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jennifermreads's review against another edition
5.0
Initially, I was like “This is heavy. I thought it was supposed to be funny.” For those who need content warnings, be aware that the second essay concerns the suicide of one of David Sedaris’s sisters. As with any life-event that is this big, the loss of his sister and his tenuous relationship with her resurface many times in this collection. And, thus, readers get a look at how some use humor to get through grief.
Because the humor did come. In tidal waves. My husband and I laughed so hard that, at times, we had to rewind the audiobook because we missed the next line. We enjoyed his recollections so much that I have downloaded (Me Talk Pretty One Day for the next road trip. Yup, I’m hooked, I’m a fan, and I’m going to read his entire backlist!
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
ssummar's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
bookwitch's review against another edition
2.0
His one essay about his mother, and how even with such a large family (of outspoken people), NO ONE said anything to her about her alcoholism. That felt pretty personal, as did his essay about how depressed he was after the 2015 election results.
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Cancer, Rape, and Suicide attempt
soule_soph's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
lzjolo's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
mimi_whimsy's review against another edition
I love how his family is featured so prominently in his work. Yet, there is no tedium to the stories like I would imagine my own set of essays might suffer from if I focused on me and mine so much. Maybe it is because he has a way of gently landing on a highlighted moment for one family member, then on to tumor-ridden snapping turtle, a stop by a "did he/she just say/do that" public moment, and back to a family member. The essays have the open, easy feel of conversation, but there is a masterful structure to them. Bones, that you don't see but can just feel below the surface.
I walk away hearing David's father saying "Fantastic." It leaves me with a sweet, sad smile. So much is shared here, and I cherish it all.
Minor: Alcoholism and Suicide
maedayx43's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
reb_knits's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Excrement, Medical content, and Death of parent
citybookspgh's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent
geraldinerowe's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Suicide, Excrement, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, and Rape