Naked (book)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naked, published in 1997, is collection of essays by American humorist David Sedaris. The book details Sedaris’ life from his unusual upbringing in Raleigh, North Carolina to his booze-and-drug-infested college years to his Kerouacian wandering as a young adult. The book became a best-seller and was acclaimed for its wit, dark humor and irreverent tackling of tragic events, including the death of Sedaris’ mother. Prior to publication, several of the essays were read by the author on the NPR program This American Life.
[edit] Contents
[edit] Chipped Beef
The first essay of Naked. This essay is about the narrator's (David Sedaris) early life, and his hopes to one day be rich and famous. Later in this essay, the reader discovers that David Sedaris' family is basically middle class
[edit] A Plague of Tics
This essay describes David Sedaris' obsessive-compulsive and Tourettic tendencies as a child. The tendencies included the likes of licking light switches and kissing newspapers. He frequently gets into trouble with teachers as a result. He later gives up these tendencies when he takes up smoking in college.
[edit] Get Your Ya-Ya's Out!
This essay is an account of David Sedaris' elderly (and slightly senile) grandmother, known as Ya-Ya. Ya-Ya is injured and forced to live with his family, resulting in painful experience for all. Eventually Ya-Ya is put into a low grade nursing home. And when she dies only his father seems to mourn.
[edit] Next of Kin
This essay is about a literary pornography book David Sedaris finds when he is a child. He and his siblings each pass it down to one another. The book is eventually confiscated by his mother, who in turn reads it.
[edit] Cyclops
This essay is named after a boy named "Cyclops" whom David Sedaris' father allegedly accidentally blinded in one eye. This essay centers on cautionary tales passed down among family members.
[edit] The Women's Open
This essay is an account of David Sedaris' sister's first menstruation, which takes place at a golf championship.
[edit] True Detective
This essay is about David Sedaris' interest in detective shows such as The Fugitive. He also describes his exploits as an amateur detective.
[edit] Dix Hill
This essay is a recollection of David Sedaris' first job at a mental institution named Dix Hill. The residents at Dix Hill range from violent to submissive.
[edit] I Like Guys
This essay is based on the author's discovery of his homosexual nature. He discovers that he is gay when at a summer camp in Greece in his teens, where he develops a crush on another young male there.
[edit] The Drama Bug
After an actor's classroom visit introduces him to Shakespeare, Sedaris attempts acting. He finds that the florid Elizabethan language appeals to him, and uses it in regular conversation.
[edit] Dinah, the Christmas Whore
Sedaris details his job at a cafeteria. One night, a strange phone call sends David and his sister Lisa on a mission to extract Lisa's coworker from a domestic disturbance.
[edit] Planet of the Apes
Sedaris recalls his experiences of hitchhiking, beginning with his first time after seeing the film Planet of the Apes.
[edit] The Incomplete Quad
This essay is a recount of the author taking a job living in a college dormitory for handicapped students. He befriends a quadriplegic female student. The two go on a cross-country trip, conning their way as a newlywed husband and wife in need of medical treatment.
[edit] C.O.G.
In this chapter, Sedaris--after much hitch hiking--lands a job cutting stone into clocks shaped like the state of Oregon. The man David works with introduces himself as a "C.O.G." (Child of God) and is somewhat of a missionary with a split personality. The two travel and (unsuccessfully) try to sell their stones at local craft fairs.
[edit] Something for Everyone
This essay describes his experiences refurbishing the house of a women named Uta and the issues he deals with while working in that job.
[edit] Ashes
This essay is a dual account about the marriage of the author's sister and the impending death of his mother from cancer.
[edit] Naked
The final essay of the book. It describes the author's visit to a nudist colony.
