Not Sedaris, but a collection of Sedaris' favorite short stories. They are quirky and zany, just as you might imagine they'd be. They're also, for the most part, good.

This showcases what truly good short stories are all about. One in particular has stayed with me since I read it, the imagery was so dead on that it brought tears to my eyes.

Unexpected, good

I've been putting off this review, because it's *hard* to review a bunch of completely unrelated stories by authors who also have no connection (beyond "David Sedaris likes them" -- and for the record, the man has motley tastes).

Overall I really enjoyed the book, but there's no basic summary I can give, no message to take home. It was all over the map, from Katherine Mansfield to Tobias Wolff to Dorothy Parker to Jhumpa Lahiri.

A collection like this, of equally strong writing from a diverse collection of authors, does give the reader this, however: you can really begin to gauge your general preferences. I like older fiction that gives me a sense of what life was like before I was around to experience it ("The Garden Party", "Where The Door Is Always Open and The Welcome Mat is Out", "Song of The Shirt, 1941"). I like new fiction that is playful with the medium while still striking emotional chords ("The Best of Betty"). And I like Jhumpa Lahiri without being able to categorize why. But! I'm tired of stories about Weird Teachers ("Gryphon"), and Complicated Family Life ("Half a Grapefruit"). I still appreciated the writing, they just . . . don't fit into what I want to be reading right now.

Highly recommended to Sedaris fans trying to get into his head with a literary soundtrack to his life, and to just about anyone wondering "what do I like?" -- because hey, it's bound to be in here somewhere.

good set of short stories

I love short stories. I don't think there was a stinker in this bunch. A nice mix of older fiction and current authors with plenty of writers I'm interested in reading more of.

consider me cheered up

What a nice selection of short stories. An excellent way to be introduced to some new writers. Loved almost every story in this book.

An eclectic short story collection offering Sedaris' fav writers. Richard Yates opener, "Oh Joseph, I'm So Tired" (1957) is excellent but to say more might ruin it for a reader. O'Connor's "Revelation" (1965) appears often in collections, but it makes perfect sense why Sedaris, the once-bullied southern kid, likes it so much. Tim Johnson's "Irish Girl" (2002) offers this gem: "What's [a fascist]?"..."He's the guy who ends up full of bullet holes with old ladies pissing on him in the town square." Exactly.

I've listened to a lot of David Sedaris over the years, and I think he writes fantastic prose and memoirs. We are of the same mind when it comes to what short stories we like. I honestly loved almost every single story he chose for this collection, and those I didn't love I certainly respect. Since he is so open about so many aspects of his life, it's not a stretch to see what drew him to each of these stories, and they are by turns terribly shocking, mysterious, happy, and always great prose. It also has a wonderful introduction - sometimes intros by guest editors can be long and esoteric, but his is a memoir of reading, and it really brings the collection together. Also, it's a great, great nonprofit to be supporting, and I was happy to buy it.

Unbelievable collection of short stories-- who knew David Sedaris had such good taste?

Checked this collection out in audiobook form from the library for the 5 hr drive up to my family cottage at the end of July. I'd seen it listed in the library newsletter as a New Arrival and since I enjoy Sedaris' work so much, I thought I'd give it a try. Note that the audiobook version is abridged & contains only 5 of the stories from the print edition. I now own a paperback copy as a pass-along from my Mom.

With this book, Sedaris selected examples of writing he has been astounded by, in an attempt to both bring attention to the genre and share his love of the form. With the exception of one of the stories, I was astounded as well. All the authors were new to me (tho I'd heard of Highsmith) and I have added some names & books to my To Read list thanks to this collection.

* "Where the Door is Always Open and the Welcome Mat is Out" by Patricia Highsmith, read by Cherry Jones.
The main character, a NYC studio apartment spinster, is anxious about her sister visiting from Cleveland Ohio. A period piece; the details are marvelous, as is the strained conversation between the two. I definitely need to read more short stories by Ms. Highsmith.

* "Bullet In the Brain" by Tobias Wolff read by Toby Wherry.
The fastidiously sarcastic protagonist is an unfortunate bystander in a bank robbery; we travel with him through the last few moments of his life. Powerful imagery.

* "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter read by David Sedaris
Oh, how I'd love to be the teacher in this story! A schoolboy in a small town describes a couple of strange days with a substitute teacher. Another author I may have to find out more about.

* "In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried" by Amy Hempel read by Mary-Louise Parker
A ruefully funny and tragic first person tale of a young woman dealing with the impending death of a friend. Another addition to the To Read list.

* "Cosmopolitan" by Akhil Sharma read by the Author
Unfortunately, this story didn't really do much for me at all. A middle-aged Western Indian faces the loss of his family thru divorce and growing up; he falls in lust with a semi-eccentric neighbor.