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When You Are Engulfed In Flames
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
Author: David Sedaris
"David Sedaris's ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art," (The Christian Science Monitor) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this remarkable new book. Trying to make coffee when the water is shut off, David considers using the water in a vase of flowers and...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780316143479
ISBN-10: 0316143472
Publication Date: 6/3/2008
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 266

3.9 stars, based on 266 ratings
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 19
Now, while I have heard a number of good things about David Sedaris' books, I have never actually read one before. Despite this, I was pretty excited about reading 'When You Are Engulfed in Flames', and I was not disappointed. Sedaris' newest book is a very funny collection of essays about ordinary everyday events in his life, or at least ordinary for him. All the stories in his book feel almost intertwined, possibly because they all to build up to a realization, almost like lessons he learned over time. Whether it is his realization that country spiders don't survive well in the city, or Sedaris eventually learning what makes one of his neighbors tick, Sedaris is very good at building a story over time. He can look at a number of events at different times and places, and see how he came to a better understanding because of these seemingly unrelated events. He also tends to make the simplest things seem more fun and exciting, such as quitting smoking. Not many people would decide to temporarily move across the world just to quit smoking. I think, in the end, David Sedaris is just skilled at comedy and story-telling in general. After all, isn't comedy just making the mundane amusing?
Erinyes avatar reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 279 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
So apparently I'm the one to rain on the David Sedaris parade.

I have listened to him tell his own stories on This American Life. And he is hilarious. When he tells those stories he holds you in the palm of his hand and you cannot help but laugh and be moved.

In print, forget about it. I read Dress Your Family and hated it. He comes off as bitchy and unbelievable. So I thought that I would try When you are engulfed and he still sounds bitchy and unbelievable. He is that guy who makes you roll your eyes and wish desperately you were at the dentist. For me, his humor just doesn't work in print.
From now on i'm going to avoid his books and hope I catch him on the radio.
reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I have to say I am disappointed in this book. I *loved* Sedaris' "Dress Your Family in Corduroy & Denim" and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" so I jumped at his newest. I found myself bristling at more of the stories than really enjoying them. There was a very long story about spiders (which I hate) and plenty of stories about his experiences being gay, the awkwardness of befriending a child molester, etc. Perhaps I was just alienated by this book. If this was your first David Sedaris book, however, don't be put off, a lot of his stories are much sharper.
reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I ADORE David Sedaris and his new book does not disappoint. His sense of humor, timing, and stories are BRILLIANT!
Lizzie81 avatar reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A quick and easy book to read. I didn't find this book nearly as funny as some of his earlier books, although I still found myself laughing out loud at a few parts. If you are a David Sedaris fan, then I would consider this book a must read - so you can judge for yourself.
Read All 33 Book Reviews of "When You Are Engulfed In Flames"

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starlite713 avatar reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 4 more book reviews
Good, fast read, but definitely not as funny as some of his other works.
angelicae avatar reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on
So far, so good! David Sendaris is pretty funny!
reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 14 more book reviews
Hilarious! Great summer fun read.
kacey14 avatar reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 47 more book reviews
I loved this book. But then, I love David Sedaris. I listened to this book in it's unabridged audio book format. I think this is the BEST way to really get the full flavor of Sedaris' humor. That's because David Sedaris reads the books himself on the audio book version. It's almsot like he's sitting in the room talking with you when you listen to the audio book.

Warning when listening in the car however -- beware, there were several times I had to pull over (okay, so I SHOULD have pulled over) because I was just laughing too hard. I had tears in my eyes more than once.

My favorite vignette was his description about how simply replying "d'accord" (I agree) to any question posed to him in Paris lead to some very unusual situations. Oh my gosh -- how does a man end up in his underpants in the waiting room of a doctor's office? Simply say "d'accord" to every question asked.

Sedaris is has a great wry/dry wit and an amazing way of spinning observations we all encounter daily into ironic and humorous stories. I'd recommend this book for anyone who needs a good laugh.
reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 66 more book reviews
If you like Sedaris, then this audio CD will be right up your alley. It is read by the author himself, so the sardonic wit is read as he intended it to be.
reviewed When You Are Engulfed In Flames on + 37 more book reviews
thank goodness! just as good as all the rest of his books. funny, sweet, david sedaris never fails to make me happy.


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