Title: Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls
Author: David Sedaris
First published April 23, 2013
275 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316154697 (ISBN10: 0316154695)
Rating: 3.84
Overview
Step into the world of David Sedaris, where hilarity and heartbreak intersect in unexpected ways. In Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, Sedaris takes readers on a journey through his life, from his father’s quirky habits to his own experiences with medical procedures.
With his signature wit, Sedaris shares tales of dentists without borders, buying the skeleton of a murdered Pygmy, and navigating the complexities of understanding owls. Through it all, he reminds us that even the most mundane moments can be filled with humor and meaning.
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls is a must-read for fans of Sedaris and anyone who appreciates a good laugh and a touch of insight.
About the Author
Meet David Sedaris – an American humorist and radio contributor who has been nominated for a Grammy Award. He first gained fame in 1992 when National Public Radio aired his essay “SantaLand Diaries.” This led to the publication of his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994.
Since then, every essay collection he has released – Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), (2004), and (2008) – has become a New York Times Best Seller. To date, his books have sold seven million copies.
Sedaris’ humor is largely autobiographical and self-deprecating, often touching on his family life, growing up in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, his Greek heritage, various jobs, education, drug use, homosexuality, and his life in France with his partner, Hugh Hamrick.
Editoral Review
“Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” by David Sedaris is a collection of essays that showcases the author’s signature wit, humor, and keen observations of human behavior. Published on April 23, 2013, the book is a prime example of the humor genre, with a mix of personal anecdotes, social commentary, and satire.
The book is divided into six parts, each containing a set of essays that explore a particular theme. The first part, “Attaboy,” is a collection of essays about Sedaris’s childhood and adolescence.
In these essays, he reflects on his experiences growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and his struggles with his identity as a gay man. The second part, “I’m Easy,” focuses on his travels around the world, from Paris to Beijing to Tokyo.
The third part, “Understanding Understanding Owls,” is a collection of humorous essays that range from Sedaris’s experience working as a taxidermist to his obsession with collecting animal skeletons. The fourth part, “The Happy Place,” is a poignant reflection on his sister’s suicide and his own struggles with mental illness.
The fifth part, “Repeat After Me,” is a collection of humorous essays about language, including his experiences learning French and his love of grammar.
The final part, “Understanding Understanding Owls,” is a set of essays that satirize American culture, including the healthcare system, the gun control debate, and the obsession with youth and beauty.
Sedaris’s writing style is sharp, witty, and irreverent, with a knack for finding humor in even the most mundane situations. His essays are filled with quirky characters, bizarre situations, and unexpected twists and turns.
His observations about human behavior are astute and insightful, and he has a gift for capturing the absurdities of everyday life.
One of the strengths of the book is Sedaris’s ability to weave together personal anecdotes with social commentary, creating a rich tapestry of humor and insight. He manages to balance humor with poignancy, creating an emotionally resonant reading experience.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some of the essays feel repetitive or lack a clear focus, and the book as a whole lacks a cohesive narrative arc.
Additionally, some readers may find Sedaris’s humor to be too cynical or biting for their taste.
Overall, “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking read. Sedaris’s sharp wit and astute observations make for a highly enjoyable reading experience.
However, readers looking for a more structured or cohesive narrative may be disappointed.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of humor and satire, as well as readers who enjoy personal essays and memoirs. Sedaris’s writing is both funny and insightful, and his essays offer a unique perspective on the human experience.
I would give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
