These same characters existed in David’s other books, of course, but he was always able to lighten the essays up to make them more humorous than sad.Įven though David may not be as funny in this book, he’s still witty and original. David’s mother comes across as a selfish witch, and his father is a hard man who always breaks promises to his children. The one difference is, these aren’t funny. There’s nothing really different about the subject matter, as all of David’s books concern his dysfunctional child and adulthood. Then there’s 'Put a Lid on It,' where David describes his sister living in a disgusting shack and going through garbage to make a living. Or 'A Million Bubbles,' where David talks about his father kicking him out of the house because he’s gay. Take the second essay, 'Let it Snow,' in which David’s mother locks him and his sisters out of the house in a snowstorm and they have to get their youngest sister to lie in the street to get their mother’s attention. However, as I began reading his current collection, I only found myself being sad. In earlier books, almost all of the essays had something funny in them, even if it was a mean funny or sad funny. Sedaris’ books are compilations of essays, all about the author’s life growing up and in the present. After completing the book, I would still be willing to call Sedaris witty and original, but now I’m not so sure about the funny part. That’s why I was so excited to read his new collection, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.

After reading Naked and Me Talk Pretty One Day and laughing throughout them, I would have put Sedaris in the same category as Dave Barry (whom I think is absolutely hilarious). Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - book review Dress Your Family in Corduroy and DenimĬlick here to read reviewer Amanda Cuda's take on Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.ĭavid Sedaris is known as one of the wittiest and most original writers at work today and, going by the last few books of his I’ve read, I would say one of the funniest.

David sedaris corduroy and denim