Me Talk Pretty One Day
by David Sedaris
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Book Reviews of Me Talk Pretty One Day
Book Review: No different from what you would expect from Sedaris
Summary: 3 Stars
if you are a fan of this writer, and i officially am, this is one novel that will not disappoint. He is brash, he is amusing, he is self-centered (not so much this time out), he is very unorthodox. Nothing he writes will set the world on fire, but he's clearly not trying to do that. All he is trying to do is have a good time, his way, the only way he really seems to know how.Sedaris strikes me as one of those reclusive writers, the ones who really don't want to be around too many people who know their faces, but have no problem expressing themselves through the written word, speaking to us, baring his soul, without ever having to look into our eyes. He strikes me as that kind of character, really. Just look at his photo on back. A picture of someone who is totally uncomfortable posing for the camera, insisting on a natural action shot. Never speaking to us directly.
Sure, sure, he has his public radio work, he does his appearances, fine. But those are contributions rather than fame. Sedaris doesn't seem to adhere to the social understanding that he has "made it." and he doesn't care. he just wants someone to talk to. without actually talking to anyone.
great scam he has though, i admit. little essays about this and that. nothing major, nothing really minor. just having a conversation. telling a story to an audience held captive by their own devices. what a fine read this book is! my favorite stories involve his times in paris trying to understand the language, a little piece about taking responsibility for a turd in a friends toilet and a rather long dissertation concerning a family dog. one story really bothered me. it was about his riding a train in france with his partner and a married american couple are badmouthing him to each other, thinking him french and not able to understand their words. he lets it all fall off his back with no redemption. I WOULD HAVE LET THEM HAVE IT! and it bothered me that he would let himself get so beaten up by these ignorant steers!
but there it is. he had successfully drawn me into his story to the point where i not only identified with the character, but i sympathized. and that's all i ask. but when he moves me to higher levels, goes above and beyond the call of duty, showing me ingenius creativity and flare that just knocks me for a loop...he'll get 4 stars.
Book Review: Super entertaining !!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had heard so much about David Sedaris that I had to go out and grab a copy of "Me Talk Pretty One Day" to see what all the hype and kudos was about. I found my answer in no time. As soon as I got into the book, I was chuckling with laughter and wincing with fascination. Sedaris has to have led one of the funniest, most bizarre lives Ive ever heard of. His father's over-zealous attempts to foster a talent in each of his children (in spite of their glaring lack of talent in any of the fields he respectively assigned them) is a source of much laughter in the book. David's encounters with his midget guitar teacher had me on the floor, gasping for breath from laughter. But I think the story that stood out for me the most is "You cant kill the rooster" about Sedaris's foul-mouthed, monosyllabic, rap-loving brother....that one's a real hoot, I read it and re-read it!!
Actually, there were so many good stories that its hard to choose a favorite. I love "Twelve moments in the life of the artist" about Sedaris' phase of amphetamine addiction...his trips on speed are hilarious. Then there's the one after which the book is titled, which chronicles Sedaris' struggle with the French language while residing in Paris. Generally, the first half of the book is better than the second, but overall a really great read....very entertaining, and in my opinion, very endearing as well. Sedaris writes about his human foibles with no shame, there is a loveable honesty in his work, plus he manages to draw humour out of the most mundane of events. Something about him reminds me of Henry Miller, maybe the story called "Big Boy" about a giant turd swimming in his friend's loo.....very reminiscent of the famous turd scene in "Tropic of Cancer."
And while Im rambling on about the book, I just have to mention the opening story (entitled "Go Carolina") about Sedaris's attempts to avoid any word with "s" so as to evade the trauma dished out on him by his speech therapist whenever he lisps. Hilarious !! At one point, teh therapist asked him what his family generally does on New Year's eve, and he replied "on the final day of the year we take down the pine tree in our living room and eat marine life" to avoid saying "seafood." Go get your copy readers, this book's a keeper !!
Book Review: Caustic humor that is laugh-out-loud funny
Summary: 4 Stars
I listened to David Sedaris' When You are Engulfed in Flames as an audio-book (read by the author) and enjoyed it so much that I special-ordered Me Talk Pretty One Day into my library as an audio-book. Reading is good, but when it comes to material like this, audio is the way to go.
Sedaris' deadpan delivery is priceless. Seven of the stories in this collection are recorded live. These stories are among the best in the collection, and they are enhanced further by the live audience (those pregnant pauses, the anticipation, and the delirious laughter that follows each punch-line).
Sedaris' stories (or essays, as they are often referred to) are amusing, real-life, anecdotes about the mundane. These are the stories told by the funniest guy at a dinner party.
As with any collection of essays, some are better than others. This collection gets off to a strong start with Go Carolina. Many of the standout stories are the ones that were recorded live, in particular The Youth in Asia, I'll Eat What He's Wearing, and See You Again Yesterday. Other stand-outs include: Shiner Like a Diamond and Learning Curve.
In Canada we have a popular story-teller named Stuart McLean who is probably unknown outside the Great White North (we also like hockey and drink coffee at a place called Tim Horton's). David Sedaris is similar to McLean in that he tells amusing anecdotes'; however there is a distinct difference. McLean is strictly G rated entertainment; sentimental and charming. Sedaris, while not R rated, is delivering PG material. Readers and listeners should be prepared for coarse language, sexual content, and references to recreational drug use. He speaks openly about his drug abuse and his homosexuality, which may be off-putting to some. And his humor is extremely caustic - and that may not appeal to everyone. (I on the otherhand, appreciate caustic humor)
All in all, this is a highly entertaining collection of stories. Overall, I found the variety and quality of stories told in When You Are Engulfed in Flames to be a little better, but Me Talk Pretty One Day makes for enjoyable reading and/or listening. There are moments that are almost certain to have you laughing out loud.
Book Review: Light But Really Entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
Me Talk Pretty One Day is a really funny book, written by a really funny guy, who makes a lot of really funny observations. Really. Funny. Ok, I'm not getting far with this. Sometimes I find it hard to review funny books that are successful in, well, being funny. If someone sets out to write a funny book, and succeeds, then the result is, well, funny. David Sedaris is that. He's funny. Ok, I won't use that word anymore.
As a person who reads about a book a week, I find it more and more rare the instance when I actually laugh out loud, or LOL as the people who like to use consecutive uppercase letters refer to it these days. This book made such an occurrence commonplace in the mere 270 pages of text offered here. Every page seemed to contain an L, many of them of the OL variety. Those fortunate enough to sit next to me on the train likely thought I was crazy. Serves them right.
This is not a cover-to-cover book, but a collection of essays presumably written by Sedaris over some set of years. While I generally tend to avoid essay collaborations due to their non-linear nature and the about face you need to perform in ending one and picking up the next, Sedaris pulls it off by being so entertaining. Each story occupies 5-15 pages of text, often times packed with pearls and/or nuggets of entertaining wordplay. The only downside is that, again, there is no groove. If you know, going into it, this is the way the book is going to read, you can better approach it by reading it in 5-15 minute intervals.
Overall, that's about it. Sedaris is a gay man with a low IQ (his words) who writes hilarious stories about living in New York or living in France or trying to learn French. These sardonic slices of life, rife with peculiar observations Sedaris crafts with interesting word choices, keep you interested page after page. While probably a little bit over the top at times - possibly intentional, you can get away with it when you're this ffffff...no, I promised not to say it anymore.
Overall, this is a book many people (who aren't homophobic) should enjoy. Some of the stories will be more pertinent to those familiar with New York, but it can be enjoyed by just about anyone. I highly recommend the read.
Book Review: Hilarious inspiration
Summary: 5 Stars
As a fan of the author, I'm going to write a glowing review of his work regaurdless of content. I followed his example, writing stories about my family and turned them into somewhat tall tales. But David Sedaris absolutely, poisitively rocks.
While here we take another look at his ever evolving path in life as he teaches French classes and eventually moves to France with his boyfriend Hugh, the stories about his personal experiences and his family are the true gems. We can all relate to his stories as a child, in his case being picked on and forced to undergo the humiliation of speech therapy in school. That was a good point, if they singled out the future homosexuals through this process then what did they do for the future drunks or wife beaters? And what's so hilarious is that when I look back on the kids I went to grade school with I see signs of that behavior in the adults they became. But who knew then?
I roared with laugher about his family pets and how Lou and Sharon loved their Great Dane, Molina, more than their own children. Now that my sister and I are out of the house, my parents did the same thing (only they have cats). 12 Moments In The Life of an Artist was wonderful as it preys on every pretentious artist I've ever encountered. "It's all about my art! You just don't understand! I'm too creative to lead a 9 to 5 type life!" Yeah, they're too creative to lead a mundane life and they're always broke, but they have plenty of money to buy drugs and are creative enough to make messes rather than a living all in the name of art. His father made one story by shouting "Hey there, sport!" during one of his preformance art presentations, and the whole audience thought it was brilliant and revolutionary. HA!
And how can we ignore the baby of the family, his brother Paul, a.k.a. The Rooster? You could write a book about that nutcase! His hillbilly, obnoxious, crass brother getting into fist fights and floor sanding for a living whose speech is a complex hybrid of rap music, New Yorkese and a South Carolina drawl. You couldn't make that up!
A hilarious, yet serious look at life. A must have for any writer for wonderful inspiration and a zest for life.