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  • When You Are Engulfed in Flames

  • By: David Sedaris
  • Narrated by: David Sedaris
  • Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,072 ratings)
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When You Are Engulfed in Flames cover art

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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Summary

David Sedaris' remarkable ability to uncover the hilarious absurdity teeming just below the surface of everyday life is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this new book of stories.

Sedaris proceeds from bizarre conundrums of daily life - the etiquette of having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a fellow passenger or how to soundproof your windows with LP covers against neurotic songbirds - to the most deeply resonant human truths.

Taking in the parasitic worm that once lived in his mother-in-law's leg, an encounter with a dingo and the purchase of a human skeleton, and culminating in a brilliant account of his attempt to quit smoking - in Tokyo - David Sedaris' sixth story collection is a fresh masterpiece of comic writing.

©2008 David Sedaris (P)2008 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about When You Are Engulfed in Flames

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

What an odd man...

This is my first expedition into the world of David Sedaris, and it was a very enjoyable, funny one! Great book. I'll definitely be getting some some more from this author.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

recommended

Gently humorous anecdotes with some truly laugh out loud moments. As a bonus, the authors voice was perfect for helping me drift off to sleep at night - hurrah for sleep timers!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just brilliant

If you could sum up When You Are Engulfed in Flames in three words, what would they be?

laughing out loud

What did you like best about this story?

The narration was excellent and each chapter was unique.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Helen, the rude neighbour

Any additional comments?

Just excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another diamond.

Ten out of ten will recommend to a friend. Please see title for further information.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love

I have loved David Sedaris for years, his writing and narration are fabulously weird, surprisingly touching and hilariously hilarious.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

I love David Sedaris. He's hilarious. would really recommend this book and all of his others.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

meet david sedaris you're in for a treat

DS manages to be both incredibly profound and witty at the same time. Without any faux sentimentality (some achievement for an american) he comments about life, love and existence.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a delight!

Love David Sedaris' style of writing about the mundane little bits of everyday life - with such acid observation - it is written with love and is delightful. His family is the ever-giving source of his material and I feel I would be able to recognise each one in a crowd from his descripions. Brilliant!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Master Storyteller

I am a new convert to the work of David Sedaris and I am very pleased that he still narrates his own audiobooks, as a key part of the nuance of his wonderfully meandering stories is his soft, languid delivery. And this title does not disappoint in any way; every story is a stand-alone and yet part of the whole that is the author's life. By turns funny, poignant, angry, confused or just plain mad Sedaris weaves a world that is fascinating and unusual and yet instantly recognisable. A must-have title for your collection

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

genius

David Sedaris is my favourite he makes me feel brighter in both senses of the word

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