The Land and Its People, by David Sedaris
2026-10-05
I've returned to David Sedaris's writing every 5 years or so. I keep coming back because there's a familiarity to the characters - Hugh, David's sisters and parents - and I appreciate that no matter where a piece starts, it's impossible to know where it will end.
Still, Sedaris, like the rest of us, has a limited number of stories to tell. While there are some gems here, it's not banger after banger like the best-of collections or early collections such as "Me Talk Pretty One Day." There he had an entire life - or at least many decades - to mine from, rather than just a few years.
So while I was rarely left reeling, The Land and Its People does have that trademark wit, warmth, and wonder. That alone made it worth a read.
★★★☆☆
Tags: books