate.

Rating:
Summary: This is the book I live my life by.
Review: I thought "Barrel Fever" was just about the funniest book I've ever read. The story by the same name kills me just to think about it... jeeezus, I'm at work and I can't laugh out loud right now but it's impossible to shut out a couple of chuckles just thinking about that guy's writing. His use of the comma in his literature is utterly hilarious! The game "Find Mom, find Mom's cigarettes," or (and I know I'll mess this up) the Wind-Blown Reporter saying, "I bet it really hurts to lose a home like that, a nice home like yours," just lends this kind of flow to people's sentences that sounds so damn realistic and by-the-wayish that I have to start laughing again. I was at a really boring lecture in medical school and one of my friends turned to me and asked me if I had anything interesting to read-- I turned around and gave "Barrel Fever" to her, and the rest of the hour was punctuated with loud sobs and brays of poorly-restrained laughter that disturbed all the serious little pre-doctors trying to learn about crudded-up kidneys. At the risk of sounding snotty, I'll say this book isn't for everybody-- some people will find it bizarre or even dark, pessimistic, and perverted, but who always wants vapid happy-happy joy-joy humor anyway? David Sedaris tends to make fun of pretentious people who take themselves too seriously-- angry homosexuals (Glen), over-macho heterosexuals (Brude Springsteen, Mike Tyson), sickly-sweet bitchy housewives ("Season's Greetings..."), angry women types (Dolph's sisters in "Barrel Fever", the story), self-righteous anti-smokers ("Diary of a Smoker"), literary pseudo-intellectuals ("After Malison"), and I could go on, but I'm sure you've got the idea-- if you take yourself too seriously, or if the term "not normal" connotes something undesirable or bad to you, then don't waste your time. Go read a burningly affected, beautifully written book like "Cold Mountain," by James Frazier instead.

Rating:
Summary: ick
Review: I stumbled onto "Naked," thoroughly enjoyed it and was looking forward to this one. But...ick! The first 2/3 - the stories - were too mean-spirited, and only the last third - the essays - reminded me of why I'd sought this out. He definitely does real life better than fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Brutally honest and hysterical
Review: If you aren't afraid of seeing a little or a lot of yourself in David's world, you will be treated to one of the funniest books ever. His wit is unapproachable, and his language is as much a part of the humor as the stories themselves. You'll have to get out of your chair to take a break from the laughter. But you'll run right back.

Rating:
Summary: Underbelly
Review: If you aren't afraid of Santa Claus, Mothers, Smoking, or Apartment Decorating, you will be after reading this book. David Sedris Exposes us all to the underbelly of even the most innocent things, and, trust me, you will be the better person for viewing this soiled, desperate seam of life.