Me Talk Pretty One Day

Sedaris's move to Paris poses a number of challenges, chief among them his inability to speak the language. Arriving a "... (more)

Sedaris's move to Paris poses a number of challenges, chief among them his inability to speak the language. Arriving a "spooky man-child" capable of communicating only through nouns, he undertakes language instruction that leads him ever deeper into cultural confusion. Whether describing the Easter bunny to puzzled classmates, savoring movies in translation (It Is Necessary to Save the Soldier Ryan), or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other -- "Original, acid, and wild," said the Los Angeles Times -- to every unforgettable encounter. (less)

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Compared by The New Yorker to Twain and Hawthorne, David Sedaris has become one of the best-loved humorists of our time,... (more)

Compared by The New Yorker to Twain and Hawthorne, David Sedaris has become one of the best-loved humorists of our time, writing with perfect pitch about the ludicrousness of our age. His new collection features his strongest work yet. His recent move to Paris inspired several classic tales, including the title story, "Me Talk Pretty One Day", about his hilarious attempts to learn French. His family is another source of humor, inspiring "You Can't Kill the Rooster", a portrait of a brother who talks incessant hip-hop to his bewildered father. Featuring some pieces that have never been published and many that have appeared on National Public Radio, in The New Yorker, and Esquire, this is a hilarious collection that shouldn't be missed. (less)