While on vacation this past week I read David Sedaris' latest book When You Are Engulfed in Flames. I picked up the book the week it came out and was simultaneously gifted the book by a friend a few days later. I haven't had a chance to read it, but was giddy when this vacation presented me the opportunity to dive in.
Sedaris is the author of multiple short story collections and has an incredible gift for finding humor is the every day interactions between friends, family and strangers. He finds the ironic, cynical and down right ridiculous moments that others may not think to call out or examine. He thrives on dysfunction and whisks those flaws into beautiful compositions that will have you laughing so hard it hurts.
When You Are Engulfed in Flames is a collection of stories describing Sedaris' global explorations and the zany cast of characters surrounding him. Topics include living as a boarder in a house in Chapel Hill, befriending a child molester in France, surviving an obnoxious New York City neighbor, and flying to Tokyo to quit smoking.
While I enjoyed this newest crop of stories, my favorite Sedaris book is still Me Talk Pretty One Day. I have read every one of his collections and that one is still the champion of hilarity.
Need more Sedaris comedy? Listen to him on NPR's This American Life.
