Review: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

{on Goodreads}

David Sedaris continues his memoirs in the tradition of Me Talk Pretty One Day, with short chapters devoted to hilarious episodes in his life, most of which are centered on his family members and their unique quirks. In this, Sedaris tells of his stay in an apartment in his parents' low-income complex and the little girl next door who slowly stole his belongings, of settling on an apartment in Paris with his partner Hugh, and of the general dysfunctionality of his family. The type of humor infused within Sedaris's stories is very specific, and radiates from his point of view as a gay man, general outsider, and drug addict.

If you've already read one of Sedaris's works and loved it, then I'd recommend following it up with this one. In my opinion, it's not quite as funny as Me Talk Pretty One Day, but it still made me laugh occasionally with its moments of absurdity. I'm drawn to these types of comedic books because I really enjoy the format: short little episodes that draw you in for a moment and provide a laugh, but cover a variety of moments throughout a lifetime. For me, that's what keeps it interesting, but I will say that Sedaris's humor is certainly not for everyone. His readers must be comfortable with frank talk about topics that are taboo in normal conversations. I'd recommend this for fans of Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and for those who are seeking a quick, light read.

Bottom Line Rating: 3/5 

Title: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Author: David Sedaris

Publisher: Little Brown & Co., 2004

Price: $3.98 at Better World Books

ISBN: 0965904830

Format: Paperback

Source: Personal Library