Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (2008, Hardcover)

I purchased this book thinking to get a few chuckles about the holiday season. The first short story was cute. An elf at Macy's at Christmas. But the second story totally turned me off. It revolves around what appears at first to be an average family at Christmas time. Its downhill from there. A knock on the door presents a long lost (unknown) daughter that the husband fathered while stationed in Viet Nam. There could have been humor here but not the case. This irreverant and obviously insane girl ends up killing her step sisters baby! As if murder isn't ugly in itself, her method is abhorrant. The baby was put through the washer and dryer. Frankly, it all but made me sick. Since that story, I have not so much as picked the book up.

I consider myself as having a fine sense of humor. Sometimes off the wall. But there is absolutely NOTHING funny about the murder of an innocent child.

I bought "Holiday's On Ice" because it was signed by Mr. Sedaris and to own a book this good, by an author this good that is signed means that someday I will have a piece of great value to pass on to my children.

A gifted and well established essayist (NPR, The New Yorker and his own books) Mr. Sedaris as a humorist and a brilliant master with language, with poking fun of himself and others and of situations. He has an amazing ability to create a noteworthy situation out of almost nothing. The highlight of this book is the wonderful "To our Friends and Family at Christmas" written in first person by Mrs. Dunbar who unfolds the story of her husbands Vietnamese surprise 19 years after his seed was planted in the army.

If you're not familiar with Sedaris or if you'd like to share him with a friend, this is an excellent holiday gift for it's brevity because it has a variety of styles and I've yet to meet anyone who hasn't agreed that David Sedaris isn't wonderful.