Holiday's on Ice - Sedaris

Holiday's on Ice

David Sedaris 

Holiday's on Ice is a compilation of, you guessed it, holiday themed stories. These stories include Sedaris's short career as a Macy's elf, his sisters surprising friendship with a lady of the night and several fictional pieces. Several of these stories have been published in Sedaris's other collections, but come together here to create a fun, festive read.

Holiday's on Ice reads, mostly, like everything else I've read by Sedaris. I love the cynical tone he takes while writing about his life, and how he takes situations that to the average person would just be a family antidote and makes them into a laugh out loud essay. I've never been very impressed with Sedaris's attempts at fiction. Especially those in Holiday's on Ice. They read kind of flat, and while the Christmas letter was enjoyable, it was long and lost it's steam before it got to it's shocking finale.

Overall Holiday's on Ice was exactly what I wanted it to be. Holiday stories that made me laugh and reminded me that things could always be weirder then they are at my home. Isn't that what we're all looking for during the holidays? To know that we're not the only crazy ones?

Now that my love for Sedaris has been rekindled I can't wait to start Squirrel Seeks Chipmonk, maybe it'll change my mind about his fictional pursuits!

  

Literary Hop - Nonfiction Style

I've been a bad blogger. I had hours yesterday to work on this post and just kept putting it off - blaming it on how excited I was to see Deathly Hallows Part 1, or on being sleepy, but really I just didn't have a dignified answer to the question for this weeks Literary Book Blog Hop (hosted by The Blue Bookcase)

The question was: Is there a such thing as literary non-fiction? If so, how do you define it? Examples?

My hesitance to answer this question wasn't based on categorizing non-fiction as literary. For me, a literary work shows a beautiful control of wording and a innovative story. Ok, I'm simplifying my qualifications for the word 'literary' but I'm going to ask you to forgive me. Back to the point I was making; of course literary non-fiction exists. I'm just not sure if I've read any literary non-fiction. Looking at the non fiction I've read this year, it hasn't been very diverse 

Moab is My Washpot - Fry

American On Purpose - Ferguson

Running with Scissors - Burroughs 

How Did You Get This Number - Crosley

Sleepwalk with Me - Birbigglia. 

So, to break it down, that's three comedic memoirs, one generally funny memoir and a set of personal, and supposedly funny essays. Last year was no different. I think all I read was David Sedaris. But you can see that my foray into non fiction isn't usually for literary merit, but instead for a good laugh. I rarely read down the road to self help books, histories and general awesomeness that can be encompassed in non fiction. But with a category so vast as non fiction, I have to believe that at least some of it contains literary merit. 

In other news-

Since finishing Persian Letters, I have a chance to actually catch up on things I want to be reading. I still have to work through Things Fall Apart for class, but I'm excited for it. It also feels like an even switch since I made my old roommate read my favorite non-American book last year (Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being) and this is one of her favorite books by a non-American author. 

I'm also excited to finish rereading the above mentioned Unbearable Lightness of Being, as well as The Forgotten Garden, Stardust, The Virgin Widow and Starter For Ten. I think this is a good list to get me through Thanksgiving. What about you guys? Any big reading plans for the forthcoming holidays? Maybe a holiday favorite or a new release you can't wait for?