When You Are Engulfed in Flames

With a great variety of tales, Sedaris occasionally bored and frequently made me laugh so hard I couldn't even drive and had to pull over on the shoulder. Really this isn't a 4 star book, it's stories--some are 2's, some 3's, mostly 4's and a few fives.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I love David Sedaris. I've read his books for years, and was hesitant to buy an audio book, because often, when they are read by the author, what I found so funny when interpreted by the "voice in my head" is watered down, or even boring when the author reads the material... No so with Sedaris. I drive along, at 7:00 AM, laughing out loud, all alone in the car, at 70 mph on the Indiana Toll Road....a great start to another bizzare day. And on the same drive back, around 10PM, exhausted, I'm convinced I've found a kindred spirit. Read or listen to everything he's ever done....you won't be disappointed.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Quirky, serious, funny, sometimes laugh out loud. Very enjoyable!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

David Sedaris' willingness to admit his failings and present them in such a humorous way was delightful. I saw so much of myself in him, it helped me laugh at me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I laughed out loud as I was driving down the highway. One of the great things about this audio book is that if you have someone riding with you, you can listen to a story, without having to start at the beginning of the audiobook. This is one of the funniest David Sedaris books that I have heard.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My 4th favorite book! Love him to pieces!

Not a genre that I would normally choose. Well told, funny, honest and overall I enjoyed it. Something different.

It is difficult to know what this author is trying to acheive. I didn't find any humour or point in it. Couldn't even finish the 1st disc before I sent it back. Not worth bothering with.

this collection of stories consists of some 2's and 3's. the humor is different and not quite my cup of tea. It took me 3 stories just to figure out if the reader (the author - which I didn't know at the time) was male or female. This is one of those books that was good enough to finish, but I was glad when I got to the end.

Absolutely Horrible--Its funny that some reviews find this book funny and some not worth the paper its written on. I couldn't get to the 4th C-D.

This was a horribly boring book. I would not recommend to anyone. At points the book goes from the author's voice only to points where he was too lazy to read and they just used clips from his stand up performances. It is very annoying.

I love David Sedaris. Everything he says and does is wonderful and funny and insightful and funny. After reading everything he's written and listening to all his audiobooks, he feels like a friend...I wish he was! Love the guy.

While I loved this book and laughed most of the way through, he really shined when performing in front of a live audience. I found the straight narration to be lacking the proper emphasis and pauses as one would with this type of story. When he was live, however, he had verve and instant feedback and it was electric. Either way is highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book just as much as I have enjoyed all of the rest of Sedaris' books. Can't wait for the next one.