Book Review Week: "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris

Unlike Dave Sedaris' other books, this one is inscribed to my father. As a struggling writer, it is is nice to hear what already established authors, especially ones I personally value,have to say.


Because with all of the insecurities, all the doubts, all of the difficulties that are unique to being an author, one does often wake up in the middle of the night wondering, "But is my father enchanting?"




For Further Reading on How Great Authors have Reacted to Justin Please See:

Garrison Keilor.

Dave Barry.

I Am Not Making This Up: I Am Best Friends With Author Dave Barry: A Photo Essay.

Don't mean to brag but my weekend was way better then yours.

No real surprise there: Otherwise I would be reading your blog rather than you reading my blog.

When I heard Dave Barry was coming to town I immediately called my only remaining friend in Cleveland, Rachel.


She agreed to be seen in public with me, if I gave her one of my air conditioners. Sounded fair enough.


Even though I was in an amazing amount of pain from cutting myself with a razor blade while taking a cutting from a plant, I still had a great time.

Aside from befriending me, Dave Barry did magic tricks and read and told jokes.

Adults asked questions like, Do you agree with Rene Girard's theory of mimetic desire as an organizing principle....

Kids asked questions like, How come in the third novel, the camel goes poop on the king's head?

O.K. I asked that question.

Unfortunately, when I returned home, the plant had died.




But it was all worth it, because Dave Barry gave me his autograph and his eternal friendship.