Rating: 
Summary: Laugh-out-loud funny
Review: This is the first book I've read by David Sedaris. Nearly every chapter made me laugh out loud, and it takes a lot for a book to do that. The first quarter to half of the book was noticeably funnier than the last, however. Also, I could have done without the chapter, "Big Boy", which David spends describing in great detail a bathroom episode. Some chapters flowed logically to the next chapter, and some were oddly disjointed. However, the end result is still a very entertaining book as David Sedaris uses his dry wit to describe strange events from his life. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Not As Good As Naked
Review: I would have given his book "Naked" four stars, because the stories were well written and funny. This collection, however, left a lot to be desired. Attempts to attain a level of profundity fell far short, and I think the author realized this because he threw in a fart joke (or something of the like) every time in a shameless attempt to distract the reader from the mediocrity. It is a tragedy that many good writers have to self publish their work and struggle to get it read by a handful of people while works like this win awards. I give it two stars because of the story of the American in France who listens to a group of people talk about him in French while he sits and understands every word. That scene was handled with grace...then came the fart joke.
Rating: 
Summary: Thimply Thilly
Review: I have found a new favorite author! Although I have never read any of his other books, I will be sure to now. Where do you start with a book that is funny all over! Starting out at a young boy with a series of speech classes, to the unique and crazy family life, you will be giggling not only to yourself but loud enough for all around you to see and hear. If you are easily embarrassed in public...I would advise only reading this book at alone. You can not hold the laughter in. Moving on in the book it takes you through his college years and odd jobs...up to his move with his significant other to France. Most favorite chapters would be "Big Boy", which is solely dedicated to a turd! Other chapters that were among my top picks were all the chapters regarding the move to France. David tries so hard to learn the language and battles with the sexes of all nouns. David Sedaris is a brilliant author! I found myself reading bits and pieces of this book to friends and family...encouraging them to buy the book. I even bought the audio book as a xmas present for my mom.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious, insightful, real -- what more can I say?
Review: This has got to be one of the funniest books I've ever read. David Sedaris's essays are full of insight and wit. His comic timing is precise when he describes his childhood, his family and his eccentric friends. I have been told that the audio version of this book intensifies the humor and that I ought to give it a whirl. If the audiocassette is as funny as the book, then I look forward to listening to it.
Rating:
Summary: Asthmatics and heavy smokers beware!
Review: Bottom line: This book will make it difficult to catch your breath regardless of your current lung capacity. I first heard Sedaris on NPR one morning and found myself choking on my toothpaste from laughter. Months later I saw this title while perusing a local bookstore. I picked it up to have some fluffy reading on the beach not realizing I'd tear through it before I ever reached my vacation spot. My husband thought I was mildly deranged from all the hooting and giggling on that road trip. Since then, I've consumed the rest of Sedaris' work with breathless enthusiasm while impatiently waiting to attend his local appearance this coming April. I purchased several of his books for folks on my holiday shopping list to share his gift for distilling the utterly hilarious from the painful and/or embarrassing moments of life. Four days after Christmas and I'm already receiving thank-you notes about it. David Sedaris is a comic treasure. And who couldn't use a little levity after spending the holidays with dysfunctional relatives? Order this book now and request express shipping! Just remember to breathe every page or so.
Rating:
Summary: Me laugh out loud
Review: This collection of essays is hysterical-truly laugh-out-loud material. I sat in an airport waiting area reading the piece titled, "Big Boy" and didn't realize people were staring at me until the man next to me finally said, "what on earth are you reading that's so damn funny?" The stories are simple, well crafted and worth every minute. Submitted by the author of I'm Living Your Dream Life
Rating:
Summary: Me Laughing Hard at Typed Pages
Review: This could be one of the funniest collection of stories I have ever read. This is this first (of a few) Sedaris books I've read, and a great introduction to himself, family and his unique humor that kept me engrossed in every word and page, and forced me to laugh outloud while reading. While Sedaris' book pokes fun of family, the workplace and American culture, he simutaneously is warm and tender about certain subjects as well -- mixing the totally obsurd, while spilling his guts about a very personal section. I personally, loved the section on his language lessons in France. I couldn't stop laughing. And as a New Yorker, his essay on riding the Paris, Metro was priceless.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh out loud.... a lot!
Review: I read Me Talk Pretty One Day while traveling around in Europe and it actually managed to make a 12 hour train ride a joy. When I wasn't rolling on the ground I was snickering to myself. Each chapter is a short story about a different point in his life and all of his experiences are mixed with a bit of absurdity. From his speech therapist who tried and failed to cure him of his lisp to his brother who calls himself the rooster (no one can stop the rooster!) it never ceases to leave you with a bizarre combination of amusement and hope that this is in fact fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: highly overrated
Review: I admit that some chapters of this book made me laugh,...BR>In this book, he simply describes openly all the disgusting
details which probably anybody can find in his life if he/she
searches hard enough.
Disgusting details of certain events with people
who keep animals do not suddenly become less disgusting just
because you describe them in writing.
Foul language like the author's brother seems to speak it
(Sedaris quotes him at length and with delight) does not become
more fit to print by actually printing it.
The fact that this book is so popular in the US is somewhat
frightening. ...Does entertainment have to
be either violent or vulgar or both in order to sell on the
US market?
Rating:
Summary: Discovered a new favorite author
Review: Though I didn't find it laugh out loud hilarious, the stories in this book were all very entertaining and amusing in a snickering sort of way. Sedaris's family seems to be full of some unique and strange characters, and his accounts of his and their exploits are well delivered. I plan to try his other books.
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