Naked by David Sedaris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Naked
Book Review: A character for everyone
Summary: 5 Stars
My worst regret about reading this book is the guilt I feel for not having written down every person I have ever encountered, detail by detail.
Because that is exactly what David Sedaris does in Naked, a collection of short stories that exposes the underbelly of his childhood, youth and college years with a lot of family in between. The title of the book is an apt description of the workings of each story; while some details are salty and shocking, Sedaris' honest voice remains soothing and comic. The reader explores Sedaris' struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, his mother's biting wit and his father's paranoia.
Sedaris should consider himself lucky as a writer to have the ethnic backdrop of his life. The anecdotes are endless, as Sedaris recounts his misery at a summer camp in Greece and his strange Greek grandmother with a suicidal goldfish and a penchant for steamed greens and ironed dollar bills. Sedaris also chronicles his family's adventures at the neighborhood Greek Orthodox Church.
Sedaris also brings to light his homosexuality through various short stories about his childhood. He recalls having feelings for a bunkmate at summer camp in Greece, aptly titled, "I like guys." He hilariously describes his teachers' open racism and homophobia, and the confusion he felt during high school as his classmates excelled at sports and courted girlfriends.
Sedaris' parents are truly the highlight of the book. His mother, an alcoholic, chain-smoking woman with little patience and a lot of sass adds priceless dialogue and humor. Sedaris' father, a paranoid, Greek golfer who cannot seem to connect to his children also adds depth to the long list of characters.
Sedaris is a master of words, and the language of the book is rich in wit and description. Sedaris describes to perfection what few can only hope to explain, and he does it for everyday people. When describing the racist comments of his Spanish teacher, Sedaris says, "She paused, positioning herself on the edge of the desk as though she were posing for a portrait the federal government might use on a stamp commemorating gallantry" (82).
Some of Sedaris' stories are edgy, such as "Next of kin," in which Sedaris tells about when he found a book of literary pornography in the woods. His sisters end up reading it, and by the end of the story the whole family has read it and Sedaris has recounted an extremely odd part of humanity.
I am jealous of Sedaris because he remembers. He remembers details, movements, smells about people that just pass most of us by without a thought. And he creates a story, his story. Through his pain he laughs, and his book is a near perfect tribute to family and growing up.
Book Review: A disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
After the hilarious "Me talk pretty some day", I was looking forward to this volume. It was a big letdown. For one thing, the author comes across as a very unpleasant person, one who lacks any sympathy for others. Everything is "me, me, me", "I am so great and everyone else deserves to be poor and to suffer". He takes advantage of other people's kindness (something he could use a bit of) and then mistakes it for stupidity and mocks them even when they are good enough to keep him from starvation. I left the book feeling toward the author as if he were someone I would never want to deal with. An unsavory revelation of a man who I once thought of as a clever comic talent but now see as a creep. If anyone finds his essays here about quadraplegics and very poor working people (and their homes, which he loves to make fun of) funny, you are welcome to join the creepy human society of which Sedaris is now an honorary member. Too bad Sedaris is too shallow to be able to mix his humour with a bit of pity and warmth. He might rise above the merely vulgar and predictable misanthropy which he wallows in and become a first class humourist. An adolescent attempt at humour that goes nowhere and isn't funny. Stick with "Me talk pretty some day" and "Barrel Fever" if you are looking for laughs.Book Review: A disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
David Sedaris is one of the funniest writers alive. But this book was just plain dull. What an incredible disappointment coming right after his amazingly hilarious book "Barrell Fever." Fortunately, he's redeemed himself in his latest work "Me Talk Pretty One Day." I'd skip reading Naked.Book Review: A fun read!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was hillarious! I wouldn't say it's "laugh out loud" funny, but its witty. David Sedaris writes in a very sarcastic tone. Even the very somber parts of the book still keep a light tone, for instance when dealing with his mothers Cancer. It is a quick read, but one that is well worth it!!!Book Review: A hilarious Book!
Summary: 4 Stars
This book caught me quite off guard. My sister had been telling me about this author David Sedaris for a while and she got me a copy of Naked for Christmas one year. It took me some time to read it and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I trust my sister's taste in books but I had never really read a humorous book before so I didn't know what to expect. Sedaris's quirky and self indulgent humor caught me completely off guard and I actually found myself laughing out loud, something I rarely do when reading. The thing that I love about his writing style too is that I find he has a good blend of mixing humor and very moving little portraits of people (mostly his beloved dysfunctional family) without becoming sappy or cliched. My only gripe with this book was that a few of the stories pace dragged a bit, so I couldn't give it a five star rating. But on the whole, it is a great title that should be picked up by those who want a good laugh.