Sedaris: Still Funny, but Crankier?

David Sedaris's new essay collection offers a blend of his signature wit and a noticeable increase in curmudgeonliness, a shift some readers might find leaves him appearing like a gay Larry David. Despite a potential concern about a dearth of new material after numerous volumes, Sedaris continues to draw from his everyday experiences with his husband, siblings, and friends, as well as from his extensive touring.

The essays capture Sedaris's ongoing journey through life and travel, generating content from interactions with strangers and fans. While the scope might feel narrow, his distinctive tone persists, even as he embraces a more irritated outlook. This crankiness, however, occasionally veers into less successful territory with jokes that fall flat.

Stronger pieces emerge from Sedaris's sharpest observations about people, particularly his family. His reflections on his mother, triggered by a "cool mom" t-shirt, highlight his ability to evoke deep emotion. Reminiscences of his mother and past friendships, including a moving account of giving a stranger a lift, showcase Sedaris's profound sentimentality beneath his witty, sometimes savage exterior.