Journal Entry 1 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Tuesday, February 15, 2005

I just bought this (trade paperback) book at the Friends of the Library used book store in Rockville, Maryland.

I thought I would not get any more books by David Sedaris after having read Me Talk Pretty One Day, but Naked is #55 on Cliff's Wish List this week...and BookCrossers do want to read it. It is destined to be sent out on a bookray so others can have their wishes fulfilled! :-)

Begin International Bookray (02/15/05)
SqueakyChu (Maryland) done
wyldanthem (Virginia) done
Edit 11/02/05: This book was never received by pheelya whose PM is now disabled.
End International Bookray (11/02/05)

Two new bookrays have been formed to take over from where this one stalled. Please feel free to contact either of the following BookCrossers to join.

(1) bethieb
(2) heartsong2 

Journal Entry 2 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, March 12, 2005

Although Sedaris' writing is good, I think I've identified what I *don't* like about it. As I wrote in a message forum post, it may be "not so much David Sedaris' way of telling or writing his pieces but rather his subject matter. I constantly get images of less fortunate people in his writing and, although I know in my heart his humor is tongue-in-cheek, I feel for those targets of his humor and feel sad rather than amused."

This book is now en route to wyldanthem in Virginia. 

Journal Entry 3 by wyldanthem from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, March 21, 2005

Naked arrived safely, and I've already begun reading. I really enjoyed Me Talk Pretty One Day, so we'll see how this one stacks up. Thanks, Squeaky Chu! 

Journal Entry 4 by wyldanthem from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, April 22, 2005

David Sedaris' keen observations always make for interesting stories, but for some reason this collection didn't grab me the way Me Talk Pretty One Day did. His wit is still there, but the sarcastic charm that had me laughing hysterically at "Go Carolina," "You Can't Kill the Rooster," and "The Youth In Asia" is overshadowed by a more blatant mocking, less funny voice. Squeaky, you're right -- and I think it's more obvious that he's making fun of his subjects in this collection than it was in Me Talk Pretty One Day, which is why I didn't enjoy it as much. (I did, however, take a guilty pleasure in knowing my OCD has never been as bad as his!)

I kept reading, hoping the next essay would be better than the one before it, but in the end (literally) "Naked" was the only story that really made me laugh, because I could relate (kind of). My last two semesters in college were spent in a journalism practicum, writing stories, taking photographs, and designing and editing newspaper pages. One of the pieces I worked on was a special spread about the growth of nudist communities (they didn't like the term "colonies") in South Carolina. Myself, another reporter, and a photographer were sent to spend the day with a group of nudists from the Midlands, and though none of us participated, it was definitely an interesting experience.

I'll still pick up Sedaris' books (still haven't read Holidays On Ice or Barrel Fever), but next time I'll be quick to skip over the essays that turn mean, because that's where he stops being funny. 

Journal Entry 5 by wyldanthem from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Hey, guys --

Sorry I didn't journal this one's trip to the post office, but according to my records it was sent out Monday, April 25. I'm trying to track it down, and if all else fails, will find a replacement so everyone else has a chance to read it. Sorry again. :o(