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)

Love the book but couldn't get past narration

the book content is very interesting, however David's voice was less than desirable. I would rate this book higher if there was a different narrator.

Driver beware

Would you consider the audio edition of When You Are Engulfed in Flames to be better than the print version?

I listen to audiobooks in the car when driving to work. With Sedaris' dry humor and sudden one liners there were several times I had a hard time keeping the car on the road. Very Funny.

What does David Sedaris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

One thing taught to those who wish to read for the blind is to not embellish the story by adding voices, sounds, or strong verbal inflections, but rather to just plainly and simply read the story. This is to the the sight impaired the same opportunity as sighed people do to form their own imagery using their imagination as sighted would reading black and white pages, not the speaker's interpretation.

However, it's the fact that Sedaris reads his books that make the books come alive. Because all of the stories are of personal experiences of his life, he adds inflections and emotions in exactly the right places, the places he intended them to be. While the book would read fine without it, Sedaris really adds to the whole experience.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Towards the end of almost each little tale, Sedaris has a way of weaving in a little tidbit of human nature that makes you stop and consider just how often we have been guilty of similar wrongs against society or individuals. Not preachy, just something to make you go hmmm.

I enjoy this

I enjoy his perspective.
And I enjoy his reading his work.
I read all his books.

Are you sarcastic?

You have to have that kind of sense of humor to fully appreciate this book, and I do. I actually found myself laughing uncontrollably while food shopping. I’m sure people thought I was pretty unstable, but I couldn’t help it.

outstanding

David Sedaris' best work yet. Could he be any funnier!? I loved this book so much that I ordered more of his work but this was by far my favorite.

Observations of a darker side of humanity

The stories are good, but the observations are from the point of view of a person who is openly self-centered and manipulative. Because it's often said that we usually don't like things in other people that we don't like in ourselves, I've pondered what it is in David Sedaris' stories that bug me. Is it the slightly nasal whine of his delivery? Is it the darkness of his persona?

The stories are told well, artfully, and he has great timing.

But the content is negative overall. There is a lack of love throughout his stories.

There are people who seem to suck the energy out of a room, or can be thought of as toxic. Sometimes such people resonate with each other and perhaps these stories would resonate for some. They are good stories, but his voice and the content left me feeling drained and lacking in hope and sad for humanity.

Experiencing this book is maybe not the best way to spend time if you are of a compassionate or empathic nature. I was looking for humor and this didn't fit the bill.

Entertaining

Any additional comments?

My first outing with Sedaris and it did not disappoint. It took me a while to get used to his delivery and sense of humor, but it grew on me. He is droll and self-deprecating, and mixed in with the lines meant to shock are bits of poignancy. Glad I finally picked up one of his books.

Classic David Sedaris

I love David Sedaris. His humor and flawless delivery always keep me laughing. This book was one of his best. My favorites are always when he's reading to a live audience. The energy carries to the listener.

Just not my type of read

I didn’t finish this book. I enjoy escaping into books so a longer story-line is just better for me. A series if essays which were funny just didn’t work for me.

Excellent

I think it's a great experience to hear the author perform the work, with comedic timing and delivery, as he intended.