Not my favorite collection by Sedaris but SantaLand Diaries included is great and one that can be revisited every Christmas.

Nov 27, 2016

The Possum needed some "Santaland Diaries" and then I was supposed to take the book back to the library, but Santaland sounded really appealing so I read the whole thing again. This is my favorite Sedaris. "Six to Eight Black Men" is battling "Santaland" for favorite xmas anecdote, and "Jesus Shaves" got me laughing aloud, which I don't often do when sitting alone in a room reading.

Be of good cheer.

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February 21, 2021

I don't know why it struck my fancy just now, but it surely did.

Somewhere along the way, when I was feeling tangential, which is pretty much always, although that's beside the fact, I saw someone on the internet aggrieved that Sedaris might not, strictly speaking, be telling the actual truth about everything. While I understand the ire of a person reading a memoir in which pivotal events turn out to be imaginary, I am surprised that anyone would think Sedaris is reporting. These are labeled Stories. Some of them, no spoilers, are clearly not based on actual events. Others are simply too funny to be true. Life is rarely sardonic, you know?

***

I was puzzled, wondering why I couldn't find an original review of Santaland Diaries, nor even a date read. And then I realized: this was in the Access database. Stupid zip drive.

Library copy

I always get David Sedaris and Dave Eggers confused for some reason. Until now, I've never read anything by either of them, but I can't remember who it is that everyone seems to hate. Sedaris? Eggers? Both? I had planned to read this a year ago, but forgot I had it. I thought I'd better read it now during the holidays so I wouldn't have to wait another year to get to it--I can never watch Christmas movies or read holiday stories when it's not Christmas; it's depressing.

Anyway, this was a perfect little book to read during all the holiday chaos while suffering from a near-mental breakdown. (Mental breakdown caused by the mom freakout that happens every once in awhile when you realize there are actual lives depending on you, and you don't even know how that happened, or have a fucking clue what you're doing, and are scared someone is going to find you out, and are a little puzzled that they haven't already, and you just go to bed to cry into your pillow. You know, that old chestnut.) It's a quick read, funny, and made me feel a little better knowing that I at least don't have to make a living handing out leaflets dressed in a taco costume. Working as a Christmas Elf would be kind of fun, though. Well, just for like a day. The first story was my favorite, and I was grateful for the laughs instead of the above-stated tears. There's a blurb for ya.

"A great alternative to sobbing yourself to sleep!"
-J. Soutas, author of this really bad, whiny review

So really, thank you Dave Eggers David Sedaris, I like you.

You will never look at visiting Santa the same way. The other stories were a bit hit and miss. I did enjoy the review of the children's plays though.

I never want to be a Macy’s Elf

This is a reread for me, although this version has a few more new stories.

Sedaris's version of the holidays is a comfort in a world saturated with sentimentality during Christmas. He pushes the limits, and hearing it in his voice is the way to go.

"The Santaland Diaries" feels like the greatest classic, about being a seasonal Macy's elf.

"Six to Eight Black Men" was my favorite this time around, about how Christmas traditions are different in Holland, and how political correctness tends to alter those traditions over time (necessarily, I'd add, yikes!)

This audiobook also includes one story recorded live, and that's the best experience. Stories are fine with perfectly produced rounded music intros, but it is the audience that really provides the energy.

I didn't find this audiobook engaging or funny. I kept listening hoping it would get better (and it's short). Perhaps he's just not the author for me with the exception of last year's Calypso, a book that I found excellent, especially on audio.

I enjoyed "SantaLand Diaries". The book is worth getting just for that. I also liked "Dinah, the Christmas Whore", which I have read before in one of Sedaris's other collections - I don't know how well it would work for someone otherwise unfamiliar with his writing about his family.

The other four stories are satirical fiction, and they did nothing for me. They're the first non-autobiographical pieces I've read from Sedaris, and they're lacking that bizarre worldview that is so entertaining about his (semi) non-fiction. I've heard that Sedaris is very entertaining when he's reading his own stuff out loud, so maybe these work better in that format.

"SantaLand Diaries" is my favorite Sedaris story, bar none. And it's perfect for this time of year! Ah, refreshing cynicism.

Annual #reread. It just isn’t Christmas until I’ve revisited “Santaland Diaries,” “Six to Eight Black Men,” and everything between. I never tire of Sedaris.

I hadn't read this Sedaris and so I fixed my oversight. These essays were literally laugh out loud funny. He's a genius

Maybe I’m just suffering from Christmas fatigue, but I just don’t find this very funny. The first story about Sedaris’ time as a Christmas elf at Macy’s is mildly funny.

One nice thing is that the paperback version I have is small, approximately 5 x 7” and will fit nicely in an adult’s Christmas stocking. Elves believe in recycling.