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i picked this up off our shelf at home one morning after having finished some other political rag, needing something for the 45 minute train ride to work. my wife said it was funny, and i'd always liked Amy Sedaris on Strangers with Candy. i figured if this is her brother, it can't be too bad. (you may be asking yourself, doesn't this moron realize that Sedaris is a regular-type NPR guy? i live in a vacuum, okay? doesn't my reference to a cancelled Comedy Central show tip you off to this fact?)
the book started off funny enough, recounting tales of his grade school years and trying to work out a lisp, which as Sedaris tells it, is an obvious, early sign of homosexuality. (make a note of that, girls and boys. you'll thank yourself come time to find a prom date). from there though, it wanders off in all directions -- there's a long ride through his years as a speed freak, where "work" as a performance artist lends several entertaining stories to the mix. we then take a jaunt through a holiday gathering with friends, during which an exceptionally large piece of feces makes for one of the funnier 3 pages of reading i've ever taken in. the book isn't complete though without the stories of the "rooster", a.k.a. Sedaris' younger brother. the rooster's rapport with the family's father is utterly hilarious in stark constrast with his interactions with the author. while David is repeatedly disappointing and somewhat of an enigma to dad in many respects, the younger brother seems to make perfect sense to dad -- even when after the death of their mother, the rooster's statements about "getting you some pussy" to cure dad's depression don't seem odd, rude, or out of place at all.
a brisk read which proves entertaining, light hearted, and at times touchingly serious, Me Talk Pretty One Day is a fine piece of work from a consistent writer who continues to entertain with his random stories of life, death, drugs, and poop.
And I had heard of this but figured from the title it was an immigrant's sob story about the struggle to become "American." I can't say I was too wrong: North Carolina, Laos, North Carolina, Laos, pin, pen.
Will read it when squirrel hunting season is over. Also found an audio box set of his stuff.
