You've probably heard David Sedaris on Public Radio International's This American Life, or seen him on Late Night with David Letterman, or maybe you've been lucky enough to attend one of his live readings, and if so, you know that it's impossible to read one of his comic essays without also hearing his deadpan delivery--that is, if you can hear anything over the sound of your own laughter. Currently residing at number 2 on Publisher's Weekly non-fiction bestseller list, Sedaris's sixth collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, does not fail to deliver the laughs as well as pulling you up short once in awhile and giving you something to think about. Sedaris has matured in skill and subject matter, and this latest collection really brings that home; although, don't worry, he's still in tune with the absurdity of everyday life and his family still puts the funny in disfunctional. In one of his essays, he mentions that he is being anthologized in high school textbooks (with judicious editing, of course), and so now he is influencing our American youth. In fact, my daughter, when her writing style was corrected by her freshman writing teacher responded, "but that's how David Sedaris does it". I dare you to tell a college freshman that David Sedaris's writing style is not worth imitating; actually, I dare you to tell anyone that, he's that good.
Find David Sedaris at the Adrian Public Library
