The Works of David Sedaris

[mrpancake]

Am I the only one who thought the story about the sleepover was absolutely hilarious? I know it's in absolutely awful taste, but I just about lost it when his mom asked something along the lines of "What the hell do you bring to a dead baby's birthday party?" He has such a great way of describing people. I also really loved the stories that had Amy in them because it just made her whole "deal" make so much more sense. I also love the "Fuck it bucket." I could use one of those.

Ew, someone once told me that if I liked David Sedaris I would like Augsten Borroughs. Oh. My. God. Running With Scissors was absolutely god awful and I can't believe anyone would link Sedaris' brilliance with that piece of trash. RWS wishes it could be half as witty or clever or smart as anything David Sedaris writes. It read to me like a very, very, very cheap David Sedaris wannabe who was so far off the mark he just resorted to gross-out, potty-humor shit. And that's saying a lot, because I have a special place in my heart for both gross-out and potty-humor.

Anyway, that was off topic, but...yeah. Does he have another book coming out anytime soon. I also read Holidays on Ice and I enjoyed it a lot, but I think his essays are so much better than the fiction stuff he writes. I love that he can tell a story of something that happened in such a way that's so engaging. I felt the fictional accounts lost something in translation...

ETA: I'd give anything to hear the Billie Holiday impression.

[shaz]

He IS amazing! Have you heard "Naked" on CD? Amy does all her own voices, plus the voices for his brother (can't remember the name off the top of my head--you know: the rooster!). Shhh--I think Amy is funnier than David. I love her story about painting her face to look like she was beaten up and telling their dad, "I'm finally in love!" Or telling David, loudly, on the subway, "Hope you beat that rape charge!" right before getting off the train. So not appropriate, but still so funny.

Shanmac, I'm so jealous you got to hear the Billie Holiday impression! At both talks I saw, he was asked to do it, but refused.

Oh oh oh, mrpancake--and the fuck it bucket! God, the rooster. At one of the talks I went to he also told the story about the rooster's kinda trashy wedding. The two things that really stick out about that story--it's very somber because he talks about the time he saved his brother's life in the ocean. But then he goes on to talk about his brother's new wife's dog eating another dog's poo. In the same damn story. The man's a genius.

[Shanmac]

shaz, I think Amy said the "finally in love" thing to a random stranger in the grocery store, which to me, makes it funnier. I love the fat suit story, too -- how she was chowing down mayo from the fridge just to horrify their dad.

I know it's in absolutely awful taste, but I just about lost it when his mom asked something along the lines of "What the hell do you bring to a dead baby's birthday party?"

I know I should find his mom to be a sad character, but she cracks me up. I giggle every time I think of the essay where she sends him a check and writes "Pet burning" in the memo. She must have been the coolest lady ever.

I agree, the essays about his real life are better than his fiction. I do enjoy the "Seasons Greetings" (I think that's what it's called -- the unrelentingly cheerful holiday newsletter about the family whose Vietnamese half-sister puts the baby in the dryer) story and "The Last You Will Ever Hear from Me." I laugh just thinking about the latter. Sick, twisted, and hilarious.

[shaz]

Shanmac, you're right--the face bruises were directed at the random stranger. The fat suit thing was for her dad. He was so horrified by it! I love that woman!

I also love the cheerful Vietnamese/baby in the dryer story. But the one story that has made me laugh like no other (besides the French class/Easter explanation story) is the one where he talks about his life as a meth addict. Specifically where he talks about dragging a heavy cash register through the forest seeming like a fabulous idea. And the friend with the nest made of human hair--I could go on forever.

mrpancake, the most recent book he had out was Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (that I know of). By the way, did you know you can buy "You can't kill the rooster" T-shirts from his brother's flooring business website? He always speaks so highly of his brother. I'd love to meet that sibling too. I'd also like to meet the other sisters, especially the one with the strict tanning regimen.

ETA: God, I keep adding stuff. But I have to tell mrpancake that the "who wants cake" thing was always hyperventilation-incuding hilariousness to me. Seriously, the first time I saw that I couldn't believe it was there. Who wants cake. I still think about it now and then, just to myself, and actually laugh out loud. Wilford Brimley. Oh god.

[india7]

I came running over here from the pet thread when I saw your avatar caption! "He nice, the Jesus" is one of my favorite Sedaris lines ever! Although, for me personally, nothing tops when he's in the butcher shop inquiring about the cow's brains: "Is them there the thoughts of cows?" Now that particular part had me hyperventilating when I tried to describe it to my sister-in-law and her brother!

I started with "Me Talk Pretty One Day", then moved onto "Naked", Barrell Fever", and "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim". I'd love to see him in person one day!

[sleepy]

I can't believe I haven't posted in this thread. "Is them there the thoughts of cows," indeed! His stuff just makes me laugh out freaking loud. Anyone who has ever tried to live in a foreign country really must read the stories of his adventures in France ("I saw...a rabbit...in the road..."). I caught his Billie Holliday impression on some radio show (the Oscar Meyer weiner song story) and was impressed by how dead-on it was.

My dad got to meet him; alas, I was not there.

The very first thing I ever read from him was the speech therapist story. I was quickly crying with laughter as he struggled to avoid the letter s. Wait -- I just reread Dane's post, and now that I think about it, I think I'm wrong. The first story of his I read was about his OCD as a kid (tapping his forehead to the windshield).

It's been awhile since I've read anything by him -- I should go back and reread his stuff. You know, I think a signature quote change is in order...

[Shanmac]

Hee -- licking the mailboxes on his way home! I didn't do that, but I did have a lot of tics as a kids, so I totally felt him there. I had to go reread that essay just now. His mother was amazing. Mean -- but funny!

[Deleted]

Me Talk Pretty One Day is the first book that almost killed me. I was reading in the bathtub with bubble bath and started laughing so hard I choked on the bubbles. Freaking hysterical book and I can't understand why I have not moved on to the other books he has written.

[pollywog]

You can listen to David doing a reading of Santaland Diaries on the NPR website. It's not the full version, but it has him doing Away in a Manger as Billie Holiday.

[tinyshoes]

shanmac said:

shaz, I think Amy said the "finally in love" thing to a random stranger in the grocery store, which to me, makes it funnier. I love the fat suit story, too -- how she was chowing down mayo from the fridge just to horrify their dad.

That's my favorite story ever! I can only dream of being as funny as Amy.