Let It Snow By David Sedaris Summary

People drink because they are happy, and when they are sad. People drink to mourn a loss, or to celebrate a victory. In the ever-ending search for another drink, when is it enough? In the story “Let It Snow” by David Sedaris, he writes in a humorous tone about the painstaking toll of alcohol addiction, and the unfortunate effects it can have on a family. Drinking can lead to devastating consequences not only for an individual, but their family and friends. Oftentimes, family is left with the despair and aftermath of picking up the pieces from the brokenness all in effort for a warm feeling, which ultimately leaves a hollowness inside at the end of the day.
Survival mode, keeping our head above water, or doing what one needs to be done simply to make it through the day; are all examples of unfortunate situations one may find themselves in. Some grow up in a household filled with uncertainty and are continually in survival mode. On the other hand, some people are fortunate enough that they do

Humor is also often used to cushion an underlying pain or sadness. Oftentimes, people use humor as a coping mechanism for survival, therefore it is of no surprise that writers such as Twain, Paulsen, Alexie, and Robbins, incorporate humor in their stories about children of alcoholics. Otherwise, a reading a narrative story about a child of an alcoholic would be quite dark, depressing, and negative. (Lacy, 348) In Sadaris’ “Let It Snow”, he uses humor in his storytelling. In the story, the children believe that one of them should get hit by a car. This idea shows the immature thinking and rationale children often possess. The use of humor in the story does not appear to be done in a manner to make light of the mother’s drinking problem, rather it is used to show the children’s attempt of a solution to the