old house this when you are engulfed in flames david sedaris

What do a schizophrenic, an antiques dealer, a dishwasher and a psychic all have in common? Photo by Chandran Nandrajog/wiki

One of the best things about Sedaris’ book is the occurrence of really great women characters. Sure, they’ll all whack-a doo but they’re great, I tell you, great. Just see “The Understudy.”

In “This Old House,” we discover that Sedaris’ life goal after moving out from his mom and dad’s was to be the world’s greatest dishwasher and thereby move up to the world’s greatest waiter. Little spoiler, he didn’t accomplish that. Not motivated enough?

He did, however, find an old house to live in with an older lady who shared his taste in fashion, i.e. the 1930′s-ish. She collected antiques – kinda – and Sedaris became one of the two borders she had. Then the chemistry student moved out and in came Chaz. The the old lady’s mother moves back in.

Things go to pot, of course. Sort of literally.


And Sedaris has to take up a life of crime and sell drugs on the street.

Obviously not.

That ending may have been funnier than what actually happened. Or didn’t happen. I can never tell how much Sedaris is yanking my chain. Anyway, read it.

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