Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Anyone that has read NAKED and BARREL FEVER, or heard David Sedaris speaking live or on the radio will tell you that a new collection from him is cause for jubilation. His recent move to Paris from New York inspired these hilarious new pieces, including ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’, about his attempts to learn French from a sadistic teacher who declares that ‘every day spent with you is like having a caesarean section’. His family is another inspiration. ‘You Can’t Kill the Rooster’ is a portrait of his brother, who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. And no one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers of food and cashiers with six-inch fingernails.
For the Reading Challenge(s):
2024 Nonfiction Reading Challenge
The Reason
It’s my in-person bookclub’s August Book of the Month.
The Quotes
“After a few months in my parents’ basement, I took an apartment near the state university, where I discovered both crystal methamphetamine and conceptual art. Either one of these things are dangerous, but in combination they have the potential to destroy entire civilizations.”
“When asked “What do we need to learn this for?” any high-school teacher can confidently answer that, regardless of the subject, the knowledge will come in handy once the student hits middle age and starts working crossword puzzles in order to stave off the terrible loneliness.”
“I can’t promise I’ll never kill anyone again,” he once said, strapping a refrigerator to his back. “It’s unrealistic to live your life within such strict parameters.”
“In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work things out for the sake of the apartment.”
My Thoughts
This book has been on my TBR for 20 years! I keep hearing such great things about it but I just never got around to reading it. I’m glad I finally did; David Sedaris is hilarious! There were times I couldn’t be sure if he was being serious when telling his stories or if they were just stories. I especially love reading about his family; his sister, Amy, and her pranks and antics, his father with his extreme frugality and subsequent disgusting behaviors. I also relate very much to his dislike of people who collect books when he got a job as a mover. I used to have lots of physical books, and I’ve moved many times without the help of a moving company, and I too dislike myself very much for collecting so many books!
I really enjoyed reading this book. I only wish that I could’ve listened to it on audiobook instead, because people praise the audiobook too. Not to worry, now that I’ve had a taste of David Sedaris’ humor, I’m sure I will continue to read his other books as well.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.
Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?
