When You Are Engulfed in Flames

P: How Does Sedaris' inclusiveness of sometimes unpleasant detail affect you as you read?

R: In response to your last comment, I'm not going to lie, I really don't like it when Sedaris begins to include those sort of crude details to repaint a story of his past. To include a concrete example almost the entire chapter of "The Understudy" was tough for me to read. He described this babysitter Ms. Peacock in a way that just made me want to skip along to the next paragraph. The only problem with that is how his descriptions of her is what makes the chapter what it is. How else could he convey his complete misery in having her as a babysitter? When we are first introduced to her we receive a description of her vaseline colored skin, paired with her yellow hair and "great bare legs, which were dimpled at the inner knee and streaked throughout with angry purple veins". Just previous to this we get the pleasure of learning that she tends to walk around in only a slip. Poor, poor kids. This I suppose s the purpose of this specific chapter is to instill that feeling; however, I can't say I like having that disgusted feeling right before I go to bed, as I mentioned in a previous blog. The worst in this chapter which I have yet to mention ress with the back scratching monkey claw, "Again and again we ran the paw over Ms. Peacock's back, the fingers leaving white trails and sometimes welts." By the third or fourth description of this back scratching, I was ready for the next chapter.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

P: How do you feel about the author's use of humor in the novel?

R: I have decided that humorous novel must be the absolute hardest to write. How could Sedaris know that what he was saying is funny? It seems like it's just luck wether or not people find him annoying or hilarious. People obviously think he's funny considering how many books he's sold but I can't help thinking about the what ifs. I mean for an author writing a sad story it's pretty easy to agree on what is a tragedy. Or like in the book "In Cold Blood" he already had a tragedy and an interesting crime report that millions of people knew about and were interested in. In the books I read like "The Tao of Pooh" or "The Te of Piglet" those had to do with an ancient religion that he knew there would be a following for considering it's been around and practiced for thousands of years. It just blows my mind that he not only simply talks about his life, which so far hasn't proven to be that exceptional, but he also uses humor that he can't even count on people will think is funny. I just am developing a pretty serious respect for hi as an author as I continue to read because I feel like it's a pretty rare talent to be able to take simple personality traits combined with silly stories about your own life and a knack for good well structured writing and become a very successful author. I know If I talked about my life for more than a page or two I'd probably put someone to sleep.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

P: How do you feel about the author's style of writing?

R: As I've continued reading I recall you telling me that Sedaris uses an essay sort of format in writing his novels. This is another way in which the book reminds me of "A Letter to my Daughter". It's funny I guess because these books are so different but for some reason I've been reminded of that book twice already. I appreciate The essay style I suppose, because like I said when I asked for a recommendation I find myself having very little time for independent reading. Last night when I sat down to continue reading as I tried to remember exactly what I'd read the night before I realized that other than character development of the people in his life the two chapters had almost nothing to do with each other as far as the subject matter. I think that as I continue to read I'm going to appreciate this essay style format so that I wont spend the entire time I read trying to rebuild the parts I may have read at midnight the night before. Not to say the book wont have meaning for me, of course I will keep up with the characters and be able to analyze, it will just keep me from wasting a lot of time trying to remember who did what or where our heroes last left off. I'm hoping this will make the experience of reading this book very enjoyable and help it to not feel so much like homework.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Author: David Sedaris

Publication: June 2008

P: What are your initial thoughts in beginning this book?

R: I have began reading this book via your reccomendation, and I have gone into it knowing little to nothing about the book or the author. I recall you telling me that David Sedaris is notorious for his use of humor in his writing which has become apparent even in the first few chapters. I can tell already that this is not like any book I have read before. I feel almost like I'm reading the script to some type of comedy show. He really doesn't hold anything back, seeing as he began the first chapter discussing the worm that Hugh picked up in the Congo to which his mother, Maw Hamrick, proceeded to pick up a week later. I was reading this particular part right before I fell asleep which gave me the perfect stomachache to sleep on. It reminded me of the part in "A Letter to my Daughter" by Maya Angelou which I read for summer reading where she was forced to swallow what she thought was cockroaches. I recall receiving a similar queasy sort of feeling at that moment as well. Of course Maya's encounter had to do with her expierences with other cultures while I really think that Sedaris included that bit simply for bold humor's sake. The similarity; however, lies in the fact that both authors were able to instill that feeling of sickness in myself as a reader that they experienced directly. Being able to convey emotions to a reader, I believe is a sure sign of a good author.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: Can you relate the book you are currently reading to any texts we have studied in class?

R: As I continue reading Harry Potter I have began to realize a similarity between Harry's obvious journey and that underlying journey of Eudora Welty in the short essay excerpt we read. We discussed in class the thought of a "heroine's journey". This of course would be a "hero's" journey for Harry but there are similarities nonetheless. It would help if I had the essay here in front of me but I know Eudora begins speaking of the librarian as a witch. She also gives the impression that the library is some sort of cave with the light flowing in from the door behind. I know also that there were some references to dragons at some point. I really wish I had the essay and I can't quite remember what the title was to look it up but I know that the heroine's journey is not very different than that of Harry. The dragons in Diagon Alley guard the vaults of Gringots and the three headed beast (Fluffy) guards the sorcerer's stone. In Eudora's essay she refers a number of times to her mother who plays the sort of wise all-knowing character in her journey. This, I believe, is very similar to the role of Dumbledore in Harry's life. Also, the librarian slightly reminds me of Mcgonagall in Harry Potter although, of course, Mcgonagall does care for and love Harry. Her strict nature, however; reminded me of the librarian as she sent the young girls back home to put a petticoat beneath their skirts.