Barrel Fever and Other Stories | An Exception to the Rule

Barrel Fever and Other Stories | Sensational Sedaris...

books:

Barrel Fever and O...

	Barrel Fever and Other Stories Hachette Audio, 2001 average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

David Sedaris' first collection of comic stories and essays.Performed by the author and his sister Amy Sedaris, this program is described by the New York Post as "a nuclear barrage of humor you could never replicate by reading this material on your own."

An Exception to the Rule

As a general rule, I avoid audio books. The actual texts are cheaper, and I find that I get a fuller experience of the book when I read it myself.

David Sedaris is the exception to that rule.
Don't get me wrong; I love reading his work. I've read everything I can by him and enjoyed every mintue. The exception is that as much as I enjoy reading his work, listening to him read it is all that much better.

Sedaris' voice is perfect; soft and dry like his humor. And since most of these stories and essays are autobiographical in nature, his reading takes on a kind of life that you can't get by reading it, it becomes more like a friend telling an anecdote at a party, it becomes personal.

Anybody can be slapstick. Anyone can put on a goofy voice and make you laugh by being silly. David Sedaris gives you more to laugh about, and is all the better for it. When you find yourself laughing out loud at his soft spoken, earnest phrases, you'll laugh some more just because. It's a wonderful experience.

for more information click here

Sensational Sedaris...

David Sedaris is one funny, talented man. It's one thing to read his work, but I heartily recommend you listen to him on audio cassette or CD...his delivery is nothing short of sensational. The only problem is, once you listen to one book on CD/tape, you are compelled to get them all...which I have, much to the delight of amazon.com!

My Favorite Sedaris!

This is the best of the best, as far as I'm concerned. "You Can't Kill the Rooster" will crack up anyone raised in or currently living in the South - we all have known guys like David's younger brother Paul, a.k.a. The Rooster.

for more information click here

Well Read by Sedaris & Sister, and Very Funny

The reviews of the audiobook are much more positive than the reviews of the written work, the latter of which struck readers as not as good as Sedaris' more recent work. One does get the sense from some of the stories that Sedaris was cleaning out his bottom drawer to capitalize on the success of his Santaland Diaries by pasting together a book-length work.

But Sedaris' reading, with the help of his sister who does the female or young boy parts, makes the book exceptionally funny. The "Rooster" story is just terrific. I also loved the "Homophobia Newsletter" as a wonderful bit of irony about those who embrace victim-hood a bit too easily. That and the "Rooster" made me laugh the most.

The alcoholism theme runs in a number of stories and is dealt with the most in "Barrel Fever." I found this story to be quite interesting in its use of irony, including the heresy of poking fun at the 12-steppers whose cure is sometimes almost as bad as the disease.

These stories are good and the reading even better.

for more information click here

Not quite as funny as "Naked" or "Me Talk Pretty One Day"

David Sedaris is one of my favorite authors. This book is not quite as funny as some of his others, but certainly worth the read.

reviews: page 1, 2

products you might be interested in