Mixed emotions, but worth it for several good laughs
Customer Rating: 
With this being the first David Sedaris book I have read, I had high hopes. It was read after recommendations comparing him to another favorite author. While there are several laugh out loud moments - mostly in the later stages of the book - for the most part I was disappointed by the inconsistent and boring majority of what reads like the diary of a dysfunctional person.
The two best stories, stories which redeem the rest of the book and are substantial on their own, are clearly "Barrel Fever" and "SantaLand Diaries", both of which had me in stitches.
"Barrel Fever" is the story of a man with a twisted sense of humor and a caustic wit. Adolph has an inheritance from his mother, no reason to work, and a best friend with an alcohol problem. His zany observations, hilarious comments and suggestions for others, and the manner in which he can blatantly lie for self-amusement reminded me quite a bit of the Ignatius J. Reilly from A Confederacy of Dunces. Part misanthrope, part crazy man, part comedian, Adolph is someone who could provide countless hours of entertainment if he weren't so lazy and unpredictable.
In "SantaLand Diaries", Sedaris creates his most memorable piece. It's hilarious from beginning to end, with a definite insight into the madness that is a faux-North Pole at a NYC department store during Christmas season. What was even more impressive to me was the ease with which he blended the comedy with the depressing aspects of over-ambitious parents who attempt to gain social status or the perfect moment vicariously, rather than simply allowing a child to enjoy the experience. Also enjoyable is the insight into an employee who would work as an elf, or who would endure the hordes of whining children and irksome parents during peak season at a mall. How anyone could do the job without going borderline insane, or without mocking and berating customers is beyond my patience or understanding.
Aside from the above two stories, the rest of the book is average. There are far too many dull moments between the chuckles and laughs, and the author seems a bit to concerned with creating a gay memoir rather than simply compiling a worthwhile, memorable collection of stories and essays.
