Pisaries Creator

Publication Date: December 1, 1997

Publisher: Back Bay Books

Page Number: 134

This is not the book I imagined would be the last one I would be reading this year. Every story except the different elves and Santas at Macy’s ended not as I would’ve imagined. There’s a lot of creativity and a moderate amount of insight in this book although much of it is disguised in absolute disbelief and craziness that I wondered how many pages can be viewed as fiction and which ones are only semi-fiction. I’m not exactly sure but David Sedaris does have a sister named Amy that appears in one of the stories. This can’t be a coincidence, can it? Unfortunately, this was my least favorite story although it was good enough to finish. What is believable are two mothers fighting while waiting in line for the perfect picture with Santa Claus which is why it’s probably the longest chapter. The holiday newsletter story was one of the most out of left field endings I have read in a while. Let me tell you that a writer is usually cautious with the subject matter in this story. Sedaris holds back nothing and by the end you wonder where he came up with this idea. The elementary school rendition of A Christmas Carol and other stage presentations by children was one of the funniest stories due to its adult viewpoint. The last two stories are the ones with the most commentary about sacrifice, money, competition, and a selfishness of giving to others. My guess is the next book I read will be a lot longer and not so riddled with sarcasm and humor in the coming year.