Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.01 You Save: $13.98 (93%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Book Review: More From The Talented Storyteller Who Is David Sedaris
Summary: 4 Stars
David Sedaris is a talented master of the short (autobiographical) story. This collection of pieces spans various eras of his life, but I found the pieces dealing with his childhood (which were the bulk of the pieces) the most enjoyable. These are the pieces where the Sedaris family comes full-fore.
One thing to note about Sedaris is that he has been accused of his family (and independently documented by a piece in "The New Republic") of some exaggeration of events that has occurred. So I wouldn't take the events here as gospel truth.
Still, even with a bit of fiction thrown in, these are wonderful essays and very enjoyable.
Book Review: Comedic, yet Poignant!
Summary: 4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these comedic essays based on the author's own life! They are not only witty, but poignant! Sedaris is a gifted and talented writer, who truly adds a refreshing view/perspective on daily life that might otherwise seem mundane.
Book Review: Sedaris strikes the funny bone!
Summary: 4 Stars
A naked Barbie Doll adorns the cover, yet this autobiographical bestseller is about a boy growing up with a Greek background and a mismatched family, all while dealing with his homosexuality. The chapters express only a few memorable stories, yet have distinctively affected Sedaris' life. The stories include embarrassing moments where his father confronts the most popular guy's dad about a rock throwing incident, and also anecdotes of his redneck brother on a quest to buy all the baby paraphernalia he can buy, even before his wife goes to the doctor. The seasons of Sedaris' life are all accounted for, from childhood to drug addiction to life in France with his boyfriend. Overall, Sedaris is able to capture the reader with undeniable wit and true to life tales.
In the very first chapter of the book, Sedaris introduces the reader to his humor with a bit of childhood innocence. A family who "doesn't believe in T.V." trick-or-treats at the Sedaris Household on the day after Halloween. Sedaris' mother insists that the children produce pieces of their own "earned" candy. When much time elapses, his mother enters his room and begins to snatch Necco wafers, ""Not those," [he] pleaded, but rather than words, [his] mouth expelled chocolate, which fell onto the sleeve of her sweater. She shook her arm, and the mound of chocolate dropped like a horrible turd upon [his] bedspread". The crude humor and inclusion of "turd" appeals to many readers, mainly because it comes from a real child's thoughts. This scene is the first hint of madness in Sedaris' life. The story, including the humor, makes him contemplate the family who doesn't watch T.V. for months, and in turn learns that television is a way to distract himself from his own issues and problems with his family.
The humor continues throughout the book in the seventeenth chapter when his crazed sister finds a turkey in the trash, then cooks and eats it. Sedaris must learn to balance his high-class integrity with his connection to his sister who eats out of the trash. The reader learns about what type of man he has become through his sister's sarcastic comment, "Listen to you. If it didn't come from Balduccci's, if it wasn't raised on polenta and wild baby acorns, it has to be dangerous". The reader understands how his obsessive compulsive personality has affected his relationships with his family. He also grows more and more into the homosexual stereotype. The obvious comedy found in eating a turkey that has been thrown away for a reason is a signature of Sedaris. While his book is nonfiction, the bluntness of his writing makes for more humor in these types of situations.
In every chapter, Sedaris takes real life accounts and formulates them into a good read. Laughing out loud while reading each chapter is quite common and this bestseller is very promising. It can change a bad mood into a good one. Sedaris really will strike your funny bone.
Book Review: Well dressed writing
Summary: 5 Stars
David Sedaris opens up his family album to allow us to wander through the pages of someone else's history. I appreciate my own family more, now that I've read David Sedaris' musings. Wisdom comes in many disguises, in this case it came decked out in corduroy and denim. I ended up asking myself, "What is normal life? " after reading this book. Surely the aim of any writer is to inspire their readers to ask questions. Sadly, I haven't found the asnswer, but I continue to ask. Book Review: meh.
Summary: 2 Stars
I didn't find this book too interesting. It felt like I was reading a random stranger's blog. If that's the type of thing you enjoy, then read *real* blogs - they're free. It's hard to connect with Sedaris, even after reading the short stories.