I can appreciate why you would hate that story. Be...

2004-12-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

I can appreciate why you would hate that story. Benjamin and I were listening to Holidays on Ice in the car on Thanksgiving. We gave his parents a ride to the ferry and in the car Benjamin asks if they minded listening to David Sedaris. They said no, of course they didn't mind. So we turn it back on and proceed to be bombarded, even horrified, by a story that results in a baby being killed in a washing machine. Interesting timing (with parents in the car); luckily his parents are very open-minded and accustomed to dark humor.

I agree it was in poor taste and I can't say I really understood the point of the story (so my tolerance for heinous violence is less). It also seemed odd and out-of-character for Sedaris to insert a fiction story with a central character unlike himself into the middle of a book, even a career, of auto-biographical stories. It was confusing, unexpected, and yucky.

Don't give up on Sedaris, though. Everything else I've read of his so far has been hilarious and though occasionally disturbing, isn't grotesque like that was.

Sounds good! Would you be willing to lend it to me...

2004-12-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

Sounds good! Would you be willing to lend it to me to read when you're done?

Comments on BackTalk: Out of the penalty box

I can appreciate why you would hate that story. Be...

Sounds good! Would you be willing to lend it to me...