Paperback, 272 pages
English language
Published July 3, 2000 by Little, Brown and Company.
David Sedaris' new collection of essays - including live recordings! - 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' career leads him to New York City and eventually, of all places, France.
His 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 or watching …
David Sedaris' new collection of essays - including live recordings! - 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' career leads him to New York City and eventually, of all places, France.
His 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 or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other to every unforgettable encounter
A solid "meh". I had the occasional laugh, but also the occasional bout of boredom. I can't say much of it stayed with me now I'm done.
Also, how can he not like figs?!
A solid "meh". I had the occasional laugh, but also the occasional bout of boredom. I can't say much of it stayed with me now I'm done.
Also, how can he not like figs?!
Not funny, not even amusing. Sad, maybe. Cliche after cliche badly exploited in failed attempt at humor.
Sometimes hilarious, sometimes a little dull. Nice for short bursts of reading, but I got bored digging in for longer periods. It looks like one David Sedaris book will proven to be enough for me, which really surprised me.
I pretty rarely find "funny" books that are actually funny, or at least not nowadays. But Sedaris never disappoints me. His type of humor is a mean one, however, and perhaps this is just a reflection of my own black soul.
I pretty rarely find "funny" books that are actually funny, or at least not nowadays. But Sedaris never disappoints me. His type of humor is a mean one, however, and perhaps this is just a reflection of my own black soul.
