Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls (udgave 2013)

I didn't love Sedaris when I first read Me Talk Pretty One Day many years ago, but I've since gotten over the part of myself that sneered back then at the sort of stuff he wrote. This was a nice collection. I laughed plenty. He doesn't write really heavy stuff, but every once in a while he thinks about it. That makes his essays fun and not entirely substanceless and pretty good for a lazy weekend jaunt. ( )

I think that David Sedaris is a comical genius.

Keep in mind that I listened to the audio-book version of the book but everything about the book was really well done and a joy to listen to. His delivery and timing are immaculate, he seems to pause just at the right time to make sure a punch-line hits. Combined with his clever use of misdirection you will be often caught off-guard and burst out laughing at inopportune times.

He does a great job at setting the scene through really vivid and sometimes hilarious similes and metaphors, that sometimes just the description of the scenario will have me chuckling. e.g. Fingertips looked like burnt match sticks
My portions of the book were the really mundane stories that delved deeper and deeper into ridiculousness through Sedaris's inner monologue and hyperboles. e.g. When he was lined up behind a obnoxious time wasting couple in a convenience store.

Outside of that I found his commentary and life story fairly interesting and inspiring, I look forward to reading more books from David Sedaris.

However, there were some parts of the book like the poetry and satire that I did not really enjoy as much, thus the 4 stars ( )

Several friends who read it have expressed ennui with David Sedaris's schtick (and I get that). But since this is only my second book of his that I've read, I greatly enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook and doubled over laughing at "Author, Author," especially the part where he visits Costco with his brother-in-law. Not to mention his father's obsession with David getting a colonoscopy. ( )

I had not experienced David Sedaris. I had heard a lot about him, so I thought I should give him a try. I listened to the audio version of this book, which he narrated, and I definitely felt that my experience benefited from hearing him read his own material. I would describe that material as primarily humor mixed with a lot of insight into what is happened in the world around us, politically, culturally; and because David travels quite a bit, lives in England, has lived in France and throughly enjoys visiting Japan, you get quite the world-view. Of course, the insight is mixed inextricably with his opinions, so you have to decide how much weight to place on any insight he shares. For instance, he contrasts the cleanliness of Japan’s culture to the shock he experienced at the personal habits of many Chinese. For a few minutes I wondered whether I would want to go to China if I got the chance, but then I decided, of course I would.

He describes his writing as essays, but some of them are pretty clearly comedy routines. I enjoyed them, but ultimately decided this type of writing doesn’t appeal much to me. I just don’t get much out of it. I don’t feel smarter about anything. If I am looking for something light or something to make me think, I find other material and approaches appeal more to me. I did laugh, though.You can never overvalue laughing.
( )

Always some LOLs with Sedaris
Review of the Hachette Audio audiobook (2013)

Sedaris is always good for a laugh as he observes the foibles of his family, fans, friends or strangers in his travels or different home settings. This collection spans several years and has stories from both the France and England years as well as from the usual book promotion tours.

The only downside were the several actual fictional stories that were tagged on at the back end which were unnecessarily nasty it seemed to me.

I picked up Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls as part of Audible's 2 for 1 sale in September 2020. ( )