Having not read any of his other work, I’m speaking specifically of “Naked“, though, I imagine it will apply universally. David Sedaris‘ writing has the same effect on me that I’ve always hoped my expressions would have on others. While I’m sure not everyone will be capable of this (and I think it would lose it’s potency if everyone could) I immediately related to David. It wasn’t what he’d done, who he’d seen, or where he’d been that made him relate-able, it was his way of thinking, his approach to life, and his social programming. I felt that, presented with certain situations, I would naturally choose to act in a fashion similar to him and, therefore, I could learn a lot by seeing how it turned out for him.
The book, apparently, is mostly autobiographical. While that certainly adds a touch of realism to the experience, I don’t think it’s at all a requirement to relate to the “character” of David, whether he’s based on a real David or simply a figment of the imagination of a very good writer.
David’s book, “naked”, is simply a series of stories, jumping forward and backward in the time-line of his life exploring those pivotal moments that change the entire course of a man’s life.
While I’ve never visited a nudist colony, David’s week long stay at one brings a a hard hitting idea to the front of the mind. Even those people who are open and naked (quite literally in this case) in a way that most of us could never accept or understand still have their taboos, rules, and unspeakables. It’s also interesting to realize how quickly we can fall into an “open” stance, and how uncomfortable we become when we have to close ourselves up once again in order to be a part of “society”.
For large portions of his life, David’s primary mode of transportation was hitchhiking. Though I’ve never hitchhiked myself, David’s recounting of many trips across the US with only his thumb and a small bag of belongings makes it seem heroic and hopelessly romantic. He shows us that, in life, sometimes you have to take what’s presented to you and hope for the best. Confrontation won’t travel nearly as far as a smile and a nod will and should be reserved for minds that you care about, and situations that you can easily remove yourself from. In the end, he teaches us that most people aren’t so much stupid as they are kind but that cruelty is always lurking in the darkness and sometimes you have to jump out at the next corner, roll yourself into a ditch and try not to breathe until danger passes.
From dealing with obsessive compulsive tendencies as a child, to his own homosexuality in a mostly disapproving world David shows us how he’s dealt with life, and what affect those choices ultimately had on his life. From the wide range of odd jobs that most people would shudder to consider, to hitchhiking across the US with a quadriplegic, we see David’s triumphs and mistakes and learn something about ourselves in the process.
To describe David’s book, “naked”, as life altering doesn’t really do it justice. You need to read this book to understand. I haven’t felt this changed by a piece of writing since I read “The Perks of Being a Wallflower“.
Next, I intend to read “Me Talk Pretty One Day“.