Naked

Rating:
Summary: A character for everyone
Review: My worst regret about reading this book is the guilt I feel for not having written down every person I have ever encountered, detail by detail.

Because that is exactly what David Sedaris does in Naked, a collection of short stories that exposes the underbelly of his childhood, youth and college years with a lot of family in between. The title of the book is an apt description of the workings of each story; while some details are salty and shocking, Sedaris' honest voice remains soothing and comic. The reader explores Sedaris' struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, his mother's biting wit and his father's paranoia.

Sedaris should consider himself lucky as a writer to have the ethnic backdrop of his life. The anecdotes are endless, as Sedaris recounts his misery at a summer camp in Greece and his strange Greek grandmother with a suicidal goldfish and a penchant for steamed greens and ironed dollar bills. Sedaris also chronicles his family's adventures at the neighborhood Greek Orthodox Church.

Sedaris also brings to light his homosexuality through various short stories about his childhood. He recalls having feelings for a bunkmate at summer camp in Greece, aptly titled, "I like guys." He hilariously describes his teachers' open racism and homophobia, and the confusion he felt during high school as his classmates excelled at sports and courted girlfriends.

Sedaris' parents are truly the highlight of the book. His mother, an alcoholic, chain-smoking woman with little patience and a lot of sass adds priceless dialogue and humor. Sedaris' father, a paranoid, Greek golfer who cannot seem to connect to his children also adds depth to the long list of characters.

Sedaris is a master of words, and the language of the book is rich in wit and description. Sedaris describes to perfection what few can only hope to explain, and he does it for everyday people. When describing the racist comments of his Spanish teacher, Sedaris says, "She paused, positioning herself on the edge of the desk as though she were posing for a portrait the federal government might use on a stamp commemorating gallantry" (82).

Some of Sedaris' stories are edgy, such as "Next of kin," in which Sedaris tells about when he found a book of literary pornography in the woods. His sisters end up reading it, and by the end of the story the whole family has read it and Sedaris has recounted an extremely odd part of humanity.

I am jealous of Sedaris because he remembers. He remembers details, movements, smells about people that just pass most of us by without a thought. And he creates a story, his story. Through his pain he laughs, and his book is a near perfect tribute to family and growing up.




Rating:
Summary: Very Funny, Could not put it down
Review: David Sedaris gives us a very revealing look at his flawed dysfunctional life in a way that has you laughing.Never having a "Woe is me" attitude, Sedaris arm chair quaterbacks a lot of his decisions with hilarious observations. He comes across as a likeable but flawed guy, not really sure of where or if he fits in. He never takes himself, or anything else too seriously.It makes you realize that life is never as bad as you think, or as good.I will definately buy the other books by him.

Rating:
Summary: Nice...Not thrilling, but nice
Review: Not as good as "Me Talk Pretty One Day", but still definitely worth reading.