When You Are Engulfed in Flames

By: David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Once again, David Sedaris brings together a collection of essays so uproariously funny and profoundly moving that his legions of fans will fall for him all over again.

He tests the limits of love when Hugh lances a boil from his backside, and pushes the boundaries of laziness when, finding the water shut off in his house in Normandy, he looks to the water in a vase of fresh cut flowers to fill the coffee machine.

From armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds, to the awkwardness of having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a sleeping fellow passenger on a plane, David Sedaris uses life's most bizarre moments to reach new heights in understanding love and fear, family and strangers.

Culminating in a brilliantly funny account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris' sixth essay collection has been avidly anticipated.

©2008 David Sedaris (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

2008 Grammy Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album

"Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris...defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life." (Kirkus Reviews)
"This latest collection proves that not only does Sedaris still have it, but he's also getting better....Sedaris's best stuff will still - after all this time - move, surprise, and entertain." (Booklist)

Amazingly entertaining

Sedaris has a style like no other. I love to HEAR him read his stories. His voice is so soothing, I often go to sleep at night wearing earbuds so he can read to me!

Hilarious!

This was my first book by David Sedaris and I totally understand why people live him. It was funny and sad and thought provoking, but mostly just funny. He's a great essayist and a great performer.

Decent, not my favorite Sedaris' book

What did you like best about When You Are Engulfed in Flames? What did you like least?

I loved that David Sedaris narrated his own book. I've always enjoyed listening to Sedaris read his stories, I think he adds emphasis where the reader might not know where to add emphasis. His vocal pitch always accommodates the funniest parts.

Would you be willing to try another book from David Sedaris? Why or why not?

I like his books, I would be willing to listen to another book by him.

Have you listened to any of David Sedaris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think it is the best that I have heard from him. I am partial to Me Talk Pretty One Day.

David Sedaris is one sick puppy

I enjoy these essays more than I should. On long road trips we play them in the car. As family bonding goes I guess it's probably a good that the kids are over 18 so that child protective services doesn't intervene :-)

Loved hearing David express himself live!

Sedaris is a raconteur that tells his story with irony and wit.
Listened to this again and again. Loved it.

put it down

I just couldn't get into it. I tried to find humor or interest, just the stories just fell flat for me. I think I made it to the third one before I had to quit. I was also expecting something sci-fi from the cover and this was more like a monolog from a college student.

as usual, hysterical

I particularly enjoyed this collection and listened nightly before bed laughing away out loud. Wonderful stories and observations. Sorry when it was over.

Classic Sedaris

Very entertaining as always. We’ve been enjoying his work for many years and really appreciate his content.

Wonderful!

Made me giggle. Think. Relate. Smile. This is a great read or listen. I couldn’t put into it down.

Well-presented humor

Had enjoyed brief snippets and G-rated NPR stories he eloquently presents. This book, while containing a whole lot saltier language, brought hilarity and irony to each day I listened. Telling what it’s like to travel and live in a foreign country, and attempt learning an exotic tonal language with a non-western alphabet (e.g., Japanese, Thai) in the land of kawaii cuteness was perfect. This, older book inspires me to seek out the enjoyment that know will find in his other works.