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Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays

by David Sedaris

Published: 1995-06-01
Paperback : 0 pages

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Short stories and essays by an apartment cleaner and a popular commentator for National Public Radio highlight the absurd behavior of modern Americans, such as the suburban dad who saves money by performing surgery at home. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

A collection of stories and ...

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Introduction

(Short stories and essays by an apartment cleaner and a popular commentator for National Public Radio highlight the absurd behavior of modern Americans, such as the suburban dad who saves money by performing surgery at home. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

A collection of stories and essays by humorist and NPR commentator David Sedaris based upon his own experiences and the hidden perversity that can be found in Anytown, U.S.A. Here are images and blasphemies that nice people don't dare look at--blatantly exposed and told with the clear, casual voice of intimate knowledge. Sedaris' humor is born of compassion and his tales range from the sharing of cheery Christmas letters featuring infanticide, to experiences of the Gay and Famous (Charlton Heston and Elizabeth Dole, for example), to the lives of siblings named Hope, Faith, Charity and Adolph and to alcoholics and chain smokers you can laugh with.

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

In “Parade”, David seemingly “outs” a bunch of celebrities. Do these celebrities each represent a “community” or “sacred cow"?

In “Glen’s Homophobia Newsletter ” , Glen outlines the homophobic treatment he receives every day. There is no excuse for bigotry, but should he expect acceptance when he is so far from innocent?

In “We Get Along”, Dale’s mother is obsessed with finding out who is the “WS” with whom her husband had an affair. Why do you think Dale allows this crazy obsessive behavior to continue when he knows who it is & does not like her?

by mystryrdr (see profile) 03/10/11

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Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.

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"Hilarious while being thought provoking"by Stephanie L. (see profile) 03/10/11

Sedaris is not everyone's cup of tea, especially those who are not open-minded or comfortable with the slaughtering of sacred cows as that is what he does best. However, there is a cynical realism in his... (read more)

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