When You Are Engulfed in Flames (Sedaris)

Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:

• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)

Also consider these LitLovers talking points to help get a discussion started for When You Are Engulfed in Flames:

1. Of course, the best place to start with Sedaris is to recount the funniest, LOL moments in his books. At which parts did you find yourself laughing out loud? Any favorites?

2. Sedaris tallies up the days over the past 25 years, feeling he hasn't accomplished much...and he'd like to prevent the same number of "uneventful" days from occurring again. Of course, this is a little precious given that Sedaris has a fabulous writing and performance career. But nonetheless, it is a cry of angst in a typical midlife crisis. Ever feel that way yourself? At any time, at any age? What's the antidote—does Sedaris suggest one? Can you?

3. Sedaris says of his relationship with his partner Hugh, that they are "two decent people trapped in a rather dull play." How does he then parlay what at first seems like a typical litany of complaints about a loved one into a profession of love? What does Sedaris come to realize about the nature of love, at least his love for Hugh?

4. In "The Monster Mash," Sedaris recounts his time spent researching a story in the medical examiner's office. He says the experience was a matter of "seeing too much and understanding the horrible truth: no one is safe." The realization hit him that soon or later he is going to die. Did you find that chapter funny or poignant or upsetting or .... what?

5. Talk about how Sedaris finally decides to quit smoking after 30 years. He writes about it in three phases. For any non-smokers, does it ring true? Did you find his account funny or realistic?

6. As always, Sedaris gets good mileage out of his eccentric but loving family. This time he talks about his parents' reaction to his first book. How would it feel to have a writer/humorist/ social critic in your family? How fair is it of a writer to use family members as fodder?

7. If you have read or heard any of Sedaris's other works, how does this one compare? Which was your favorite Sedaris book/recording?

8. For a book club meeting, it would be fun to listen to a number of selections from the audio version of When You Are Engulfed.

(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online or off, with attribution. Thanks.)

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