Ratings31
Average rating3.7
In David Sedaris’ world, no one is safe and no cow is sacred. A manic cross between Mark Leyner, Fran Lebowitz, and the National Enquirer, Sedaris’ collection of essays is a rollicking tour through the national Zeitgeist: a do-it-yourself suburban dad saves money by performing home surgery; a man who is loved too much flees the heavyweight champion of the world; a teenage suicide tries to incite a lynch mob at her funeral; a bitter Santa abuses the elves.
David Sedaris made his debut on NPR’s Morning Edition with “SantaLand Diaries”, recounting his strange-but-true experiences as an elf at Macy’s, and soon became one of the show’s most popular commentators. With a perfect eye and a voice infused with as much empathy as wit, Sedaris writes stories and essays that target the soulful ridiculousness of our behavior. Barrel Fever is like a blind date with modern life, and anything can happen.
([source][1])
[1]: https://www.davidsedarisbooks.com/titles/david-sedaris/barrel-fever/9780316031653/
Parade --
Music for lovers --
The last you'll hear from me --
My manuscript --
Firestone --
We get along --
Glen's homophobia newsletter vol. 3, no. 2 --
Don's story --
Season's greeting to our friends and family!!! --
Jamboree --
After Malison --
Barrel fever --
Diary of a smoker --
Giantess --
The curly kind --
SantaLand diaries.
Reviews with the most likes.
Sometimes funny, always zany and surreal. Not nearly as funny as When You Are Engulfed in Flames. The main thing bringing the rating down for me was the fact that this book shuffles nonfiction essays and fiction short stories. Jumping from one to another was jarring, and most of the fiction stories (save “The Last You'll Ever Hear from Me,” “Glen's Homophobia Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 2,” and “Parade”) missed the mark for me. In no way does this mean I'm giving up on Sedaris. This is his first book and as far as I can tell, it's his lowest-rated. I was really pleased with WYAEIF and, so far, Holidays on Ice is a lot of fun! :)