CANNONBALL READ: BOOK THREE

Book Three: "Dress Your Family In Corduroy And Denim," by: David Sedaris (Bay Back Books).

If you've never before read David Sedaris, anyone will tell you how wonderful he is. The stories are written as a memoir style, but he has described his books as, "someone keeping a journal," and that someone is very similar to himself. "Dress" is no exception to his quirky, exceptionally funny, and often outrageous biographical re-imaginings. There's not much else to say about the book except that after finishing, you wish that not only was your dad a rambunctious Greek tightwad who stayed up late into the night drinking coffee obsessively with your lackadaisical mother, but that you possessed the creativity and comedic timing that would allow you to portray your family in the light that Sedaris does. Admittedly, some of the stories sound awfully familiar to memories I have of my own childhood, but I feel my lack of drug abuse and or working as one of Santa's elves in Macy's are what stop my stories from being nearly as heartfelt, let alone hilarious and just God damn charming.

Like any collection of shorter stories, the pages fly as you wander through the labyrinth of Sedaris' memories. The chapters I enjoy, in particular, are any having to do with Sedaris' long time partner, Hugh. I long for a life where I could pick up and move to an Italian villa, a Paris apartment, or just hang out with friends while I wrote amusing anecdotes and spent time with Ira Glass. While the heart of the tales remind you of your own families' dysfunction, the remote locations or unbelievable predicaments (like wondering why no one mentioned the fantastic view Anne Frank had out of her hideout) gently remind the reader that this isn't your life, because there's no way you're actually that clever. But we like to pretend that we are, which is why Sedaris is so wonderfully enjoyable.