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Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
by David Sedaris

Published: 2004-06-01
Hardcover : 272 pages
3 members reading this now
16 clubs reading this now
6 members have read this book
David Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters. He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling drinks. He attends his brother's wedding. He mops his sister's floor. He gives directions to a lost traveler. He eats a hamburger. He has his blood sugar tested. It all sounds so ...
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Introduction

David Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters. He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling drinks. He attends his brother's wedding. He mops his sister's floor. He gives directions to a lost traveler. He eats a hamburger. He has his blood sugar tested. It all sounds so normal, doesn't it? In his newest collection of essays, David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. His world is alive with obscure desires and hidden motives -- a world where forgiveness is automatic and an argument can be the highest form of love. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is another unforgettable collection from one of the wittiest and most original writers at work today.

Editorial Review

Whether by nature or by nurture, Ma and Pa Sedaris certainly knew something about raising funny kids. Amy Sedaris has built a cult following for her Comedy Central character Jerri Blank, and David, the more famous of the two siblings, continues to spin his personal history into comedic gold. A good chunk of the material in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim debuted in other media outlets, such as The New Yorker, but Sedaris's brilliantly written essays deserve repeat reads.

Based on the author's descriptions, nearly every member of his family is funny, although some (like sister Tiffany, perhaps) in a tragic way. In "The Change in Me," Sedaris remembers that his mother was good at imitating people when it helped drive home her point. High-voiced, lovably plain-spoken brother Paul (aka The Rooster, Silly P) has long been a favorite character for Sedaris readers, though Paul's story takes on a serious note when his wife has a difficult pregnancy. The author doesn't shy away from embarrassing moments in his own life, either, including a childhood poker game that strays into strange, psychological territory. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim provides more evidence that he is a great humorist, memoirist, and raconteur, and readers are lucky to have the opportunity to know him (and his clan) so well. His funny family feels like our own. Perhaps they are luckier still not to know him personally. --Leah Weathersby

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

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Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

David Sedaris asks: Why bother?

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Sarah T. (see profile) 12/18/17

 
  "Writing is graphic regarding an encounter"by Laurel L. (see profile) 09/09/08

Author has an incredible way of twisting what would usually be a normal day in the life of your average gay male "Joe" into an engaging and entertaining piece of storytelling. I laughed out loud and giggled... (read more)

 
  "Horrible Horrible"by Rosa L. (see profile) 06/04/08

This book was the worst - don't read it..don't even look at it!! I feel bad to be mean but it really was horrible.

 
  "Humorous account of the author's life."by Christy G. (see profile) 03/09/08

I loved this book. I thought it was funny and also a nice quick read. However, there is not that much to discuss, so you might just want to read it on your own.

 
  "Not a cohesive story...didn't keep my attention"by Stefanie A. (see profile) 11/13/07

This isn't your typical memoir. It wasn't a cohesive story about his life. It was little anecdotes that weren't very interesting. I felt there was no purpose or direction throughout the entire book.... (read more)

 
  "pointless story"by Melissa K. (see profile) 11/11/07

I think that David Sedaris must have written another book prior to this one. Maybe that book discussed his interesting life, this book was extremely difficult to get through. If this was not a book club... (read more)

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