欧宝娱乐

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螘纬魏蠋 渭喂位萎蟽蔚喂 魏伪位维 魏维蟺慰喂伪 渭苇蟻伪

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螣 螡蟿苇喂尾喂谓蟿 危蔚谓蟿维蟻喂蟼 苇纬喂谓蔚 未喂维蟽畏渭慰蟼 纬蟻维蠁慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 伪蠀蟿慰尾喂慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪 蟿慰蠀. 螣喂 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 未喂畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟽蟿蔚委蔚蟼, 蟺伪蟻维尉蔚谓蔚蟼, 蟺慰位位苇蟼 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟽蠂蔚未蠈谓 蔚尉蠅蠁蟻蔚谓喂魏苇蟼, 伪位位维 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 伪蟺委蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿伪 蟿蟻蠀蠁蔚蟻苇蟼, 蔚委蟿蔚 渭喂位维蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻维未慰尉畏 蟺伪喂未喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 畏位喂魏委伪 蟽蟿畏 螔蠈蟻蔚喂伪 螝伪蟻慰位委谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂未喂蠈蟻蟻蠀胃渭畏 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂维 蟿慰蠀 蔚委蟿蔚 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪谓慰蟻胃蠈未慰尉畏 魏伪蟻喂苇蟻伪 蟿慰蠀 蠅蟼 魏伪胃伪蟻喂蟽蟿萎蟼, 魏伪位位喂蟿苇蠂谓畏蟼, 魏伪胃畏纬畏蟿萎蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬喂魏萎蟼 纬蟻伪蠁萎蟼. 危蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿蔚胃蔚委 魏伪喂 畏 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 渭蔚蟿伪谓维蟽蟿蔚蠀蟽畏蟼 魏伪胃蠋蟼 渭蔚蟿伪魏慰渭委味蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蠁委位慰 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蔚委 谓伪 渭维胃蔚喂 纬伪位位喂魏维.
螌位慰喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚蠀蟺蟻蠈蟽未蔚魏蟿慰喂 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺伪蟻维尉蔚谓慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿慰蠀 危蔚谓蟿维蟻喂蟼, 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰 蠈蟿喂 慰 魏伪胃苇谓伪蟼 胃伪 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂 蟿慰蠀 蔚伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀, 蟿蠅谓 蠁委位蠅谓 蟿慰蠀, 蟿畏蟼 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂维蟼 蟿慰蠀.
螉蟽蠅蟼 慰 螡蟿苇喂尾喂谓蟿 危蔚谓蟿维蟻喂蟼 谓伪 渭畏 渭喂位维蔚喂 伪魏蠈渭畏 蠅蟻伪委伪 纬伪位位喂魏维, 伪位位维 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻伪 纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 魏伪蟿伪蟺位畏魏蟿喂魏维.

螚 螜蟿伪位委未伪 纬魏慰蠀尾蔚蟻谓维谓蟿伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃慰蠉蟽蔚 谓伪 伪蟺伪谓蟿萎蟽蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蟿蔚位蔚蠀蟿伪委伪 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 未伪蟽魏维位伪蟼 蠈蟿伪谓 畏 螠伪蟻慰魏喂谓萎 渭伪胃萎蟿蟻喂伪 未喂苇魏慰蠄蔚, 蠁蠅谓维味慰谓蟿伪蟼, 芦危蠀纬纬谓蠋渭畏, 伪位位维 蟿喂 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 螤维蟽蠂伪;禄 (...)
螚 未伪蟽魏维位伪 味萎蟿畏蟽蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠀蟺蠈位慰喂蟺慰蠀蟼 谓伪 蔚尉畏纬萎蟽慰蠀渭蔚. (...)
芦螞苇蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀 螜畏蟽慰蠉 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维 伪蠀蟿蠈蟼 蟺蔚胃维谓蔚喂 渭喂伪 渭苇蟻伪 蟽蔚 未蠉慰... 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂伪 伪蟺蠈... 尉蠉位伪禄.
螚 蠀蟺蠈位慰喂蟺畏 蟿维尉畏 维蟻蠂喂蟽蔚 谓伪 蟽蠀渭渭蔚蟿苇蠂蔚喂, 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿伪蟼 伪蟺慰蟽蟺伪蟽渭伪蟿喂魏苇蟼 蟺位畏蟻慰蠁慰蟻委蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 苇魏伪谓伪谓 蟿慰谓 螤维蟺伪 谓伪 蟺维胃蔚喂 蔚纬魏蔚蠁伪位喂魏蠈.
芦螒蠀蟿蠈蟼 蟺蔚胃维谓蔚喂 渭喂伪 渭苇蟻伪 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维 蟺维蔚喂 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 魏蔚蠁维位喂 渭慰蠀 谓伪 味蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪 蟽慰蠀禄.
芦螘委蠂蔚 蟽蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀 渭伪魏蟻喂维 渭伪位位喂维 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚胃维谓蔚喂, 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 渭苇蟻伪 伪蠀蟿蠈蟼 苇蟻胃蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蔚未蠋 谓伪 蟺蔚喂 纬蔚喂伪 蟽慰蠀 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰喂禄.
芦螒蠀蟿蠈蟼 魏伪位蠈蟼, 螜畏蟽慰蠉蟼禄.
芦螒蠀蟿蠈蟼 魏维谓蔚喂蟼 魏伪位维 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪, 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 螤维蟽蠂伪 蔚渭蔚委蟼 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟽蟿蔚谓维蠂蠅蟻慰喂 纬喂伪蟿委 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 蟿慰谓 魏维谓蔚喂 谓蔚魏蟻蠈 蟽萎渭蔚蟻伪禄.

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

9,429 people are currently reading
436k people want to read

About the author

David Sedaris

103books27.4kfollowers
David Raymond Sedaris is an American humorist, comedian, author, and radio contributor. He was publicly recognized in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "Santaland Diaries". He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994. His next book, Naked (1997), became his first of a series of New York Times Bestsellers, and his 2000 collection Me Talk Pretty One Day won the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Much of Sedaris's humor is autobiographical and self-deprecating and often concerns his family life, his middle-class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, his Greek heritage, homosexuality, jobs, education, drug use, and obsessive behaviors, as well as his life in France, London, New York, and the South Downs in England. He is the brother and writing collaborator of actress Amy Sedaris.
In 2019, Sedaris was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,808 reviews
Profile Image for Brian.
17 reviews108 followers
December 4, 2013
I just don't care for David Sedaris.

There, I've said it. I've made peace with the fact. I have stared deep into the cockles of my heart, and forced myself to come to the only obvious-but-unpopular conclusion.

I just don't care for David Sedaris.

It was somewhat of an existential struggle for me to reach this conclusion because I'm exactly the kind of person who should like David Sedaris.

I am a sarcastic Generation Xer with an overdeveloped sense of irony. I enjoy reading personal essays about poignant and humiliating events in people's personal lives. Understated comedy is favorite genre. I look at myself in the mirror and practice being droll. Hell, I even like listening to This American Life on NPR. I am exactly the target demographic for the witty, petty misanthropy with which Mr. Sedaris plies his trade.

But, I just don't care for David Sedaris.

I find him to be thoroughly unlikable. He comes across as the type of person who might be fun to have a beer with, but, afterwards, he'd probably make fun of you behind your back. When I was reading this book, I thought that his stories and characters were a little too colorful and a little too perfect to be true. And, as he tells the stories of his childhood, he comes across as a 40 year-old gay man trapped in an eight year-old's body (wow, that sentence doesn't sound right!). After I finished the book, I found that Mr. Sedaris does, indeed, subscribe to a rather fluid definition of "truth"--some of the instances were exaggerated. And, by "exaggerated', I mean "completely made up".

But these revelations have done little to stem the tide of bare-knuckled enthusiasm of his legion of fans. I am confronted by people who are adamant that, despite my protests to the contrary, I really do like David Sedaris. It seems that Mr. Sedaris' work has become a litmus test for a certain level of sophistication. If you tell people that you just don't care for David Sedaris, they look at you like you've got a mullet tucked into the collar of your shirt, a six pack of Old Milwaukee in the fridge, and a Tivo filled up with NASCAR races.

Well, I for one refuse to be pigeon-holed. And, today, I am calling on all like-minded people to join me! And, together, we can...uh not like Sedaris.

Say it with me! We're loud, we're proud...

...and we just don't care for David Sedaris!
Profile Image for Kasia.
77 reviews217 followers
January 1, 2010


That about sums it up.

Because, what's the point to these anecdotes? Are you trying to tell me something Mr. Sedaris? I think not. You think you're funny? Meh, not that funny. Special? You're not that special either. You're a writer, just another writer. What's the big deal?

As I said, I don't care much for your little stories. Seriously, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Profile Image for Tim.
18 reviews13 followers
October 3, 2012
Witty, wry, bitter, delightful.

My mom gave me the book. I was living in France at the time, so she thought David Sedaris and I would have a ton in common. She went to a Sedaris booksigning to get a personalized message to her gay son in France. After he was done reading, she jumped up to get him to write a note to me, "David! My son is gay! He's living in France right now, please sign this copy for him!" He had already started an orderly signing process, going down the rows. He looked at her disgustedly and intoned, "I'll get to you." He then skipped her row and did all the others first, making everyone in her row hate her (imagine the wrath of a row of David Sedaris fans - ouch). When he finally got to her - last - he said, "name?" and she started her story about me: "Tim. He's 17 and he's gay and he's been living in France this year, so if you could put something about France -" He handed her book back, not having heard anything past my name, instead writing some witty thing with bad grammar that played off the book's title. When I returned from France, my mother gave me the book but had lost all respect for the author. "It's a good book but he was a complete asshole," she said.

My mother's experience aside, I'm sure Sedaris is not actually a soulless, cruel person. If you want a light read by a smart, gay cynic, this is a great book.
Profile Image for Ahmad Sharabiani.
9,562 reviews571 followers
September 12, 2021
Me talk Pretty one day, David Sedaris

Me Talk Pretty One Day, published in 2000, is a bestselling collection of essays by American humorist David Sedaris.

The book is separated into two parts.

The first part consists of essays about Sedaris鈥檚 life before his move to Normandy, France, including his upbringing in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina, his time working odd jobs in New York City, and a visit to New York from a childhood friend and her bumpkinish girlfriend.

The second section, "Deux", tells of Sedaris鈥檚 move to Normandy with his partner Hugh, often drawing humor from his efforts to live in France without speaking the French language and his frustrated attempts to learn it. Prior to publication, several of the essays were read by the author on the Public Radio International program, This American Life.

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賮賴乇爻鬲: 賲賯丿賲賴 賲鬲乇噩賲: 蹖讴: 亘鬲丕夭 讴丕乇賵賱蹖賳丕貨 乇賵蹖丕蹖 睾賵賱 丌爻丕 毓乇囟賴 賴丕蹖 讴賵鬲賵賱賴貨 賲賴賳丿爻蹖 跇賳鬲蹖讴貨 丿賵丕夭丿賴 賱丨馗賴 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賳乇賲賳丿貨 鬲賵 賳賲蹖鬲賵丕賳蹖 禺乇賵爻 乇丕 亘讴卮蹖貨 噩賵丕賳丕賳 丿乇 丌爻蹖丕貨 賲賳丨賳蹖 蹖丕丿诏蹖乇蹖貨 倬爻乇 诏賳丿賴貨 噩賴卮 亘夭乇诏 乇賵 亘賴 噩賱賵貨 睾匕丕蹖 賵蹖跇賴 蹖 丕賲乇賵夭貨 卮賴乇 賮乇卮鬲诏丕賳貨 丿乇禺卮丕賳 賲孬賱 丕賱賲丕爻貨 賳丕鬲讴乇丕讴乇 丿丕鬲 讴丕賲貨

丿賵: 丿賵亘丕乇賴 丿蹖乇賵夭 賲蹖亘蹖賳賲鬲貨 亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 蹖讴 乇賵夭 賯卮賳诏 丨乇賮 賲蹖夭賳賲貨 噩蹖夭夭 卮蹖賵夭貨 讴乇賲 賳賵丕乇貨 亘讴賳卮 丿賵鬲丕貨 亘賴 蹖丕丿 丌賵乇丿賳 讴賵丿讴蹖 丕賲 丿乇 賯丕乇賴 蹖 丕賮乇蹖賯丕貨 卮賴乇 賳賵乇 丿乇 鬲丕乇蹖讴蹖貨 賲賳 亘賴 讴蹖賮 丕毓賱丕賲 賵賮丕丿丕乇蹖 賲蹖讴賳賲貨 噩蹖亘 亘乇 賵 噩蹖亘 亘乇蹖丕賳蹖貨 丿禺鬲乇賴 丿丕卮鬲 噩賱賵 趩卮賲賲 賲蹖賲乇丿貨 丌丿賲 亘丕 賴賵卮貨 賳賲丕蹖卮 丌禺乇 卮亘貨 賴乇趩賴 倬賵卮蹖丿賴 乇丕 賲蹖禺賵乇賲貨

賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥� 丕蹖 丕夭 賲賯丕賱賴鈥� 賴丕貙 賵 蹖丕丿丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 胤賳夭貙 丕孬乇 芦丿蹖賵蹖丿 爻丿丕乇蹖爻禄貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 蹖 芦丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖禄 丕爻鬲貨 噩賳丕亘 芦倬蹖賲丕賳 禺丕讴爻丕乇禄貙 丿乇 賲賯丿賲賴鈥� 蹖 讴鬲丕亘貙 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥� 蹖 乇賮鬲賳 爻乇丕睾 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賴丕蹖蹖 賴賲趩賵賳 芦爻丿丕乇蹖爻禄貙 賵 賲毓乇賮蹖 丌賳鈥屬囏� 亘賴 禺賵丕賳卮诏乇丕賳 賮丕乇爻蹖鈥� 夭亘丕賳貙 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟嗀�: (賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 亘丕 丿蹖丿賳 毓賳丕賵蹖賳 亘毓囟蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 讴乇丿賴鈥� 丕賲 亘丕 禺賵丿鬲丕賳 亘诏賵蹖蹖丿貙 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賴丕 丿蹖诏乇 讴蹖爻鬲賳丿責 卮丕蹖丿 倬蹖卮 禺賵丿鬲丕賳 賮讴乇 讴賳蹖丿貙 讴賴 禺丕讴爻丕乇 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇丿 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賴丕蹖 亘蹖鈥� 丕賴賲蹖鬲 賵 賳丕卮賳丕禺鬲賴 乇丕 丕夭 鬲丕乇蹖讴鈥屫臂屬� 讴賳噩鈥屬囏й� 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 噩賴丕賳 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳丿貙 賵 丌孬丕乇卮丕賳 乇丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 讴賳丿貨 丕蹖賳鈥屫焚堌� 賳蹖爻鬲貨 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賴丕 賲賴賲鈥� 賴爻鬲賳丿貨 卮丕蹖丿 賲賴賲鈥屫� 賵 賲卮賴賵乇鬲乇 丕夭 讴爻丕賳蹖 讴賴 丌孬丕乇卮丕賳 丿乇 芦丕蹖乇丕賳禄貙 鬲乇噩賲賴 賵 禺賵丕賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 丿乇 丿賵乇丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲禺丕胤亘 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 亘賵丿賲貙 賵 鬲乇噩賲賴 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必呚� 賴賲蹖卮賴 亘乇丕蹖賲 爻卅賵丕賱 亘賵丿 讴賴 趩乇丕 賴蹖趩 賲鬲乇噩賲蹖 爻乇丕睾 丕蹖賳 丌孬丕乇 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟堌� 卮丕蹖丿 賴賲蹖賳 亘丕毓孬 卮丿貙 亘賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 乇賵蹖 亘蹖丕賵乇賲貙 鬲丕 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賴丕蹖蹖 乇丕 讴賴 丿賵爻鬲卮丕賳 丿丕卮鬲賲貙 賵賱蹖 丌孬丕乇卮丕賳 亘賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴 賳卮丿賴 亘賵丿 乇丕貙 亘賴 卮賲丕 賲毓乇賮蹖 讴賳賲貙 鬲丕 丿乇 賱匕鬲 禺賵丕賳丿賳鈥屫簇з� 亘丕賴賲 卮乇蹖讴 卮賵蹖賲貨 芦丿蹖賵蹖丿 爻丿丕乇蹖爻禄 賴賲 丕夭 賴賲蹖賳 丿爻鬲賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕爻鬲.) 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱

鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 03/07/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 20/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
2,926 reviews57.2k followers
December 7, 2020
Great way to spend your weekend! Please turn on the audiobook and listen this spectacular, smart, extremely humorous essays!

First part consists of author鈥檚 life before his move to France. Some snippets from suburban Raleigh/ NC life and moving to big apple, working at bizarre jobs for making ends meet. ( so entertaining)

But the second part (in French 鈥� deux鈥�) about moving to Normandy / France with his partner Hugh, adjusting process, his efforts to talk in French and suffering from failures was so much better! I fell down from my couch several times as I laughed too hard. My stomach still hurts! Why didn鈥檛 I read the author鈥檚 other works before?

I highly recommend this amazing read! Especially the audiobook is quite fascinating! A great way to brighten your mood and have an enjoyable Saturday!
Profile Image for Justin Tate.
Author听7 books1,345 followers
March 25, 2019
Ah! My first David Sedaris read--not counting the weird Squirrel book--and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. The humor is so good it's mesmerizing. I'm in awe of his ability to make ordinary life sparkle through such rich narration.

There is no mundane task that Sedaris cannot do without dazzling the reader. Anything and everything is cause for social commentary and uproarious observation. From learning to play the guitar to going to the movies to an unusually large turd floating in the toilet, he finds opportunity to poke fun at the world, poke fun at himself, and combine various events into unforgettable knee-slapping comedy.

Truly a landmark, I totally get why this book continues to endure nearly 20 years later. It is an instant-classic that belongs just behind Mark Twain, if not--dare I say--in front.
Profile Image for David.
161 reviews1,674 followers
July 26, 2016
I've been thinking a lot about this, and I have come to the conclusion that David Sedaris is one of the worst human beings in history, i.e., since human beings were first invented by an incompetent, Jerry Lewis-like god or by the inscrutable permutations of natural phenomena. This isn't a moral judgment. It's more like when someone tells you that you have spinach stuck in your teeth. It's both the mere reportage of a fact and a public service. Because, after all, you wouldn't want to walk around all day with spinach in your teeth, and you wouldn't want to spend your life mistakenly thinking that David Sedaris wasn't evil and unfunny.

Maybe I hate David Sedaris so much (abstractly; not with the visceral hatred I have for Mariah Carey) because I imagine all of these young straight couples in J. Crew worsted wool sweaters throwing back their heads like Mrs. Howell, laughing at his weak but fashionable humor. Maybe they're in their Toyota Highlanders driving out to Restoration Hardware to look at the brushed steel knobs and the faux-Victorian gewgaws. Have you been to Oak Brook? They probably live there and have heated floor tiles and towel warmers in their bathroom. The women all look like cut-rate Carolyn Bessette-Kennedys (before the plane crash), and the men look like the guy getting married in The Hangover.

David Sedaris is an entry-level gay for these people, right? They're all liberal, sure, but out in Oak Brook their gay contacts are limited to the service industry. The housewares clerk at Lord & Taylor, the hairdresser, or that one swishy waiter at Maggiano's who's stingy with the bread basket. You know, the usual A-Team of tanned men with shaved forearms and hyperreal hairdos.

What I am saying is that David Sedaris is a nice accessory. Sure, your grandparents might find some of his humor off-color or distasteful, but in the age of Sarah Silverman he's almost quaint. Anal sex (and its intimations) take on a Bombeckian glow in his hands. And that kerrunk, kerrunk sound you hear is Jean Genet rolling over in his grave (and masturbating on a pile of his own feces).

There are currently twenty-one people on my friends list who have rated this book. Only two have assigned it fewer than three stars. Defend yourselves, bourgeois scum. I mean that affectionately. You probably thought Bob Saget was funny on America's Funniest Home Videos too, didn't you?
Profile Image for Canadian Jen.
606 reviews2,238 followers
March 28, 2017
Sedaris is a quirky kind of writer. I needed a palate cleanser after the last few heavy reads and this one delivered. From a betrayal of the tongue (which required speech therapy), to a midget music teacher and some various comical moments in his life, his memoir had me chuckling out loud and talking about it to whomever was in the room.
But alas, a third of the way in, it read like a rant and I quickly became bored. What began as a breath of fresh air became stale but did give a final gasp at the end.
First two thirds razor sharp; last 3rd, kind of dull. For that I'm rating this 3.5***
44 reviews
April 29, 2008
If I were in someone else's bathroom and there were no other reading materials except for something by David Sedaris, I would pick it up and flip through it. I probably would even find myself slightly amused. But my basic opinion about David Sedaris - which is that he is boring, not very funny, mean and bitchy, and too lazy to write a novel - would remain unchanged.

Remember when people who had fucked up or interesting lives drew on their personal experiences to create artful, often symbolic stories that speak to some kind of greater human existence? Remember when people basically only wrote their autobiography after they had accomplished many other notable things in their life? At the very least, one would use the events of their life to address some important social issue.

Among others, we have David Sedaris to thank for ushering in the age of this crappy, voyeristic autobiography sub-genre that is basically the print version of reality tv. So somebody has a weird, dysfunctional family. So do most of us. It's really not that interesting.

The title of the book is pretty lame. Did you really talk like that, David? No, I don't think you did. I think you were just a middle-class gay kid who lisped, got sent to speech therapy for it, and then wanted to pretend that you were more marginalized than you actually were.

Also, his sister is way funnier than he is.
Profile Image for Matthew.
1,221 reviews10k followers
February 10, 2017
Another collection of Sedaris tales as we have come to know and love. His cynical banter and humorous anecdotes shine again. While some might say the same old formula gets old, with Sedaris it is expected and greatly appreciated. (I even heard he changed the formula in a recent book and it was not well received)

I listened to the audio and love hearing the words from the mouth of the author. His delivery and timing are perfect - which I suppose is to be expected as they are his words, but not every author can read their words as well as they write. It is great how he can make every mundane activity an entertaining anecdote.

If you like a little humorous getaway, check out this and other Sedaris books.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,666 reviews5,221 followers
December 9, 2023



David Sedaris and friend

This loosely autobiographical memoir from humorist David Sedaris is divided into essays, many of which are laugh out loud funny. The topics include Sedaris's childhood rebellion against speech therapy, unwanted guitar lessons taught by a midget, drug fueled (and extended) college years, weird presentations as an untalented performance artist, amusing interactions with his family and friends, living in France with his boyfriend Hugh, and more. I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by the author, and enjoyed it immensely.


Little David Sedaris with his sister Lisa and mother Sharon


School age David Sedaris with his sister Amy


College age David Sedaris

Sedaris's stories may stretch the truth on occasion, but they're very entertaining. For example:

As an art major in college, Sedaris took a pottery class: "With their thick clumsy bases my mugs weighed in at close to five pounds each. The color was muddy and the lips rough and uninviting." Sedaris's mother used these 'gifts' as pet bowls until "a cat chipped a tooth and went on a hunger strike."



After Sedaris graduated from The Art Instutute of Chicago in 1987 he was offered a job teaching a writing workshop. Having no idea how to prepare lesson plans, Sedaris divided the twice weekly, two-hour class into a series of discussion periods including: Celebrity Corner - during which pupils presented gossip about rock bands and movie stars; Feed Bag Forum - where students brought in one-pot recipes (Sedaris had a new crock pot); Pillow Talk - during which students could discuss their private sex lives - or failing that - watch the soap opera 'One Life to Live.'



The latter activity was turned into a real writing exercise when the pupils were asked to prepare a 'guessay' about what would happen on the TV show next day. To Sedaris's dismay the attendees came up with things like 'the long lost daughter turns out to be a vampire' or 'Vicky chokes to death on a submarine sandwich.'

Later on, when the students were required to submit their own stories Sedaris would type up evaluations like "punctuation never hurt anyone" or "think verbs".....so for the most part he and the students got along.

(I can relate to the bad teaching. I had a professor for a class in 'Insect Physiology' that only talked about baseball teams and deparmental gossip. He got canned pretty quickly. 馃槑)



Sedaris doesn't enjoy eating in New York restaurants, partly because his artsy Soho neighborhood "isn't a macaroni salad kind of place" but rather an area where "the world's brightest young talents come to eat racks of corn fed songbirds." Even simple dishes are dressed up: "The meatloaf has been poached in seawater and there are figs in the tuna salad."


Songbirds

Sedaris notes, "I'd order the skirt steak with a medley of suffocated peaches but I'm put off by the aspirin sauce" and "The sea scallops look good until I'm told they're served in a broth of malt liquor and mummified lichee nuts." Moreover, "The food is always arranged into a senseless vertical tower; it now reaches for the sky, much like the high rise buildings lining our city streets. It's as if the plates were valuable parcels of land and the chef had purchased one small lot, along with unlimited air rights."


Onion rings in vertical tower



Sedaris's friend Alicia from North Carolina came to visit him in New York and brought a friend named Bonnie. Bonnie didn't take to the city because "unfortunately, visiting Americans will find more warmth in Tehran than New York - a city founded on the principles 'us vs. them'." Sedaris observes, "I don't speak Latin but I always assumed the city motto translates into either 'go home' or 'we don't like you either'."



Sedaris was born in 1956 and the computer revolution took him completely by surprise. He notes, "There were no computers in my high school and the first few times I attempted college people were still counting on their fingers and removing their shoes when the numbers got above ten." Sedaris writes, "I became aware of computers in the mid-1980s when my friends starting sending creepy Christmas newsletters designed to look like tabloids.....titled 'The Herald Family Tribune' and 'Whassup with the Wexlers.' To top it off, his acquaintances started to "send letters composed to look like Chinese takeout menus and the Dead Sea Scrolls."

Sedaris writes, "I refuse to have a computer. The harder I'm pressured to use a computer the harder I resist. One by one all my friends have deserted me and fled to the dark side. 'How can I write you if you don't have an email address?' they ask. They talk of their B-trees and disc doctors and then have the nerve to complain when I discuss bowel obstructions at the dinner table."




David Sedaris prefers typewriters to computers



Sedaris's boyfriend Hugh had lived in France for a while, and the partners spent a few summers in Normandy before moving to Paris for several years. Talking about France, Sedaris observes, "My understanding was that no matter what we tried the French would never like us. And that's confusing for an American raised to believe that the people of other countries should be grateful for all the wonderful things we've done for them....."Things like movies that stereotype the people of Europe as bores and petty snobs.....and remarks like, "We saved your ass in World War II'."


David Sedaris lived in France for a while


David Sedaris and his boyfriend Hugh Hamrick


David Sedaris and Hugh Hamrick



During Sedaris's first visit to Normandy, his French vocabulary was limited to words like 'ashtray', 'bottleneck', and the phrase 'see you again yesterday.' He made an effort to learn new phrases and "Went from talking like a baby to talking like a hillbilly." In a butcher shop Sedaris asked, "Is them the thoughts of cows?" - pointing to cow brains.....and requested "lambchops with handles."



In Paris, Sedaris took a French class with other foreign residents. The class was daunting and the teacher was volatile. Sedaris writes, "My only comfort was knowing I was not alone. Huddled in hallways my fellow students and I engaged in conversations normally heard in refugee camps. For example, one student lamented, 'Sometime me cry alone at night' and another responded, 'That be common for I also, but be more strong you. Much work and someday you talk pretty.'





In the second month of French classes - during a lesson about holidays - a Muslim student from Morocco asked, 'What is an Easter?' The teacher asked the students to explain. A Polish girl started, 'It is a party for the little boy of God who call hisself Jesus and'......she faltered and her fellow countryman chimed in.....'He call hisself Jesus and he die one day on two morsels of lumber.' According to Sedaris, "The rest of the class jumped in with bits of information that would have given the Pope an aneurysm".....explanations like, "He die one day and then he go above of my head to live with your father'..... and 'He weared of himself the long hair and after he die the first day he come back here for to say hello to the peoples.'



***

To help expand his vocabulary, Sedaris's sister Amy sent him the audiobook of 'Pocket Medical French', designed for visiting doctors and nurses. From this gem Sedaris learned "conversational sparklers" like 'remove your dentures and all your jewelry'.....'you now need to deliver the afterbirth'.....and 'could I trouble you for a stool sample' (among others).


David's sister Amy is an actress, comedian, and writer





Sedaris goes on to say, "I never thought much about how Americans were viewed overseas until I came to France and was expected to look and behave in a certain way. About his appearance, Sedaris says, "If I was thin it was because I'd recently lost the extra fifty pounds cushioning the standard American ass".....and "If I was pushy it was typical.....and if I wasn't it was probably due to Prozac."



Talking about expenses in France, Sedaris says, "Shortly after moving into my Paris apartment, I noticed a leak in the bathroom and phoned the landlord to say, "The toilet, she cry much of the time." Bathroom repairs cost him $1000.00 for a job that would be $300.00 in the United States.



Thus, the author feared a doctor visit would be truly exorbitant. However, an office visit to a French dentist cost only $25.00, so Sedaris felt brave enough to go to an eye doctor. He explained to the optician, "From the time I had five years I have worn of myself some glasses".....and "Then when I had 20 years I said to myself, 'Enough of this. I am tired of something living all the time upon my nose'." Sedaris goes on to say, "I got a new pair of glasses and I'm still adjusting to all the subtle things I've been missing all these years, things like the expressions of disgust that typically cross people's faces when they discover that they're talking to an idiot."





Sedaris also muses about food. He notes, "In a French market, in the section devoted to foreign foods, I came across a large can of peanut butter and it broke my heart. Peanut butter is not something you traditonally find in France and I could sense that someone had gone through a great deal of trouble to make this happen. The problem of course, was the can....the items that come in cans are generally the things that you use in one or two sittings, like cat food or baked beans. The French manufacturer obviously had the impression that homesick Americans just sit around with tablespoons and go through a pound of peanut butter in a single afternoon, shoveling it in until they pass out."



Sedaris also writes, "In France, I often leaf through cookbooks looking for vocabulary words that might come in handy. That's how I learned the verbs 'to simmer, to dice, and to set aside the beak'."





And finally, Sidaris's friend lent him a book called "Imperial Dishes of China." The author observes, "As a working cookbook I felt like it left too many holes. When told to 'arrange the camel paw attractively' my first question was..... how ? Camel paws don't even look attractive on camels. On top of that, where are you supposed to buy these ingredients in the first place? if you can't locate a single camel paw can you use two dozen cat paws instead?"


Imperial food of China



At the end of the book Sedaris talks about moving back into his parents basement when he was between colleges, using drugs, and unemployed. His father told him to leave, and Sedaris assumed it was for the above reasons. However, Sedaris's mother - breaking into sobs - apologetically explained that his father threw him out because he was gay. This made me feel a little sad.



I'd recommend the book to Sedaris fans and anyone else who likes hilarious memoirs.


David Sedaris and friend

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Profile Image for Gemma.
328 reviews22 followers
February 13, 2008
This book has been my tube companion for the past fortnight. It is the perfect accompaniment to the London commute for two reasons:

1) The essays are perfectly formed, so you can be assured that you'll be able to finish 3 little chunks over 40 minutes or so. Once the train trundled into Westminster station I would know to quicken my pace so as to finish another section before alighting at Blackfriars and elbowing some bankers.

2) My tube line is the epitome of the British stiff upper lip. People's faces remain practically emotionless from Putney to Barking to Richmond and up to High Street Kensington. Of course, scrum tackles take place at each station as people push on during rush hour. But NO emotions pass across the face of a commuter. Apart from perhaps a slight grimace when the new arrival feels it necessary to share all the details of their skiing holiday with the entire carriage.

Anyway - to the point! With Sedaris in my hand I have been snorting, honking and smiling as never before seen on the District Line. The 50 something lady who settled into her seat at Wimbledon with the Daily Telegraph looks up nervously. The banker ignoring the opinion section of the FT for the far more fascinating Stocks and shares pages shifts nervously. And then I snort once more. Being in such a cheery mood, once a seat becomes available I offer it to the young lady in slightly uncomfortable looking high heels reading the bible (aka the Metro) thus leaving the assembled masses concerned that I may be clinically insane and yet on their train.

Profile Image for Gypsy.
432 reviews652 followers
October 3, 2015

乇蹖賵蹖賵 乇賵 丿賵 亘丕乇 賳賵卮鬲賲 賵 倬丕讴 卮丿 賵 賲賳賲 禺亘 賱噩亘丕夭 亘丕夭賲 賲蹖 賳賵蹖爻賲. 亘丕 倬蹖 爻蹖 丿蹖诏賴 丕蹖 丿丕乇賲 賲蹖 鬲丕蹖倬賲 賵 禺毓賱蹖 鬲丨鬲 賮卮丕乇賲. :丿蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賱丕氐賴 賲蹖 诏賲. 賲賳 丌丿賲蹖 丕賲 讴賴 丿賳亘丕賱 禺賳丿蹖丿賳賲 賵 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴賲 賳丿丕丿卮 乇丕爻鬲卮賵 亘禺賵丕蹖賳. 賳賴 丕蹖賳 讴賴 丕氐賱丕賿 賳禺賳丿賲 蹖丕 亘诏賲 賱賵爻 賵 禺賳讴 賵 賲爻禺乇賴 亘賵丿. 賵賱蹖 丕賵賳 賯丿乇丕賲 禺賳丿賴 丿丕乇 賳亘賵丿. 賳賴丕蹖鬲 禺賳丿蹖丿賳賲 蹖賴 倬賵夭禺賳丿 丿賵 孬丕賳蹖賴 丕蹖 亘賵丿. 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕蹖賳 賵爻胤 趩蹖夭蹖 賴爻 讴賴 胤賳夭 乇賵 丨爻丕爻 賲蹖 讴賳賴 賵 丕賵賳賲 馗乇丕賮鬲 賴丕蹖 丕丿亘蹖 賵 夭亘丕賳蹖 賵 賴賲趩賳蹖賳 賮乇賴賳诏蹖 賵 丕乇夭卮蹖 賵 毓乇賮蹖 賴爻. 丕蹖賳 噩丕爻 讴賴 賲鬲乇噩賲 亘賴 趩丕賱卮 讴卮蹖丿賴 賲蹖卮賴 賵 賴賲鬲 賵 夭丨賲鬲 賲蹖 胤賱亘賴 賵 禺賱丕賯蹖鬲卮 爻賳噩蹖丿賴 賲蹖卮賴. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 丨丕賱 賲鬲乇噩賲 賵 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賿 亘蹖 鬲賯氐蹖乇賳 賵 亘乇 賲蹖 诏乇丿賴 亘賴 賴賲賵賳 噩乇蹖丕賳 馗乇丕賮鬲 賴丕 賵 丕蹖賳丕. 丕賲丕 丿賱蹖賱 爻賴 丿丕丿賳賲 賴丿賮 胤賳夭 亘賵丿. 蹖賳蹖 賳賯丿. 賳賯丿 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 賵 丕禺賱丕賯蹖 賵 賮乇賴賳诏蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賴 禺丕胤乇丕鬲卮賵 亘賴 卮丿鬲 氐丕丿賯丕賳賴 賵 禺丕賱氐丕賳賴 亘蹖丕賳 賲蹖 讴乇丿 賵 亘丕毓孬 卮丿 賲賳 丿蹖丿賲 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖賲 毓賵囟 卮賴. 蹖賳蹖 讴賲 鬲乇 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 爻禺鬲 亘诏蹖乇賲 賵 丕蹖賳 賯丿 睾乇睾乇賵 賳亘丕卮賲 賵 亘丿禺賱賯蹖 賳讴賳賲. 賮讴 讴賳賲 賴賲蹖賳 亘乇丕蹖 蹖賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴丕賮蹖 亘丕卮賴. 賲诏賴 趩賴 丕賳鬲馗丕乇蹖 丕夭 賲禺丕胤亘卮 丿丕乇賴 噩夭 鬲丕孬蹖乇 诏匕丕乇蹖 賵 亘賴 賮讴乇 賮乇賵 亘乇丿賳卮責
Profile Image for Adina (notifications back, log out, clear cache) .
1,224 reviews5,001 followers
March 31, 2020
Since the Coronavirus pandemic was declared, I started to watch more stand-up comedy and follow The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (from his home). I felt like I needed a laugh between my constant watching of the Coronavirus cases count and the news reports about the same enemy. I wanted to read David Sedaris for the same reason, to lighten my days a bit. I enjoyed listening to his narration of this essay collection but I can't say I was entertained. I laughed maybe once or twice and for the rest I was either sorry for him, or partially indifferent to the story. The first essay about his Speech Therapy was the best and after that I began to lose interest. I have to admit that I did not sympathise with his need to get high in order to achieve his artistic goals, I was thinking "you're shit at art, just get over it and find a job that suits you." Some essays resuscitated my interest but then I was bored again while listening to others.
Profile Image for Fabian.
995 reviews2,030 followers
December 12, 2018
A reviewer was correct when he said: "Sedaris can turn a rant into a thing of beauty." (Michael Upchurch-Seattle Times) But only correct about the noun/verb "rant." That he does in profusion; all these "essays" are rants about his life & times. But "Thing of beauty?" Absolutely not.

For a popular writer, Mr. Sedaris maintains that he is more important than anything else, anybody else, any other subject. He only looks at himself in situations and tells us his witty reactions/musings. Funny, a little, but it's actually like talking to someone adamant about taking nothing too seriously while displaying extreme sarcasm. I could not relate to a single thing this dude wrote about!

About his trips to France (just check this out): "There are plenty of places on Earth where Americans are greeted with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, these places tend to lack anything you'd really want to buy. & that, to me, is the only reason to leave home in the first place--to buy things."

Aggh! This All-American mentality: GROSS.
Profile Image for Calista.
5,244 reviews31.3k followers
April 4, 2019
I think this period, right around 2000, a little before and after, is David's best writing era. He seems to be at this best and most funny I think.

I love this collection. He has a multitude of stories about living in France with Hue. I love the peak into his experience of France or even NYC for that matter. His family plays a huge role in his stories as usual. I do wonder if he and Hue are still together. I would guess not, simply because he is famous and famous people rarely stick together.

He also has a funny story about being a writing teacher. I often wonder what real life would be like for him and how much is exaggerated for his writing or altered to create something funny. I know life is really weird and people strange, so there is probably a lot that happens to him, that is just like he says.

This collection had me laughing robustly. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I think it is my favorite outside of SantaLand diaries which can't be beat; so far. This tickled my funny bone, so I'm very happy. David is a nice relief from the stress of school right now. I will continue to read more of his stuff.
Profile Image for Bob.
427 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2008
Yes. I realize this book is supposed to be hilarious. Yes. I realize I'm not a hip gen-x'er if I don't happen to think it is. Yet...

I feel like Sedaris accurately summed up his entire approach to writing on page 44: "True art was based upon despair, and the important thing was to make yourself and those around you as miserable as possible." He meant this as satire, I'm sure...but what I found truly halarious was that he didn't even realize that he just described the book I was currently reading.

Upon describing his life, Sedaris wants you to think it's funny. In reality, it's just despair...and he wants you to go down the tubes with him.

I decided that reading this book was like sitting in a small space with someone who drones on and on about how horrible their life is. Normally in that situation you can get up and leave or tell them to shut up. In this case, all I could do was stop reading. So, out of respect for the friend that recommended it, I read exactly half (stopping midsentence)...then I told the author to shut up and dumped him in the library drop box.

The only funny part of this book was the brief chapter on poop. But even southpark can make that funny. Sedaris is supposed to be funny...I guess I'm un-hip and not a real Gen-x'er...because I find him miserable. He's pushed me back to reading and loving the classics one more time.
Profile Image for kian.
198 reviews61 followers
April 12, 2017
亘丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 倬賷賲丕賳 禺丕賰爻丕乇.


賴乇诏夭 亘賴 毓賲乇賲 賳丿賷丿賲 倬丿乇賲 噩夭 丕夭 賯賮爻賴鈥屬囏з娰� 賰賴 亘丕賱丕賷卮丕賳 賳賵卮鬲賴: 丨乇丕噩 亘賴 丿賱賷賱 賳夭丿賷賰賷 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賳賯囟丕貙 趩賷夭賷 亘乇丿丕乇丿. 鬲賲丕賲 丕賯賱丕賲 賯賮爻賴鈥屬囏з� 丿賷诏乇 亘乇丕賷 丕賵 賳丕賲乇卅賷 亘賵丿賳丿.
亘賴 禺丕胤乇 趩賷夭賷 賰賴 賲丕丿乇賲 芦賷賴 噩賵 卮禺氐賷鬲禄 賲賷鈥屬嗀з呝娯� 賲賳 賵 禺賵丕賴乇丕賳賲 亘賴 賳丿乇鬲 賵丕乇丿 丕鬲丕賯 倬卮鬲賷 賲賷鈥屫簇娰�. 亘賴鬲乇 亘賵丿 賮丕氐賱賴鈥屬呚з� 乇丕 丨賮馗 賰賳賷賲 賵 禺賵丿賲丕賳 乇丕 亘趩賴鈥屬囏з� 丌丿賲 丿賷诏乇賷 噩丕 亘夭賳賷賲.
亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 倬丿乇賲丕賳 亘乇賲賷鈥屭簇� 亘丕 丿爻鬲賴丕賷賷 倬乇 丕夭 賲賷賵賴鈥屬囏з� 賲鬲賱丕卮賷 賰賴 賴賷趩 卮亘丕賴鬲賷 亘賴 賲賷賵賴 賳丿丕卮鬲賳丿...
倬賷丕賲 毓賲賱卮 丕賷賳 亘賵丿: 丕诏乇 趩賷夭賷 賲噩丕賳賷 丕爻鬲貙 亘賴鬲乇賷賳卮 乇丕 爻賵丕 賰賳! 賵...
爻丿丕乇賷爻貙 賰鬲丕亘 乇丕 亘賴 倬丿乇卮 芦賱賵 爻丿丕乇賷爻禄 鬲賯丿賷賲 賰乇丿賴. 賰爻賷 賰賴 丿乇 爻乇丕爻乇 賰鬲丕亘賴丕賷卮貙 丕夭 丕賵 亘丕 噩夭卅賷丕鬲 鬲賲丕賲 丨乇賮 賲賷鈥屫操嗀� 賵 鬲賵 乇丕 亘賴 禺賳丿賴 賲賷鈥屫з嗀ж藏�..
爻丿丕乇賷爻 丿乇 胤賳夭卮貙 卮丿賷丿丕 氐丕丿賯 丕爻鬲 賵 賴賲賷賳 亘丕毓孬 賲賷鈥屫促堌� 胤賳夭卮貙 鬲氐賳毓賷 賳亘丕卮丿..
丿乇賲噩賲賵毓貙 亘賷賳 賰鬲丕亘賴丕賷賷 賰賴 丕賷賳 賲丿鬲 丕夭卮 禺賵賳丿賲貙 丕賷賳 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 亘賴鬲乇 丕夭 賴賲賴 亘賵丿. 丕賱亘鬲賴貙 芦賲丕丿乇亘夭乇诏鬲賵 丕夭 丕賷賳 噩丕 亘亘乇禄 賴賲 禺賵亘 亘賵丿.


Profile Image for Glenn Sumi.
404 reviews1,840 followers
November 23, 2019
Incredibly, this is the first Sedaris book I've read, and it more than lives up to the hype.

Calling him a humourist doesn't do him justice. Sure, he's read-aloud-to-your-friends funny, but he's also a shrewd social satirist and very, very smart, able to evoke the pain of childhood speech therapy classes, the humiliation of learning French as an adult, or the mortification of finding a huge turd in a friend's toilet (this latter story, by the way, is only in the abridged audio version of the book - I both listened to and read the complete book).

A couple of essays seem like filler, but the best 鈥� about learning jazz guitar from a little person, or being a drug-addled performance artist, or witnessing a down-home rube鈥檚 experience of Manhattan 鈥� are vivid, fresh and so casual-sounding you know they took a lot of effort.

Sedaris is so brilliant he even makes that overcooked routine 鈥� ordering food in a trendy, intimidating New York restaurant 鈥� into something genuinely funny.

And there's an emotional core to many of these essays too 鈥� particularly in ones involving his father, Lou, to whom the book is dedicated.

I recommend listening to the author himself read from the audiobook 鈥� his unmistakable, somewhat babyish voice adds layers to the text 鈥� and then picking up the book later, as I did, to savour the craft.

I can鈥檛 wait to read more of his books.

** UPDATE APRIL 2015: I did read another Sedaris book, the early volume Barrel Fever, but wasn't as impressed **
Profile Image for Ms. Smartarse.
683 reviews346 followers
February 29, 2024
I like funny stuff a lot. So much so, that I'm always on the lookout for a good quote to use as a timely comeback. I say this fully aware, that I will most probably end up misquoting it, and thus ruin the whole thing. But the principle of the thing stands: I read something hilarious, that might have related to this thing...probably.

Me Talk Pretty One Day is one of those books that sounded awfully preachy, based on its title alone. But then I stumbled on a totally , which all but blew my mind. Finally someone with the same questionable humour, that I had!

high five

And boy did it start promising! A speech therapist compared to an evil secret service agent, intent on torturing our brave hero. And since no calamity comes alone, of course our mighty protagonist's teacher had to join in as well.


If I got up from my seat at 2:25, she'd say, "Sit back down, David. You've still got 5 minutes before your speech therapy session." If I remained seated until 2:27, she'd say, "David, don't forget you have a speech therapy session at 2:30." On the days I was absent, I imagined she addressed the room, saying, "David's not here today but if he were, he'd have a speech therapy session at 2:30."


Needless to say, that with two such heinous villains I was earnestly rooting for our intrepid hero to come up with creative ways to outsmart them. Making his weapon of choice a thesaurus, all but propelled him to the height of coolness.


After a few weeks of what she called 鈥渆ndless pestering鈥� and what I called 鈥�repeated badgering鈥�, my mother bought me a pocket thesaurus, which provided me with s-free alternatives to just about everything. I consulted the book both at home in my room and at the daily learning academy other people called our school. Agent Samson was not amused when I began referring to her as an articulation coach, but the majority of my teachers were delighted. 鈥淲hat a nice vocabulary,鈥� they said. 鈥淢y goodness, such big words!鈥�


worth it

But after the end of the first chapter, my enthusiasm started to slowly but surely vane. For the most part, things tended to put me to sleep. This once again proves that no matter how humorously you paint your life, I just can't seem to muster up enough interest in it. Yes, I'm that horrible.

Jazz for instance, is one of those things that I just don't get. Every so often I try to listen to it for a few minutes, only to find my mind rebelling against its irregular rhythm, lack of chorus, and predictability in general.

Having had most of my artistic tendencies replaced with science-y pursuits early on, I can't say I relish the prospect of getting high in order to preen about my crappy drawings. Plus with my penchant for stressing over the weirdest crap, my experience would probably end up being totally dismal. Heck, I could feel my stress levels rising just reading about the author's irresponsible drug use.

failed attempt at scary

Admittedly, my mood improved seriously when I got to the chapters relating to our protagonist's experiences in language school. Those stories, were pure gold, and they (partially) mirror my own language goals:


Though I have yet to use any of my new commands and questions, I find that, in learning them, I am finally able to imagine myself Walkman-free and plunging headfirst into an active and rewarding social life. That鈥檚 me at the glittering party, refilling my champagne glass and turning to ask my host if he鈥檚 noticed any unusual discharge. 鈥淲e need to start an IV,鈥� I鈥檒l say to the countess while boarding her yacht. 鈥淏ut first could I trouble you for a stool sample?鈥�


Note to self: insert creepy medical jargon into everyday conversation. Naturally.

Score: 3.3 /5 stars

I feel like if I ever need the perfect comeback, this book will provide it... if only I'll be patient enough to continue looking for it. Otherwise, thank you GoodReads for the quotes collection, because I'm so not rereading this anytime soon. The last 10% of the book took me 3 days to wade through, making me literally fall asleep 2 phrases in...
Profile Image for Parastoo Ashtian.
108 reviews112 followers
May 3, 2016
賴蹖趩鈥屬堎傌� 賲丿丕賮毓 爻乇爻禺鬲 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖鈥屬囏� 賳亘賵丿賴鈥屫з� 賵賱蹖 賵丕賯毓丕 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴 賲賱鬲蹖 讴賴 鬲丨鬲 賴蹖趩 卮乇丕蹖胤蹖 賲賵賯毓 賮蹖賱賲 鬲賲丕卮丕 讴乇丿賳 丨乇賮 賳賲蹖鈥屫操嗁嗀� 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 诏匕丕卮鬲. 賲賳 丕蹖賳鈥屫� 讴賳丕乇 诏乇賵賴蹖 亘趩賴 賲丿乇爻賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 亘賴 丿蹖丿賳 蹖讴 賮蹖賱賲 賲夭禺乇賮 亘夭賳鈥屫ㄚ┴� 丌賲丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賳卮爻鬲賴鈥屫з� 賵 丨鬲蹖 蹖讴 賳賮乇 賱亘 丕夭 賱亘 亘丕夭 賳讴乇丿賴. 丌禺乇蹖賳 亘丕乇蹖 讴賴 丿乇 蹖讴 爻蹖賳賲丕蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 爻讴賵鬲 乇丕 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴乇丿賲 蹖丕丿賲 賳蹖爻鬲. 賮讴乇 讴賳賲 鬲賲丕卮丕诏乇丕賳 賲丕 鬲賲丕賲 乇賵夭 丨乇賮 賳賲蹖 夭賳賳丿 賵 鬲賲丕賲 丨乇賮鈥屬囏й屫簇з� 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屭柏ж辟嗀� 亘乇丕蹖 賵賯鬲蹖 讴賴 賮蹖賱賲 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 蹖讴 亘丕乇 丿乇 蹖讴 爻蹖賳賲丕蹖 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴 夭丿賲 乇賵蹖 卮丕賳賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿蹖 讴賴 噩賱賵賲 賳卮爻鬲賴 亘賵丿 賵 賳賯丿卮 乇丕 賯胤毓 讴乇丿賲 賵 丕夭卮 倬乇爻蹖丿賲 讴賴 丌蹖丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏� 讴賱 賮蹖賱賲 乇丕 丨乇賮 亘夭賳丿責 诏賮鬲: 禺亘 丌乇賴. 趩賴 胤賵乇 賲诏賴責 亘丿賵鬲 丕蹖賳 讴賴 丿乇 賱丨賳卮 賳卮丕賳蹖 丕夭 卮乇賲賳丿诏蹖 蹖丕 毓匕乇禺賵丕賴蹖 亘丕卮丿. 丕賳诏丕乇 讴賴 丕夭卮 倬乇爻蹖丿賴 亘賵丿賲 賯氐丿 丿丕乇丿 禺賵賳卮 诏乇丿卮 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿 蹖丕 賴賵丕 乇丕 亘賴 丿丕禺賱 乇蹖賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘賮乇爻鬲丿. 賵賱賲 讴賳 亘丕亘丕 趩乇丕 賳亘丕蹖丿 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賲責 丕夭 倬卮鬲 爻乇 噩賳丕亘 賲賳鬲賯丿 亘賱賳丿 卮丿賲 賵 讴賳丕乇 倬蹖卮诏賵蹖蹖 賳卮爻鬲賲 讴賴 亘丕 氐丿丕蹖 亘賱賳丿 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 鬲讴 鬲讴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 賮蹖賱賲 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屭佖� 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 乇賵蹖 倬乇丿賴 賱亘鈥屫簇з� 鬲讴丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫堌必�. 亘毓丿 賴賲 蹖讴 夭賵噩 倬蹖乇 丌賲丿賳丿 讴賴 丿丕卅賲 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必嗀� 趩蹖夭蹖 乇丕 丕夭 丿爻鬲 丿丕丿賴鈥屫з嗀�. 賴乇 亘丕乇 睾乇蹖亘賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 鬲丕 丌賳 賱丨馗賴 丿乇 賮蹖賱賲 丿蹖丿賴 賳卮丿賴 亘賵丿 丿乇 禺丕賳賴鈥屰� 讴爻蹖 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫藏� 賲蹖鈥屬矩必驰屫嗀�: 丕蹖賳 讴蹖賴責 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 亘賴卮丕賳 丕胤賲蹖賳丕賳 亘丿賴賲 讴賴 亘賴 賲賵賯毓 噩賵丕亘 爻丐丕賱丕鬲卮丕賳 乇丕 禺賵丕賴賳丿 诏乇賮鬲 賵賱蹖 趩賵賳 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕乇賲 賳亘丕蹖丿 爻乇 賮蹖賱賲 丨乇賮 夭丿 丿賵亘丕乇賴 噩丕 毓賵囟 讴乇丿賲 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丕賲蹖丿 讴賴 賵爻胤 丿賵 賳賮乇 亘賳卮蹖賳賲 讴賴 蹖丕 禺賵丕亘鈥屫簇з� 亘乇丿賴 亘丕卮丿 蹖丕 賲乇丿賴 亘丕卮賳丿.

丕夭 賲鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘
Profile Image for Fereshteh.
250 reviews652 followers
February 20, 2015
胤賳夭 噩丕賱亘蹖 讴賴 亘蹖 賲夭賴 賳亘丕卮賴 跇丕賳乇蹖賴 讴賴 鬲賵 賲丨氐賵賱丕鬲 賮乇賴賳诏蹖 丿丕禺賱蹖 讴賲鬲乇 亘賴卮 亘乇禺賵乇丿 讴乇丿賲 賵 讴賲亘賵丿卮 乇賵 賴賲蹖卮賴 丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 賵 亘賴 賳丕趩丕乇 亘乇丕蹖 鬲噩乇亘賴 卮 爻乇丕睾 爻乇蹖丕賱賴丕 賵 賮蹖賱賲 賴丕 賵 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖 毓賲丿鬲丕 丕賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 乇賮鬲賲..跇丕賳乇蹖 讴賴 亘禺卮 夭蹖丕丿蹖卮 亘丕 賲爻丕卅賱 賮乇賴賳诏蹖 賴賲賵賳 噩丕 丌賲蹖禺鬲賴 卮丿賴

卮丕蹖丿 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 賯爻賲鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丕夭 賱匕鬲 讴鬲丕亘貙賳丕卮蹖 丕夭 禺賵賳丿賳 賲鬲賳 丕氐賱蹖 亘賵丿 賵賱蹖 亘丕夭 賴賲 賲蹖禺賵丕賲 丕蹖賳噩丕 丕夭 丌賯丕蹖 禺丕讴爻丕乇 亘丕亘鬲 鬲乇噩賲賴 蹖 讴丕乇賴丕蹖 爻丿丕乇蹖爻 鬲卮讴乇 讴賳賲.賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 亘賴 賯爻賲鬲 毓馗蹖賲蹖 丕夭 丕賴丿丕賮卮賵賳 讴賴 丕卮賳丕 讴乇丿賳 賲禺丕胤亘 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 亘丕 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 讴賲鬲乇 卮賳丕禺鬲賴 卮丿賴 賵賱蹖 禺賵亘 亘賵丿貙乇爻蹖丿賳丿
賲鬲賳 丕氐賱蹖 卮丕賲賱 28 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賵丿 賵賱蹖 丕蹖賳胤賵乇 讴賴 卮賳蹖丿賲 賳爻禺賴 蹖 賮丕乇爻蹖 26 鬲丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿丕乇賴

讴鬲丕亘 丨丕囟乇 亘賴 丿賵 亘禺卮 鬲賯爻蹖賲 卮丿賴
亘禺卮 丕賵賱 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 卮禺氐蹖 賵 禺丕賳賵丕丿诏蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 胤賳夭 亘丕 趩丕卮賳蹖 禺蹖丕賱 賴賲 賲禺賱賵胤 卮丿賳丿.丕蹖丿賴 賵 賮讴乇 倬卮鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賴丕 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲 賵 丨鬲蹖 氐乇賮賳馗乇 丕夭 鬲賮丕賵鬲 賴丕蹖 賮乇賴賳诏蹖 亘丕 亘毓囟蹖 賴丕卮賵賳 禺蹖賱蹖 丕丨爻丕爻 賳夭丿蹖讴蹖 讴乇丿賲:丕蹖賳 讴賴 趩賴 胤賵乇 賵丕賱丿蹖賳 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳丿賴 蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕卮賵賳 賳賯卮賴 賲蹖讴卮賳丿貙趩賴 胤賵乇 亘丕 诏匕乇 夭賲丕賳 乇賵卮 鬲乇亘蹖鬲蹖 丕毓賲丕賱蹖卮賵賳 乇賵蹖 亘趩賴 賴丕鬲丕 亘賴 亘趩賴 丕禺乇 亘乇爻賴 賲賱丕蹖賲 賵 賱胤蹖賮 賵 賲賳毓胤賮 賲蹖卮賴貙鬲賵氐蹖賮 乇賵賳丿 爻乇蹖毓 賵賱蹖 睾蹖乇賯丕亘賱 倬蹖卮 亘蹖賳蹖 倬蹖卮乇賮鬲 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 丕夭 讴丕賲倬蹖賵鬲乇 賵 丕蹖賳鬲乇賳鬲 鬲賵 賴賲賴 讴丕乇賴丕蹖 乇賵夭賲乇賴

丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲噩乇亘賴 蹖 鬲丿乇蹖爻 鬲賵 讴丕乇诏丕賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賳賵蹖爻蹖貙丕賳鬲賯丕丿 丕夭 乇爻鬲賵乇丕賳賴丕蹖 卮蹖讴 賵 亘丕讴賱丕爻貙 賳诏賴丿丕乇蹖 丕夭 丨蹖賵丕賳丕鬲 丕賴賱蹖 賵 賯囟蹖賴 賲毓鬲丕丿 賵 賴賳乇賲賳丿 卮丿賳卮 賴賲 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 禺賳丿賴 丿丕乇 亘賵丿

亘禺卮 丿賵賲 賴賲 丕禺鬲氐丕氐 丿丕乇賴 亘賴 爻賮乇 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賴 賮乇丕賳爻賴 亘乇丕蹖 丕賯丕賲鬲 賴賲乇丕賴 丿賵爻鬲 倬爻乇卮 賵 爻禺鬲蹖 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 賲爻蹖乇 蹖丕丿诏蹖乇蹖 夭亘丕賳 爻禺鬲 賵 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 丕蹖 賲孬賱 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖 賲鬲丨賲賱 賲蹖卮賴
鬲賵 丕蹖賳 賮氐賱 亘賴 卮丿鬲 亘丕 賲乇丕乇鬲 賴丕蹖 蹖丕丿诏蹖乇蹖 丕蹖賳 夭亘丕賳 亘丕 爻丿丕乇蹖爻 賴賲丿乇丿蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿賲...鬲賵氐蹖賮 丿賵 鬲賵乇蹖爻鬲 丕賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 鬲賵 賲鬲乇賵 讴賴 丿蹖賵蹖丿 乇賵 亘丕 蹖賴 噩蹖亘 亘乇 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 诏乇賮鬲賴 亘賵丿賳丿 賴賲 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 賲孬丕賱蹖 丕夭 丨賲丕賯鬲 丕賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 卮丕賴讴丕乇 丿乇 丕賵賲丿賴 亘賵丿

讴鬲丕亘 亘乇禺賱丕賮 丕爻賲卮 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 睾賲賳丕讴 倬爻乇亘趩賴 丕蹖 賱丕賱 乇賵 亘賴 匕賴賳 賲蹖丕乇賴 賳蹖爻鬲 賵 爻丕毓丕鬲蹖 爻乇丕爻乇賱亘禺賳丿貙禺賳丿賴 賵 诏丕賴丕 賯賴賯賴賴 乇賵 亘乇丕鬲賵賳 亘賴 丿賳亘丕賱 丿丕乇賴

爻丿丕乇蹖爻貙賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 蹖 毓夭蹖夭蹖 讴賴 亘蹖 夭丨賲鬲 卮賲丕 乇賵 賲蹖 禺賳丿賵賳賴
:-)
Profile Image for Maede.
460 reviews663 followers
December 9, 2021
丿蹖賵蹖丿 爻丿丕乇蹖爻貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵 胤賳夭倬乇丿丕夭 賲毓乇賵賮 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕夭 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥屰� 亘夭乇诏 卮丿賳 丿乇 卮賴乇蹖鈥� 讴賵趩讴貙 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴 賵 卮蹖讴丕诏賵貙 賴賲噩賳爻诏乇丕蹖蹖貙 讴丕賱噩貙 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 丕夭 賲賵丕丿 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖卮 丿乇 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟�. 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏� 讴丕賲賱丕賸 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 亘賵丿賳丿. 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 賲鬲賵噩賴 胤賳夭 馗乇蹖賮卮 賲蹖鈥屫簇呚� 乇賵蹖 賲賳 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賸 賴蹖趩 丕孬乇蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲. 賮賯胤 賵賯鬲蹖 丕夭 卮丿鬲 禺爻鬲賴 卮丿賳 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 爻乇丕睾 賵乇跇賳 氐賵鬲蹖 亘丕 氐丿丕蹖 禺賵丿卮 乇賮鬲賲貙 丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 爻丿丕乇蹖爻 噩賱賵蹖 丨囟丕乇 丕夭 趩賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 賴賲卮賵賳 鬲賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲賳 亘乇丕賲 噩丕賱亘 亘賵丿賳 賵 爻鬲丕乇賴 丿賵賲 賴賲 賮賯胤 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 賴賲蹖賳賴

禺賱丕氐賴 亘賴 卮丿鬲 鬲賵氐蹖賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 丕诏乇 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 讴賳噩讴丕賵蹖丿 爻乇丕睾 讴鬲丕亘 氐賵鬲蹖卮 亘乇蹖丿. 賳讴鬲賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 乇丕噩毓 亘賴 胤賳夭 賴爻鬲 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 爻賱蹖賯賴鈥屫й屬� 賵 爻丿丕乇蹖爻 賲賲讴賳賴 亘賴 匕丕卅賯賴鈥屰� 卮賲丕 禺賵卮 亘蹖丕丿 賵賱蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 胤賳夭卮 禺卮讴 賵 丌亘讴蹖 亘賵丿

:讴鬲丕亘 賵 氐賵鬲蹖卮

郾鄞郯郯/酃/郾鄹
Profile Image for Ginger.
928 reviews534 followers
January 19, 2018
3.5 stars from me!

My real life book club choose this for our January book read. I'm glad they did because this was a funny and quirky book to read. I enjoyed all the stories of his family, his time in Paris, living in NYC and also trying to learn how to speak French.

David Sedaris has a unique and funny way of looking at situations and I loved it! I will definitely read more books of his in the future.

Recommended for people who like to laugh, who like witty dialogue and who do not get offended by how ridiculous Americans can be. You know who you are! Stay away from this book. 馃ぃ
Profile Image for Maziar MHK.
179 reviews186 followers
March 6, 2020
诏乇趩賴 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 丿丕蹖乇賴 蹖賽 賵爻蹖毓 "胤賳夭" 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 賵 丕賱亘鬲賴 倬乇賮乇賵卮賽 亘丕夭丕乇 賳卮乇賽 賲讴鬲賵亘丕鬲賽 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 夭亘丕賳 賴丕蹖賽 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 丕爻鬲 丕賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 蹖賽 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 丕蹖 讴賴 爻丕賱 賴丕蹖 賽 爻丕賱 丿乇 丿賴賴 賴賮鬲丕丿 賵 賴卮鬲丕丿 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 丿乇 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 賳賻夭蹖爻鬲賴 賵 鬲噩乇亘賴 蹖賽 蹖讴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕卅蹖 蹖賵賳丕賳蹖 鬲亘丕乇貙 賲丿鬲蹖 賲賯蹖賲賽 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賳亘賵丿賴貙 丕氐賱丕 賵 丕亘丿丕 禺賳丿賴 丿丕乇 賵 賲賮乇丨 賳蹖爻鬲貙 卮讴 賳讴賳蹖丿
Profile Image for Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile.
2,345 reviews898 followers
July 15, 2021
This was my first David Sedaris book, and I was not disappointed. Each essay was clever and funny in its own way, and I enjoyed hearing about his life, especially his time in France. I will definitely pick up more books by him when I come across them.
Profile Image for Liz.
2,651 reviews3,563 followers
November 6, 2023
Me Talk Pretty One Day is an older volume of David Sedaris鈥� comic pieces. But just like his more recent work, I found it to be inconsistent. I got a special kick out of The Youth Is Asia, which discusses his parents鈥� different pets. As an empty nester with my own spoiled four legged child, I totally got it. In fact, the segments about his parents were some of the funniest ones. I also loved the sections on his attempts to learn the French language. But other sections, such as the one on his time as a creative writing instructor, I thought fell totally flat. I would have been like the older student who felt the class was a total waste.
And a little of him goes a long way. Not just sarcastic, he frequently veers into bitter and nasty. The book works best when you listen to just an essay or two and then take a break.
I listened to this and David narrates his own book. It worked especially well on the first essay about his lisp and the speech therapist trying to eliminate it. In short, she failed.
Profile Image for Thomas.
1,774 reviews11.3k followers
March 15, 2015
I came into this book expecting the voice of a pretentious, self-indulgent white male, and I finished this book smirking along with this funny, pretentious, and self-indulgent white male. I cannot judge David Sedaris as I do not know his true personality, but he portrays a quirky character in these essays. He reflects on concepts such as speech and family, and several of his pieces draw inspiration from his experience as an American living in France. While some of Sedaris's creative nonfiction - emphasis on the "fiction," according to several sources - veers into hollow and pompous territories, I still found myself chuckling as he detailed his struggle with his speech therapist and his thoughts on crossword puzzles.

My favorite essays include "Go Carolina," "21 Down," and "Picka Pocketoni," entertaining anecdotes in which Sedaris takes himself down a peg or two. I would recommend this collection if you enjoy snark and can stomach some pretentiousness along with your rants and your humor.
Profile Image for Whitney Atkinson.
1,050 reviews13.1k followers
July 30, 2018
This is the first book I've read by Sedaris, but I will certainly be picking up more in the future! He writes witty essays about his life, this collection specifically focusing on a period when he moved to Paris and was learning French, with other stories sprinkled in. His writing was funny without trying to be too edgy, punny, or forced. The audiobook is narrated by him, and there's even certain parts of it that are recordings of live readings. I really enjoyed this because you got to hear his delivery of the story, as well as how he interacts with an audience. My only gripe is that the audiobook weirdly omitted some stories that were in my physical copy of the book. Still, all of these were easy and fun to read, not requiring too much brain power, but still offering a good message.
Profile Image for Esil.
1,118 reviews1,472 followers
March 2, 2019
4 high star!

Oh, David Sedaris, I had to force myself not move right on to another of your audiobooks. I listened to Calypso a while ago, and I loved it - funny, smart and real. Me Talk Pretty One Day is an older book, and gives me a glimpse at a younger Sedaris, but the humour and view onto himself, his family and the world are recognizable. There are some great stories about teaching a writing class and learning to speak French that I especially loved. Exercising self restraint will give me a chance to savour the books I have not yet listened to. And I suspect there may be a risk of too much a good thing ruining the effect if I listen to them all at once. But once I get through this bleak audio history of The Troubles in Ireland, I鈥檓 going right back to Sedaris...
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