FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $25 *SEE DETAILS
Advanced Search

In Books
  • All Departments
  • In Books
  • In Bargain Books
  • In eReading
  • In Kids' Books
  • In Teens' Books
  • In Toys & Games
  • In Video Games
  • In Lifestyle & Paper
  • In Movies & TV
  • In Music
  • In Used & Rare Books
  • In Used & Rare Movies & TV
  • In Used & Rare Music
When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Average rating: 4/5

Based on 64 ratings

Rate this

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

by SEDARIS DAVID

Little, Brown And Company | June 29, 2010 | Hardcover

"David Sedaris''s ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art," ( The Christian Science Monitor ) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this remarkable new book. Trying to make coffee when the water is shut off, David considers using the water in a vase of flowers and his chain of associations takes him from the French countryside to a hilariously uncomfortable memory of buying drugs in a mobile home in rural North Carolina . In essay after essay, Sedaris proceeds from bizarre conundrums of daily life-having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a fellow passenger on a plane or armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds-to the most deeply resonant human truths. Culminating in a brilliant account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris''s sixth essay collection is a new masterpiece of comic writing from "a writer worth treasuring" ( Seattle Times ). Praise for When You Are Engulfed in Flames : "Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris...defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life." -- Kirkus Reviews This latest collection proves that not only does Sedaris still have it, but he''s also getting better....Sedaris''s best stuff will still--after all this time--move, surprise, and entertain." -- Booklist Table of Contents: It''s Catching Keeping Up The Understudy This Old House Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie? Road Trips What I Learned That''s Amore The Monster Mash In the Waiting Room Solutions to Saturday''s Puzzle Adult Figures Charging Toward a Concrete Toadstool Memento Mori All the Beauty You Will Ever Need Town and Country Aerial The Man in the Hut Of Mice and Men April in Paris Crybaby Old Faithful The Smoking Section
$28.99
$7.99
$7.59

Sold Out

Buy Used
See all 333 copies from $5.24
All Editions Online Member
Kobo Edition (eBook) $9.99 n/a
Trade Paperback $31.99 $30.39

  • Eligible for FREE Shipping on orders over $25. + Details.

Reviews

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 4/5

    Fun

    Kabuki Face

    3 years ago

    What happens if you want to buy a human skeleton? What if you happen to live next to a sex offender or a cranky old lady? Is it possible to pee in your pants without anyone noticing?

    Those are few of the questions David Sedaris is trying to answer in his collection of humorous essays. The situations he is getting into are painfully hilarious and mostly self-inflicted. The author is not afraid to look compulsive, obsessive, or clingy; he enjoys himself in his endless explorations. I loved the story "Keeping Up" where Sedaris is contemplating a break-up, only to realize he cannot survive without the person he loves. Literary. I giggled at his constant fights with eccentric neighbour Helen, and I burst laughing out loud at "Town and Country"'s cab driver.

    When You Are Engulfed in Flames is not really a book you'd read over and over again for its intellectual weight, but rather you'd flip it open on rainy days, on an absolutely random page, just to get your good doze of good humour.

    Comments on this review:
    Lady Ethereal Butterfly

    It will probably take me a little while to get around to this book because my reading pile is massive, but I can't wait. I'll try my hardest to remember to tell you what I thought of it.

    Kabuki Face

    I'm positive that you'll like the book. Please let me know what you think of it when you're done reading.

    Lady Ethereal Butterfly

    Great review! I bought this books about a week ago, and now I'm looking forward to reading it even more.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    One of his best!

    Drew Garside

    • Indigo Employee

    3 years ago

    Can anyone top this guys sarcastic wit? Sadly i missed him at the Bay and Bloor launch by a matter of hours. However you can you tube his appearance on David Letterman reading one of his essay's from this book (The one about the Stadium Buddy portable urinary system). Thus marks the first time i can remember an author reading an essay on a late night talk show. I think that really says something about his writing.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 4/5

    Great Read

    ZazieS

    3 years ago

    Another great one by Sedaris - Only one caveat: quitting smoking section (last chapter) a bit long and drawn out. Other than that, great short 'autobiographical' essays on everyday observations and strange situations.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 4/5

    What to do When...

    Coach C

    • Top Book Reviewer

    3 years ago

    What to do when you are engulfed in flames?? This funny set of personal anecdotes from David Sedaris is clever, witty and downright hilarious. This is my first David Sedaris book and it certainly won't be my last.

    Among some of the best "Sedaris moments" include: the long arduous yet funny attempts to stop smoking, his obsessions with his parents, what to do when your neighbor is a sex offender, and hilarious attempts to buy a human skeleton.

    The book is universally funny and is meant to be read aloud for maximum humor effect. One of the better books I've read this year.

Details

From the Publisher

"David Sedaris''s ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art," ( The Christian Science Monitor ) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this remarkable new book. Trying to make coffee when the water is shut off, David considers using the water in a vase of flowers and his chain of associations takes him from the French countryside to a hilariously uncomfortable memory of buying drugs in a mobile home in rural North Carolina . In essay after essay, Sedaris proceeds from bizarre conundrums of daily life-having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a fellow passenger on a plane or armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds-to the most deeply resonant human truths. Culminating in a brilliant account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris''s sixth essay collection is a new masterpiece of comic writing from "a writer worth treasuring" ( Seattle Times ). Praise for When You Are Engulfed in Flames : "Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris...defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life." -- Kirkus Reviews This latest collection proves that not only does Sedaris still have it, but he''s also getting better....Sedaris''s best stuff will still--after all this time--move, surprise, and entertain." -- Booklist Table of Contents: It''s Catching Keeping Up The Understudy This Old House Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie? Road Trips What I Learned That''s Amore The Monster Mash In the Waiting Room Solutions to Saturday''s Puzzle Adult Figures Charging Toward a Concrete Toadstool Memento Mori All the Beauty You Will Ever Need Town and Country Aerial The Man in the Hut Of Mice and Men April in Paris Crybaby Old Faithful The Smoking Section

About the Author

David Sedaris is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and Public Radio International''s "This American Life." He is the author of the books Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, and Barrel Fever.

Hardcover

336 Pages, 5.77 x 8.53 x 1.09 in

June 29, 2010

Little, Brown And Company

English


0316143472
9780316143479

From Community

< close and return to chapters.indigo.ca
kobo
  • Take your library with you wherever you go
  • Use the device you want to use… smartphone, desktop and many of today’s most popular eReaders
  • Use Indigo gift cards to buy eBooks and subscriptions

WHY KOBO?

We love the Kobo eReading service… and we know you will too. We’ve partnered with them to bring you the most flexible, enjoyable eReading experience in Canada.

SHOPPING ON KOBO

You’ll be asked to sign in or create a new account with Kobo. Once you do, you’ll immediately get access to millions of titles and be ready to start eReading. Anytime. Anyplace.

continue to kobo

quick links

 
 
 

Sign up for email

Be the first to know

about discounts, promotions and new releases.

Sign up now 

Self Publish

Get your book published

and on our shelves!

Find out how  

Protected by Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices and Terms of Use | Privacy Policy  

Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation © 2010

Powered by EndecaVeriSign SecuredEssential Accessibility 

As Canada’s purveyor of ideas and inspiration, Indigo is the largest book, gift and specialty toy retailer in Canada. Indigo operates in all provinces under different banners including Indigo Books & Music; Indigo Books, Gifts, Kids; IndigoSpirit; Chapters; The World's Biggest Bookstore; and Coles. The online channel, www.indigo.ca, features books, eBooks, toys and gifts and hosts the award winning Indigo Online Community.

111