If you're going to sit down with a David Sedaris book, I highly recommend you do so with the audio version. There is something to hearing his stories in his own voice that just makes it even better. ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY is the first Sedaris book I've read, after years of a friend telling me to 'just do it'! And now I'm glad that I did it. This strange title will make sense once you've read this book and it will make you chuckle every time you see it.
In this, his foutth book, Sedaris talks about some of his life's experiences and how they shaped who he is today. Its autobiographical in a satirical way. He talks about his childhood, siblings and parents and then moves on to college life and thereafter. All of his stories are filled with funny, detailed observations and will have you laughing out loud. The story about his embarrassment of having to go to speech therapy classes in high school for a lisp and how he learned to use alternative words so that he wouldn't have to pronounce certain letters that brought attention to his affliction were hilarious. As was his learning to speak French while living in France years later. Keeping in mind that the book was published in 2000, right before technology really blossomed to what it is today, Sedaris talks about his hatred of computers for taking all of the attention and respect away from the beloved typewriter. There are many insightful stories such as these. Goodreads has a great description of this book that you can read here.
My Thoughts:
I chose to listen to this book on audio, so I downloaded it to my iPod and listened as I worked out on my elliptical machine. It was the perfect choice. It made time fly by and kept my mind off of the boredom of working out alone, not to mention, it had me laughing out loud much of the time. I especially liked when he talked about trying to outsmart the speech therapist and also when he tried to speak French, but there were so many other stories that I loved too. His father and his relationship with his kids is also a big part of the book and although funny, is poignant as well.
Most of the audio book is done with regular narration but there are other parts that are recorded with a live audience. During those parts, its easy to see why people flock to his readings. It's not a huge book, only 288 printed pages, a little over 5 hours on audio and, I believe, well worth the time. Sedaris is, for me, an author I will probably always listen to rather than read. It's just better that way.
Author: David Sedaris
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Published: 2000
Pages: 288
Grade: A
Would I recommend this book? Yes!
This is the one book of Sedaris's I've read, rather than listened to and I have to agree that hearing him read his work is superb. I still loved this book.
ReplyDeleteHis books are wonderful. I've never listened to the audio version, but I would have a hard time not laughing out loud. He's hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I haven't gotten this yet! So many people say "just do it!" But I am admiring the part about doing it on the elliptical - I can't even go 90 seconds on that thing, so it would take me forever to listen to the book! LOL
ReplyDeleteI may have to read this one...I mean listen to this one as I get back to my workout routine!! I love it when the audio makes the time fly by!!
ReplyDeleteI've heard from many that his books are great to listen to. I may have to try this one.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at the end of the chapter bearing the same title as the book (and it's okay, since I went through speech therapy). I've read a couple others by Sedaris; this one is still my fave.
ReplyDeleteOh, silly me. I say this post in my Google reader and was ready to comment about how much I love, love Sedaris when I listen to him but how his books never make me laugh as much. But I never thought of getting an audio copy! Must head to the library immediately!
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