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A Review by Georgie Lewis

When a new David Sedaris book comes out it is an instant bestseller. No question about it — his frequently autobiographical stories and essays are riotously funny. The type of funny where tears actually come to your eyes. But when Sedaris's pipsqueak voice is reading his own work (with help from his sister and star of Strangers with Candy Amy Sedaris) the result is utter comedic genius. His distinctive voice, first made famous in wickedly funny commentaries for National Public Radio, elevates his written pieces. To listen to him read is to have the work come truly alive. It is the reason that last month scalped tickets for a one hour reading at Carnegie Hall were selling for hundreds of dollars.

The audio boxed set contains previously unreleased recordings, as well as all of Sedaris's classic material: a detailed remembrance of his short career as Crumpet, the Macy's Christmas elf; his experiences growing up with an obsessive compulsion to lick the light switches; and an unsuccessful stint as a speed-addicted conceptual artist. His self-deprecation is often accompanied by a sly misanthropy. However, whether he is making fun of himself or someone else the listener is always aware of Sedaris's acute sensitivity and gentleness. To own the boxed set of David Sedaris is to have access to him at any time — his material bears up to many a repeated listening. In this collection, you get to spend fourteen hours with David Sedaris — for less than the price of one scalped ticket!