Me Talk Pretty One Day

by David Sedaris

audio cassette

Published June 1, 2000 by Brand: Hachette Audio, Hachette Audio.

ISBN:: 978-1-57042-865-4

(14 reviews)

A recent transplant to Paris, humorist David Sedaris, bestselling author of “Naked”, presents a collection of his strongest work yet, including the title story about his hilarious attempt to learn French.

David Sedaris' move to Paris from New York inspired these hilarious pieces, including the title essay, 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.

2 editions

nekokat reviewed Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Review of 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Decently good plane read. Some of the essays crossed a few lines for me -- too mean-spirited; too reliant on humiliation or caricature as a form of humor; too callous in their treatment of tricky subjects like the death of pets; too self-centered, puerile or generally grating. There's a fine line between being a clever satirist and being an unlikeable misanthrope, and Sedaris doesn't always quit while he's ahead.

I did laugh out loud while reading the titular essay, though. Repeatedly. And then went back and reread some of the better passages, which were, if anything, even funnier the second time. The series of essays that take place just after his move to France is absolute gold for anyone who's ever immersed themselves in a foreign language and culture.

Aside from those, my favorite essays were "A Shiner Like A Diamond" (which left me in absolute awe of Sedaris' sister) …

Don reviewed Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Review of 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

i put this book down in sheer disgust. then after a day i picked it up again, but today was the third and last time. i had to stop. the early stories are filled with systematic abuse throughout childhood, and the later stories are the result of an abused personality - confusing sadism with love. inappropriate boundaries. abuse of trust. self-destructive coping habbits. etc.

his book is supposed to be humorous and it is in parts - sedaris is certainly a gifted writer, but its depressing to be exposed to such terrible circumstances.