I love the man. I really love him. I love him in print, on the radio and in YouTube clips. I even love the man’s sister, for Lord’s sake. But I really, really sadly did not love this book.

Not that it was bad by any means. It was amusing and witty, typical of Sedaris, but let’s just say that it was a little forced, as if a publisher with a  five-book deal wanted No. 5 already and was breathing down his neck. As if all the stories of his childhood and every interesting anecdote of his life had been thought, re-thought and mined for publication long ago. What we’re left with is the day-to-day journal of a very funny man, just not the same funny man as he’s been in the past.

Can’t blame him. After all, he’s had more than 40 years to gather those best-ever stories. Now he’s an adult, and he’s not about to take guitar lessons/become a performance artist/come out of the closet/stop smoking by taking a $20,000 dollar, three-month trip to Japan ever again, now is he?

If you’re a Sedaris fan, it’s still worth picking up, like checking in with an old and beloved friend. But if you’re not a Sedaris fan, start earlier with “Me Talk Pretty” or “Naked.” Then you’ll fall in love, breeze through his whole series and wind up back here, where you’ll be mildly disappointed without losing faith in the author all together.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars – Book club vacation reading