by David Sedaris
This was better. I actually laughed aloud a few times near the end- the part where he\’s newly moved to France, trying to learn the language, very funny. All the pieces in here are short- some a decent chapter, others only two or three pages long. In the beginning he talks about having speech therapy as a child for a lisp, taking unwanted music lessons, and some pets his family had; also more about his relationship with his father (who hoards spoiling food in disgusting ways). Later essays are from adult years- being disappointed by the fancy food in NY restaurants, working as a furniture mover, teaching a college writing workshop when he\’s not really qualified or prepared, and overhearing American tourists loudly criticize his appearance (in France, after he\’s lived there a while, and of course they don\’t realize he speaks English. He muses over different ways he will embarrass them with a final revelation that he understood all- and then does nothing). The only two parts I really didn\’t like were the section where he goes through a phase of creating \”performance art\” under the influence of drugs, and the very last bit where he\’s daydreaming wild scenarios of fame during bouts of insomnia. Well overall it was a curious and amusing read. Quirky is a good word. Not a keeper though; if I feel like trying more Sedaris I\’ll make sure to check it out from the library.
Rating: 3/5 272 pages, 2000
