I know there has been threads on here about books in the past. but I Was wondering if anyone has read this author since those threads? He is by far my favorite contemporary author. I’m going to a reading of his in San Diego on the 30th. we were quite lucky to get tickets since he lives in Europe and sells out pretty quickly when he tours over here.
I’ve never gone to a book reading before so I don’t really know what to expect…(does he just read straight through some of his storeies he likes? does he interrupt them with interesting tidbits and side notes [Like a DVD commentary track?]) But if any one is interested I’ll post a review when I get back…
Late,
grmpysmrf
i’d be interested. i’ve only honestly read a little here and there and listened to him on npr in LA. he’s pretty hilarious.
you got it!
His books are great! I suggest you start with “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” if you are interested in investigating further.
Late,
grmpysmrf
that is the only one i read but i have to confirm that i loved it a lot.
now if only i had more time to sit down and read books…
that is the only one i read but i have to confirm that i loved it a lot.
now if only i had more time to sit down and read books…
It’s OK if you don’t have time to read them, just listen to the audiobooks. David Sedaris reading his own stuff is a hoot and a holler.
Yeah, I have to make time to read, nearly always(stuff i wanna read I mean). I’m a little slow with his new one “When you Are Engulfed in Flames” It’s great though. Usually read at night before I go to bed but since work starts at 7 am I usually hit the sack with no amount of energy to read any. [:(]
I’m gonna try to it finished by the 30th though.
Late,
grmpysmrf
i was never able to get into audiobooks, they totally destroy the proper flow of a book to me. there is a significant difference between the two mediums and i prefer to stick to the old one.
i was never able to get into audiobooks, they totally destroy the proper flow of a book to me. there is a significant difference between the two mediums and i prefer to stick to the old one.
agreed. I lost a little something when i heard sedaris’s voice doing an audio book. so now I always hear his voice when i read. not bad just different.
Late,
grmpysmrf
saw the onion movie last night. what a let down. better to see the words on the page than hear an interpretation.not to say readings can’t be good.
connelly has had a few fairly enjoyable ones.
I’m not a fan of audiobooks in general, but I got into Sedaris through his NPR bits which came, I believe, before his books so I’ve always associated Sedaris with that voice and feel in many ways that his books are simply polished versions of his monologues. They follow his speech patterns, etc. This makes an audiobooks by D.S. very different than “The Davinci Code” as read by Walter Cronkite.
you have a point there. Hitchhikers Guide was also initially a radio show…
But still, I prefer a cup of coffee and a book 
… I got into Sedaris through his NPR bits which came, I believe, before his books.
You, sir, are correct. His first bits on NPR were later turned into the book “Holidays On Ice” Which is about his tenure as Mall Christmas Elf and all of the crap he had to endure while working there! Too Funny.
I’ve never listened to Sedaris on NPR cause I live in closest thing to the sticks without it actually being the sticks so we don’t get NPR. But My sister lives in San Diego and learned of him through NPR and is the one who completely turned me on to the guy.
Late,
grmysmrf
did you say “nudes on ice”?
what did i miss?
i’m such a retard. sometimes.
Alright the review.
The show was great. He opened by reading one of his stories from the new book (cry baby) and then read a bunch of stuff that was unpublished, bits out of his diary, and some stories that may be published in February, featuring animals. Somebody asked why he wrote about animals, and he responded, “Because I don’t need to explain what people look like or how they’re related. All I have to do is say ‘the squirrel or the squirrel’s Uncle’ and since everybody knows what a squirrels looks like I can get straight to the story.” He read for a little over an hour and a half and had the place in stitches pretty much the whole time. He answered questions from the audience for about 20 minutes and then took a small break before he went to the lobby to sign books and answer more questions. I’m sure he stayed there signing books for a good 4-5 hours unless the venue people cut the rest of the people off.
towards the end when you could tell the reading and the question and answer phase was winding down people started to get up during this part and go line up out in the lobby for the book signing part. we did not (my girlfriend and my sister-and no they’re not the same person for you aspiring comedians) we waited until he had finished speaking completely, then bolted for the door to get in line for the book signing and there was already a line. Although we got into the line fairly quickly but still waited about an hour and there was still MORE line behind us than that which had already met him.
Very nice personal guy.
The dude really is tiny and then on top of that he was seated at a table which meant he was really short!! so when I went up I shook his hand and then kinda squatted in front of the table so I wasn’t lumbering over him (I’m 6’2-6’3-ish) When I squatted down he immediately asked me what my name was, I told him grmpysmrf of course, “Oh it’s so nice to meet a Sagittarius”
I said “Nope.”
“Did I say Sagittarius? I meant Leo.” "
“Nope!”
“What’s your name, again”
“grmpysmrf”
“Oh I didn’t hear that the first time. I thought you said something else. Well, that changes everything. If I’d’ve known that the first time, I’d’ve known right away that you’re a cancer!!!”
“God No!!”
“Pisces?!!”
“No, but your close it’s a water sign”
“you’re not Aquarius?! There’s no way someone with your name is Aquarius!”
I said “the sad truth”
He said “You just don’t know it but you’re a cancer… or a Sagittarius!”
We all laughed at how jovial he was. I thanked him for being the only writer than can make me laugh out loud as well being a positive role model for gay people. I don’t think he had heard that one before, with the look he gave me. So I regaled him with the story of the 8th grade boy in my class that is gay and he would certainly act it all the time. I said "if you look at the way gay people are portrayed most of the time on film and in literature it’s always this swishy extremely negative stereotype and I thought this boy was acting the way he did because that was the only thing that he could identify with. So in a sense he was being coached on how to act by these so called gay influences. So I gave him “Me Talk Pretty One Day” because there is gay content in the book but it’s done so in such a normal non derogatory way that I thought it would help him see that he doesn’t have to be the swishy stereo type that he thinks is demanded of him. When he got done with the book he was a lot more stable because I think you showed him that he doesn’t need to perform in order to be gay he can just be himself. So Mr. Sedaris listened to my story then very politely said, “Thank you very much. That’s kind of you to say.” So I shook his hand again and said “thank you.” I had looked at my signature and he had drawn odd looking guy in a top hat (something like a Shel Silverstien drawing) with a word balloon that said “Diabetes is the new cancer”
He signed Ms. Smrf’s Book with a big banner that said “ABORTIONS $3.00”
and he engaged my sister in a conversations about what Owls really say (as he was drawing an owl on her book… again, very Shel Silverstien-ish drawing) Sedaris said he thinks that Owls don’t say hoot or hoo, but that they are really saying “I like black people” so that is what he wrote in the word balloon of the owl he had drawn!! Very funny/charming guy. Definitely worth the price of admission and I’d go to another reading and probably stand in line to have him sign another book I have from him.
He also had, when you got to the signing table, a little poll for people to vote as to whether they thought Obama was circumcised or not.
Great reading great show!
Late,
grmpysmrf
hilarious. thanks.