New Yorker David Sedaris’ 16th book is another collection of personal essays, with explorations of some of his favourite topics, the most prevalent of which is this whole damn getting-older thing.
With much snarky self-criticism, Sedaris again delves into the many relationships in his admittedly privileged life: his experiences with his partner Hugh (they’ve been together for some 35 years); his complex connections to his siblings; and the lingering legacy of his late Dad Lou, with whom he had a deeply unhealthy bond.
The first piece, Care And Feeding, is about the troubles the author endured when Hugh was dramatically recovering from a hip replacement, and you do have to wonder if Hugh actually read it (!). Goodyear is sweeter, with its glowing descriptions of his old friend Dawn, and then his departed Dad sneaks into the reflective My Finances, In Brief, and you’re again left wondering if his father ever read what David wrote about him (and at such great length).
In Lieu Of My Biography presents David at his most self-mocking, but the brief and amusingly-titled The Violence Of The Rams is more emotionally complex, despite being only five pages long, as we veer from bitchiness, to guilt, to understanding and acceptance.
Perhaps the most moving piece here is Good Grief, a familiar but touching recollection of how he looked through his address book (how 20th Century!) one day and realised that far too many of the friends and acquaintances listed therein were no longer around. Kind words and melancholy praise is then passed out to a wide range of late-greats, many of whom he wished he’d known better.
And, despite that seemingly ironic title, this isn’t quite as anti-American as you’d expect from this esteemed writer. But when it is… ouch!
The Land and Its People
David Sedaris (Hachette Australia: Abacus), 261pp
RRP $32.99 (paperback); $15.99 (e-book)
