Rating:  Summary: Fear and Self-Loathing... Review: I think this is quite possibly the funniest book I've ever read! David Sedaris trawls through his life and up-bringing to deliver hilarious observations and stories, describing failures, foibles and more failures in minute detail. He has an eye for the little things, the tiny events and ironies that make up this cruel world, and a knack of abstracting ad absurdea. He paints a very self-deprecating, lovingly shambolic picture of himself through his writings, and it's the real identification with his character that causes you to laugh when he laughs and laugh when he cries. My favourite story is called "Big Boy" and details his attempts to use the bathroom at a garden party. It's insane that three pages can be this funny! I read it on an airplane and I was crying with laughter, much the the discomfort of the stranger sitting beside me. You need to read it and see... I'm not sure this book is for everyone though - if you're a conservative, homophobic, new-york-hater you'll find it hard to identify with the author, and therefore the humour might be lost, but you should probably read it anyway to cure yourself of your conservatism and homophobia... My favourite line details his experience with speech therapy classes in school, "They should've put a sign above the door saying "Future Homosexuals of America"...". If you think that's outrageously funny then you'll love this book...
Rating:  Summary: A wonderful, hilarious read Review: David Sedaris is, without a doubt, my favorite humorist alive. His writings are at once funny and poignant. To be able to touch and move readers in the way that Sedaris does is truly a gift, and one that should be treasured while he's still around treating society to more of his wonderful work."Me Talk Pretty One Day" is at least as funny as "Naked", and some of Sedaris's stories about living as an ignorant American in France were truly unforgettable. A highly recommended read to take on vacation. It's quick, absorbing and very rewarding.
Rating:  Summary: I must be missing something... Review: My book club chose this book for our upcoming selection. A friend in the club and I have come to the same conclusion: we cannot finish this book. We have both read chapter after chapter, waiting for the book to be other than mildly amusing and somewhat boring, but we never got to any part that hooked us into the book. The author seems to think he is hilarious, in a rather self-consious manner, and his whole tone seems to proclaim, "aren't I just so clever"; apparently many people agree with him. I seemed to miss everyone's boat here, because I found the book so boring that I could not go on anymore.
Rating:  Summary: A good dose of laughter! Review: Annotation: A humorous autobiographic novel by David Sedaris outlining random events in his life. His unusual life stories tell of his childhood lisp troubles and speech therapy classes, his guitar lessons taught by a midget, his struggle to become an artist and trying to learn and survive the French culture and language. Author bio: David Sedaris was born in New York and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's openly and happily gay. He lives in Paris with his boyfriend Hugh Hamrick. He has worked as a housecleaner and, as a part-time elf for Macy's. Many of his plays have been produced, and his essays are featured regularly in The New Yorker, Harpers, and Esquire. Evaluation: This was a very very good book. My sister had read it and recommended it to me. This was the first book I had picked up in a long time and was pulled into it by Sedaris' humor. At times, especially during class, I would find myself trying to hold in my laughter as to not make a scene. I usually have a hard time getting into a book when I first start reading, but this book started out with an interesting and of course humorous tale of Sedaris' speech therapy classes. I finished this book in about a week because every time I picked it up, I didn't want to stop reading it. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a good dose of laughter.
Rating:  Summary: What's All the Fuss About? Review: David Sedaris is a funny man. But he's not the "funniest man in America" as he has often been billed during his recent speaking tour. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is humorous, but not "laugh-out-loud funny." The majority of problems are with the stories dealing with his family. His family members are indeed quirky, but the stories he tells are you-had-to-be-there stories. I think my siblings and parents are hilarious too, but I'm humble enough to realize that anyone who didn't grow up in our household does not find our childhood anecdotes nearly as amusing as those of us who were there. This book improves during part "deux," wherein Sedaris sticks for the most part to describing his experiences as an American living in France. It is in these stories/essays that Sedaris's true gift shines through: he has quite a talent for pointing out the absurd in society. Yet, entertaining as they were, not even these stories are ones I would consider "laugh-out-loud funny." I suppose I would have liked this book better had the blurbs from reviews featured on the cover not oversold Sedaris's comedic talents. All in all, this book is entertaining when Sedaris is shining a light on society's foibles. When he turns that light on himself and his own neuroses, things begin to wear thin; and when he begins to speak of his family, the book is unremarkable at best, and, more often than not, completely unentertaining. Again, I probably would have liked it better had my expectations not been set so high. "River Teeth" by David James Duncan is in this same vein, but much, much better. If you just want to laugh, anything by Dave Barry is sure to hit the spot.
Rating:  Summary: Me Laugh Hard One Day Review: These hilarious essays reveal the unoticed surrealty of daily life. From the absurd eating habits of family members to the "Youth in Asia" every amusing passage can tell you a bit more about yourself and what our society considers to be "normal." David Sedaris is certainly one of the greatest literary comedians of our time. These quirky stories are filled with Sedaris' real family and freinds, who make the situations he writes about all the more amusing and fun to read, especially the stories about his father, Lou, the natural mechanic who proves time and time again that genetics aren't everything. His laid-back mother and rough-neck little brother, Paul (the rooster), also bring humor to this collection. But, by far, the strongest character has to be his sister, Amy (who also co-wrote Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, and Naked). With her imaginary boyfriends, "fatty suits," and fake bruises and scratches, Amy "shines like a diamond" in the face of normailty. However ridiculously funny these adventures are, only the truly open-minded and those willing to expand their horizons and read about possibly opposing lifestyles will really enjoy Sedaris' experiences. At times his actions may suggest him as the village idiot, but besides his occasional wacky stupidity, Sedaris won't fail to amuse. Sedaris captures the faults and humors in American (and even parts of European) culture. The ridiculous antics of the people in his life are displayed in fantastic detail, which will bring a smile to your face for every page you turn. All in all, Sedaris bases his creativity more on reality with imagined fantasy rathar than fantasy or reality alone, which makes him unique on the national bestseller list.
Rating:  Summary: Hilarious...you don't want it to end! Review: Listening to David Sedaris's voice narrating 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' is a danger if you are behind the wheel! In his voice you can hear the tough (yet funny) times at school & the Speech Pathologist, with his dad and the Music Teacher. Sometimes it's almost too much to listen to! Sedaris's voice is very similar to his sister Amy Sedaris who was Jerry Blank in the cult show 'Strangers with Candy.' They share the same brand of humor: dry, cynical, witty. This is one you certainly don't want to miss and I would suggest the audio version for more personalization (and laughs).
Rating:  Summary: Hilarious Sedaris Review: I read his books while on the treadmill at the gym .. and it can be dangerous! Laughing so hard I lose my balance! The funniest story is the one about his brother and language.
Rating:  Summary: Me Like Sedaris Review: Funny, charming, and heartwarming. I laughed. I cried. It was better than Cats. Sedaris has been around and these stories are testament to the freakish family members and miserable jobs that are part of his life. I was cautioned by one trustworthy book-loaning friend of mine, "It's just not that funny. He's not the same in print as on NPR." Well I say, "To hell with that." The stories aren't all pee-in-your-pants-laugh-till-you-cry funny, but they do make me smile. Furthermore, Sedaris has a knack for setting a mood, even though it's mostly his own mood that we share. Buy it. Read it. I told you so.
Rating:  Summary: A Blast! Review: Like NAKED, ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY is a collection of personal essays. Once again, Sedaris tackles territory that will be immediately recognizable to anyone who is familiar with his work: his family, his childhood in North Carolina, his early days in New York and his sexuality. However, there is much new material covered in this collection, most of it influenced by the time that he has spent recently living in France. While the rest of us have been going about our normal lives, Sedaris has been living part-time in France with his boyfriend, artist Hugh Hamrick, exploring Paris, struggling with the language, dealing with American tourists, and generally hating all things Gallic. With this collection, I found that David Sedaris has matured, but he hasn't lost his edge. It is hilariously funny, and had me laughing aloud from start to finish. Also recommended: THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez
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