Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

There are some minor spoilers, but this book isn’t really the type that can be spoiled. I’ll let you decide.

 

I’m sure any reader can relate to picking up a random book just for the sake of having something to read. Most of the time it’s the cover that entices me. When I picked up this book, it was the title: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. Though, on second thought, the cover, featuring a naked barbie doll, certainly stood out to me. 

Consistent with the title, this book is a bit weird. It’s a collection of 22 short essay-memoirs about bizzare moments in the author's life. In his first essay, Sedaris recalls a strange family that lived in his neighborhood when he was little. He describes that, as a child, he felt very sorry that the family didn’t own a TV. However, that sympathy quickly turned to resentment when he was forced to give the children in the family his hard-earned candy the day after Halloween. While Sedaris’s essays almost never have a moral or lesson, there is usually something relatable about them. Often it’s the way he describes his emotions, which are frequently unflattering. In this particular story, it was the way he documented the moment his fascination morphed into disgust, all because of something as trivial as candy. 

The stories in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim are roughly arranged in chronological order, but besides that, there is no common theme except, of course, David Sedaris. From one essay to the next, the topic, length, and humor vary. Directly after a story about hippies, money, and getting punched in the face, is one of the shortest essays in the book, titled “Hejira,” in reference to a Joni Mitchell album*. In this essay, Sedaris writes about being kicked out of the house by his father, not realizing until years later that he was forced to move out because he was gay. Despite the topic, he manages to incorporate humor into the story by explaining that at the time, he misunderstood his father’s motivation and believed it was his habitual use of drugs that his father couldn’t accept. 

Throughout much of his book, Sedaris tries using humor to discuss difficult or seemingly ordinary topics (anything from OCD to his brother eating a frozen chicken out of the dumpster), but, as is sometimes the way of comedy, not all his comedic endeavors are successful. Sprinkled in between stories that elicit laughter or, at the very least, amusement, are a number or essays too mundane or too personal for me to find funny. During one essay, which features Sedaris and his partner, Hugh, having a fight about a rubber hand, I had to ask myself multiple times why I was still reading. It had many elements of a humorous story (who doesn’t love rubber hands?), yet I found myself confused about the context and consequently missing the punchline.  

All this is to say, I’m unsure of how I stand on Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. On the one hand, it’s generally a funny book that is unlike any that I’ve ever read before. On the other hand, it’s strange to know so much about one person and his family. I don’t feel as though I’ve learned anything truly important. I feel more like I accidentally eavesdropped on 22 random moments of someone’s life over the course of several decades. If you’re looking to broaden your literary horizons, then it might be interesting to give Sedaris a shot. Otherwise, if everything that I just described doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, I would suggest investing your time in other books. 

- Bonnie 

*I recommend listening to Joni Mitchell's album Hejira because it's really good. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6If65D_DXS4