The David Sedaris Box Set

Rating:
Summary: Dry, witty & "Stuff"
Review: As a lifelong fan and follower of Spalding Gray's monologues I was deeply saddened by the recent news of his failing health (both mental & physical) especially after the joy of "Morning, Noon & Night" where he finally seemed to have laid his demons to rest. It put me into a bit of a funk really and the prospect of no more Spuddy monologues in light of these events was quite upsetting.

Searching around I took a gamble and after only reading a few of his Esquire articles bought this boxset. It must be one of the best risks I have ever taken. My wife and I now adore his work and are eagerly awaiting his next book.

Sedaris' deadpan, ironic perspective is the cry of the outsider realising the inherent madness of society and their place within it. Like Spalding Gray he may sometimes seem flip and working for comic effect but there are dark edges and depth to all of his stories and articles.

At 14 hours (even paying for overseas postage) this is well worth the expense and a sheer delight - You Can't Kill the Rooster & I Eat What He's Wearing are particular favourites.

If you're an ironic outsider you'll love it.

Rating:
Summary: You Can't Kill the Rooster
Review: David Sedaris is a talented and funny author but is a horrid reader. I have read Me Talk Pretty One Day, and have seen a Production of the Santaland Diaries, and was thrilled when I found this collection, thinking nobody could read a piece better than its own author. Was I mistaken! Sedaris reads like he is ready for a nap. Lines that had been funny in print were read as if the author didn't get the joke.

Stic to the print copies, you will be much happier.

Rating:
Summary: Leave the reading to someone else
Review: David Sedaris is a talented and funny author but is a horrid reader. I have read Me Talk Pretty One Day, and have seen a Production of the Santaland Diaries, and was thrilled when I found this collection, thinking nobody could read a piece better than its own author. Was I mistaken! Sedaris reads like he is ready for a nap. Lines that had been funny in print were read as if the author didn't get the joke.

Stic to the print copies, you will be much happier.

Rating:
Summary: Oh my god how funny is he...
Review: David Sedaris is one of the great storytellers. His books are funny enough, but to hear him read the stories is ten times better!

Rating:
Summary: You Can't Kill the Rooster
Review: Fourteen hours of David Sedaris! Are you kidding me? The DAVID SEDARIS BOX SET is almost too much of a good thing. As I have no doubt stated elsewhere, the best way to experience David Sedaris apart from going to a live reading is to hear his work on the radio or through his audio recordings. The DAVID SEDARIS BOX SET offers the most substantial collection of his audio recordings to date.

Those parts of his live performance which do not translate as well to written text include his Billie Holiday style of singing, the rendition of The Rooster (from "You Can't Kill the Rooster:" Amy does it here, though I've heard David do it to perfection live), and his attempts at speaking French (translated into broken English in "Me Talk Pretty This Day," "Jesus Shaves," and others). All are well represented in this comprehensive collection. This box set includes his work from "Santaland Diaries," "Barrel Fever," "Naked," "Me Talk Pretty One Day," as well as some bonus tracks.

At the current price, this collection is an incomparable value and I highly recommend it for anyone's audio collection.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

Rating:
Summary: This is so brilliant...
Review: Hearing David Sedaris tell his stories is the complete way to experience his writing. Sedaris is SO HILARIOUS, many time my stomach hurts after listening. I SO HIGHLY recommend this box set.

Rating:
Summary: Unabridged?
Review: I bought this for my cousin thinking it was a deal, I mean it says unabridged. But it is in fact abridged, they all are. So why do they say "UNABRIDGED?" I still like his work, very funny, but I don't like the false advertising.

Rating:
Summary: You MUST buy this!
Review: I first heard of Sedaris through This American Life (An amazing Public Radio show) and immediately bought and read his books. David's writing is beyond belief, but hearing David read them (along with his sister Amy and one story read by Ann Magnuson) brings everything to a new level. While the tapes are abridged, the stories he reads, he reads in full. There are different versions than what is read on This American Life, and he sings some different songs than on TAL (in the style of Billie Holiday). Santaland Diaries are even longer than the TAL uncut version. I did prefer Julia Sweeney's rendetion of Merry Christmas(Seasons Greetings) to Our Friends and Family over Ann Magnuson's. This set is 14 hours long (10 Tapes). At the end of most of the books, there is an additional track of David singing or talking/laughing.

Rating:
Summary: You Can't Kill the Rooster
Review: I have absolutely no idea why anyone would write a review saying that David Sedaris' reading takes away from his books. I have always had exactly the opposite experience. Though I have read all his books, I prefer to listen to them because the author's voice is so unique and his delivery so apt. As much as I love reading "You Can't Kill the Rooster", hearing the phrase out loud adds a whole other dimension of hilarity. Obviously, listening to a book is a subjective experience, but I felt compelled to weigh in after reading the previous review. Don't pay any attention to that person, or to me either except for the part where I tell you not to pay attention to the other review. Decide for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: LOVE HIM!!!
Review: I have actually had the fortune of hearing Sedaris read his work in person on two different occasions, even getting to sit and talk with him in a small group once. Listening to him read on CD is the next best thing. The inflection in his voice adds to any story he tells. While reading his books is always funny, listening to him is even better.