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Barrel Fever
Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays | David Sedaris
In David Sedaris' world, no one is safe and no cow is sacred. A manic cross between Mark Leyner, Fran Lebowitz, and the National Enquirer, Sedaris' collection of essays is a rollicking tour through the national Zeitgeist: a do-it-yourself suburban dad saves money by performing home surgery; a man who is loved too much flees the heavyweight champion of the world; a teenage suicide tries to incite a lynch mob at her funeral; a bitter Santa abuses the elves.David Sedaris made his debut on NPR's Morning Edition with "SantaLand Diaries", recounting his strange-but-true experiences as an elf at Macy's, and soon became one of the show's most popular commentators. With a perfect eye and a voice infused with as much empathy as wit, Sedaris writes stories and essays that target the soulful ridiculousness of our behavior. Barrel Fever is like a blind date with modern life, and anything can happen.
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paisleyjess
Mehso-so

This is an older collection that mixes fiction with his family stories. I prefer the memoirs to the short stories.

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britt_brooke
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DAY 25 #Fever | In 1994, David Sedaris published his first collection. This one contains personal essays - including “Santaland Diaries” - and short fiction. I love him.

#MOvember
@Cinfhen

hermyknee I love Santaland Diaries! 5y
Cinfhen Haven‘t read this collection yet but the others I‘ve read/ listened too were hilarious 🤣 5y
LeahBergen The story with the letter read at the funeral is hilarious! 😂😂 5y
See All 6 Comments
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Most people seem to rate this one as a least fave sedaris, but I like it a lot. 5y
87 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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AmyRebecca
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BibliovoreSarah
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Why is he holding a cabbage? What is up with the cartoon kitchen? #SoManyQuestions

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BookyMcBookface
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Pickpick

Having finished this book I have now ready every David Sedaris book. Funny, this was his first book.

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rachelk
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Pickpick

I‘ve now read everything Mr. Sedaris has to offer at least once. This is an early work of his short stories and essays. I think they‘re brilliant.

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rachelk
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My weekend acquisitions look like a nice mix to me — self improvement, nonfiction, humor, psychological thriller & historical fiction. (I think ‘Barrel Fever‘ is the only David Sedaris book I haven‘t read yet.) Things to look forward to! #BookHaul 📚🤗

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DarcysMom
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Pickpick
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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MirrorMask
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“If you're looking for sympathy you'll find it between shit and syphilis in the #dictionary.”

#QuotsyOct18 @TK-421

Tonton LOL 6y
TK-421 😂 6y
See All 6 Comments
AmyG Ha! 6y
Andrew65 😂😂😂 6y
shellleigh33 🤣 6y
77 likes6 comments
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Read66
Pickpick

The essays were much stronger than the stories in this collection. I love listening to audiobooks of David Sedaris's collections - having him tell the stories just adds to the enjoyment for me.

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Tav
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If I didn‘t already have a bookcase full of unread books, I would SO take Barrel Fever for my own off the laundry room share shelf. I love Sedaris.

LeahBergen Hey, The Mitfords are finally gone! 😮 7y
Tamra Did you put Hargar there? I enjoyed it! 7y
Tav @Tamra no that‘s not my copy of 7y
Tav @LeahBergen took long enough!! 7y
11 likes1 stack add4 comments
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

As I recalled from reading the print version several years ago, the personal stories are best. The fictional essays are decent, too, but not quite as entertaining. Still a “pick,” though. I love #Sedaris! #audio #reread

DocBrown I️ remember picking this up when it first came out in 1994. It was soon after I️ started heading him read his hilarious journal entries on public radio. 7y
117 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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britt_brooke
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😆 From the fictional #essay “The Last You‘ll Hear from Me.” #Sedaris #audio #reread

Cinfhen Brilliant 7y
CouronneDhiver 👍🏽 7y
See All 9 Comments
TricksyTails 😂😂😂 7y
Reecaspieces ❤️😂😂 7y
Shemac77 Hahahahaha! Love it! 7y
Ke633 👏🏻👏🏻nice! 7y
OrangeMooseReads 👍🏽 🤣 7y
Lmstraubie 😂😂😂😂😂 7y
117 likes1 stack add9 comments
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britt_brooke
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Anna40 I can never read on these machines... tried but can't concentrate! 7y
britt_brooke @Anna40 It‘s the only way I can zone out and not focus on how miserable I am. 😬 I used to read my kindle on it, but have recently started listening to audiobooks and that works out better for my neck, lol. 7y
Anna40 Audio books! Of course! Sorry to hear that you're not doing so well. Hope you'll feel better soon! 7y
britt_brooke @Anna40 Thanks! My chiropractor is helping me out so I‘m feeling much better. 💚 7y
108 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Brooke_H
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Mehso-so

Meh. Heavily uneven. This collection contains 12 short stories and 4 essays. The first story is very weird and funny and I fully enjoyed it. But no matter how I try, I cannot get into Sedaris's fiction. Usually first person, usually a highly unlikable character as narrator, often just plain offensive, and not in an edgy or shocking way, just in a tired old "really, you're doing that? Sigh. Okay, I guess." kind of way. The essays were very good.

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Cconnolly
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I have just discovered David Sedaris on audio......and am almost laughing out loud at work! Will be looking for more by him when done with this one. 😂

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AmandaL
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Pickpick

The short stories are so over the top, but the real stories are zany too. I enjoyed listening to Sedaris read his own work. This audio book also featured his sister Amy. The last story had me laughing so hard!

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ChrisBohjalian
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Remember that literacy campaign, "Get caught reading?" Here's Santa Claus! I spotted him at the shopping mall yesterday.

Foxyfictionista What's he reading? 8y
Suzze Of course, that's what we all want to know! What is Santa reading? 8y
christineandbooks Coolest Santa ever! 8y
59 likes1 stack add3 comments