Me Talk Pretty One Day

Author: David Sedaris

Title: Me Talk Pretty One Day

Genre: Audio Book, Creative non-fiction

Publication Date: 2002

Number of Pages: 5 cds (approx. 6 hours)

Geographical Setting: North Carolina, France

Time Period: Current

Series: N/A

Plot Summary: David Sedaris talks about growing up in North Carolina. He talks about his speech therapist, whom he thwarted by simply using words with no “s” in them, and his interesting mother and jazz-devoted father. His father forced him to take guitar lessons (so that he can have all his children be part of a jazz combo), and David tells about his guitar teacher, a midget name Mr. Mancini.  When nothing comes of David’s lessons, his father tries to boost David’s performance artist career by heckling him from the audience. He teaches at the Art Institute of Chicago, and his class watches soap operas and writes essays on what they think will happen next. He also details his life in France with his lover, his attempt to learn French, and gives dead-on observations about Americans.

Subject Headings: Americans in France; Paris, France; Humor

Appeal: Humor, Autobiographical, Candid, Contemporary, Engaging, Witty, Eccentric, Sarcastic, Thoughtful, Episodic, Introspective, Character-centered, Quirky, Gay

3 terms that best describe this book: Humorous, Contemporary, Quirky

Similar Authors and Works

Non-Fiction:

1. Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs- He writes about growing up gay in a dysfunctional family, and uses sarcastic and self-depreciating humor.
2. What the Dogs Have Taught Me by Merrill Markoe- She was once the head writer for Late Night With David Letterman. In this book she uses her ironic outlook on life and her love of dogs to write a set of humorous essays.
3. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (audiobook)- She explores the lives of presidential assassins and visits locales associated with them and the presidents. It is very well researched and Vowell uses a distinctive voice and comic delivery that make it even better in the audiobook version.

Fiction:

1. The 13 Clocks by James Thurber- This is a humorous story about a wicked Duke who amuses himself by finding new and tricky ways to reject his niece’s suitors.
2. A Little More than Kin by Rebecca Kavaler- This is a collection of witty short stories about family relationships.
3. The Loser’s Club by Richard Perez- A bit more serious in theme then Sedaris’s work but it does deal with the funny side of coming of age, and is filled with quirky characters.

Name: Kim

Tags: candid, compelling, contemporary, engaging, humorous, quirky, thought provoking, tragic, witty