Me Talk Pretty One Day

by David Sedaris

This was better. I actually laughed aloud a few times near the end- the part where he's newly moved to France, trying to learn the language, very funny. All the pieces in here are short- some a decent chapter, others only two or three pages long. In the beginning he talks about having speech therapy as a child for a lisp, taking unwanted music lessons, and some pets his family had; also more about his relationship with his father (who hoards spoiling food in disgusting ways). Later essays are from adult years- being disappointed by the fancy food in NY restaurants, working as a furniture mover, teaching a college writing workshop when he's not really qualified or prepared, and overhearing American tourists loudly criticize his appearance (in France, after he's lived there a while, and of course they don't realize he speaks English. He muses over different ways he will embarrass them with a final revelation that he understood all- and then does nothing). The only two parts I really didn't like were the section where he goes through a phase of creating "performance art" under the influence of drugs, and the very last bit where he's daydreaming wild scenarios of fame during bouts of insomnia. Well overall it was a curious and amusing read. Quirky is a good word. Not a keeper though; if I feel like trying more Sedaris I'll make sure to check it out from the library.

Rating: 3/5                   272 pages, 2000