This book features various anecdotes from Sedaris' childhood and early adulthood in Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as stories inspired by his time spent in France, Japan, and other worldly locales. As always, these stories are autobiographical but with the hyperbole dialed way up. However, this time, some of the stories feel a little more somber and reflective, particularly the ones centered around his time in North Carolina. Everything has a happy ending, but the journey to that happy ending is sometimes tinged with a frustration that I haven't really noticed before in Sedaris' stories. This is by no means the predominant tone of the stories, and they are still incredibly funny, but one gets the impression that Sedaris is reflecting on the outer world a bit more rather than just relying on his internal monologue. His thoughts on healthcare, gay marriage, and race relations make for particularly insightful and amusing reading. As does his reaction to Obama's win in the 2008 election.
Of course, amidst the autobiographical tales are the twisted fictional monologues, where Sedaris writes in the voice of egomaniacal psychopaths who slowly reveal their insanity over the course of a few cheery pages. These sometimes make for very confusing reading because you initially think you're reading a snippet out of Sedaris' actual life and start to get horrified. According to the author's note, he wrote these pieces for high school students who need something to read aloud in their Forensics classes. I think some daring teen should take him up on this offer, though it might lead to expulsion.
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is a fantastic addition to any bookshelf and allows for both laughter and reflection in equal measure. It might also make you wish you could travel more (except to China). However, even if you stay put, try to look at the world around you through Sedaris-colored glasses and you will find absurdity and humor in any situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment