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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780316776967 |
Powells.com Staff Pick
Completely autobiographical and, as always, hilarious, Me Talk Pretty One Day is my favorite of all the David Sedaris collections. The first half of the book focuses on his childhood in North Carolina and his very unusual family; the second half details his move to Paris with his boyfriend Hugh. While in France, Sedaris prides himself on his refusal to learn any useful French — even though he has spent six summers plus two years in the country. He finally decides to devote himself to learning ten new words per day — and the words he chooses don't cease to surprise and amuse.
Recommended by Amy W.
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
David Sedaris's new collection, Me Talk Pretty One Day, tells a most unconventional life story. It begins with a North Carolina childhood filled with speech-therapy classes ("There was the lisp, of course, but more troubling than that was my voice itself with its excitable tone and high, girlish pitch") and unwanted guitar lessons taught by a midget. From budding performance artist ("The only crimp in my plan was that I seemed to have no talent whatsoever") to "clearly unqualified" writing teacher in Chicago, Sedaris's career leads him to New York (the sky's-the-limit field of furniture moving) and eventually, of all places, France.
Sedaris's move to Paris poses a number of challenges, chief among them his inability to speak the language. Arriving a "spooky man-child" capable of communicating only through nouns, he undertakes language instruction that leads him ever deeper into cultural confusion. Whether describing the Easter bunny to puzzled classmates, savoring movies in translation ("It Is Necessary to Save the Soldier Ryan"), or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like none other.
Review:
Review:
Synopsis:
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
-
stephanie, May 22, 2007 (view all comments by stephanie)
GENIUS. The funniest book I think I have ever read. At least in recent memory.
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maizydaze, September 23, 2006 (view all comments by maizydaze)
This was the first book I read by David Sedaris. I have never been much into autobiograpies or essays, but this book made me laugh so hard I cried. Sedaris' dead-pan humor is sure to make anyone a fan.
View all 2 comments
Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780316776967
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Back Bay Books
- Author:
- Subject:
- Essays
- Subject:
- France
- Subject:
- Form - Essays
- Subject:
- Americans
- Copyright:
- 2001
- Edition Description:
- Back Bay Pbk
- Publication Date:
- June 2001
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 288
- Dimensions:
- 826x560x77 59
