Maybe I will swap places with her husband.

June 16, 2005 7:34 AM

Turbulence. When it’s time to change your seat - a reflection from David Sedaris.
posted by a thousand writers drunk at the keyboard (34 comments total)

You may also enjoy this recent interview with David Sedaris and this additional question and answer session.
posted by spock at 7:48 AM on June 16, 2005

I enjoyed seeing him recently at a reading in Madison. The man has an excellent, quiet sense of humor about him that's surprisingly biting. On more than one occasion, my wife and I had to wipe away tears, we laughed so hard.
posted by thanotopsis at 7:52 AM on June 16, 2005

Just finished his latest book, "Dress Your Family ...", two weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the link, that was good.
posted by nofundy at 7:54 AM on June 16, 2005

Nice little article... but "“Above the shoulders, he’s nothing but crap.” what's the word?
posted by HuronBob at 8:02 AM on June 16, 2005

Erm, shithead, perhaps?
posted by jennaratrix at 8:06 AM on June 16, 2005

Very entertaining. Thanks, 1kwd@.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:08 AM on June 16, 2005

jennaratrix...thanks... I kept wanting to think asshole, but that's only 7 letters (at least the way I spell it!) and it was going to bother me all day.... (the word, not my a... nevermind)
posted by HuronBob at 8:11 AM on June 16, 2005

I read that article last night - very funny indeed. What books of his would you suggest reading first? I've been meaning to pick something up by him for awhile now.
posted by brheavy at 8:34 AM on June 16, 2005

He was just in town for a signing and I missed it. I'm even more dissapointed now after reading some of those cut Q&A's.
posted by krix at 8:35 AM on June 16, 2005

brheavy, I've read most of his books and my favorite (and the one I'd recommend to a novice) is "Me Talk Pretty One Day." There's a sort of thematic unity to all of his books, even if it's loose, and this one is held together by his observations on how difficult it is to communicate. The essays on his struggles to learn French are hysterical. This book also contains my favorite of his (many) essays about his family, "You Can't Kill the Rooster." His brother Paul is a hoot.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:39 AM on June 16, 2005

I quote Sedaris when comforting my little ones, per the advice bestowed from his grandma (in Naked?): "You want sympathy? Go look it up in the dictionary. It's between shit and syphilis."
Out of earshot of Mrs. 9k of course.
posted by hal9k at 8:47 AM on June 16, 2005

HB- Hee, no problem, took me a minute to get it, too. :)
posted by jennaratrix at 8:51 AM on June 16, 2005

i'm 3/4's the way through Naked right now and i love it.
posted by brevator at 8:52 AM on June 16, 2005

Go with the audiobook, brheavy.
posted by matildaben at 8:54 AM on June 16, 2005

I assume he narrates himself then?
posted by brheavy at 8:55 AM on June 16, 2005

That was funny, in a Seinfeld episode like way.
posted by caddis at 9:51 AM on June 16, 2005

Go with the audiobook, brheavy.

I agree. While reading his books, I can never really get his voice right in my head.

I would also recommend "Live at Carnegie Hall".
posted by Armen Tanzarian at 9:52 AM on June 16, 2005

I just had the tremendous pleasure of seeing him at a reading in Santa Cruz this last weekend. He read from turbulence and from a fable he's written about a cat going to a baboon hairdresser (with a great moral).

I've been a fan since listening to him on NPR and "This American Life." Naked contains one of my favorite read-aloud (adults only) passages ever in the C.O.G. chapter.

At the reading/book signing his tip jar was placed out (he's been doing this at book signings for awhile--started ironically and then he realized he could really make some cash at it).

They announced that he wouldn't be smoking during his reading but would smoke during the signing. He came out early and made his own announcement that he'd sign the book of anyone who gave him $5 before the reading so we wouldn't have to wait in line after---most of the audience seemed to think he was joking, but my friend and I stuck fives in our books and waved them at him--he signed away happily--and we got to miss the smoke.

It was well worth it, and I can't think of many other authors I'd line up for two hours to see.
posted by agatha_magatha at 10:40 AM on June 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

Like Sarah Vowell, David Sedaris' nasally voice is part of what makes him funny. I agree that, while the books are good, listening to them is even better. (Naturally this will be followed by people who absolutely can't stand to listen to their voices.)

Listen to David Sedaris read his stuff here. Or search for Sedaris or Vowell at This American Life.
posted by spock at 10:59 AM on June 16, 2005

Once you hear one of the audio books you can read rest of his books and imagine exactly what it sounds like.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 11:25 AM on June 16, 2005

Just finished his latest book, "Dress Your Family ...", two weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the link, that was good.
posted by nofundy at 7:54 AM PST on June 16


Can I borrow it?
posted by govtdrone at 11:44 AM on June 16, 2005

Can I borrow it?
posted by govtdrone at 2:44 PM EST

Absolutely. BTW, love your username.
posted by nofundy at 12:44 PM on June 16, 2005

dlugoczaj: "You Can't Kill the Rooster" has got to be one of the funniest things every written by anybody. I had to stop reading several times because I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to have a seizure.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 1:40 PM on June 16, 2005

And ohmigod, I think this is Paul Sedaris' website (for his hardwood floor refinishing company.)
posted by Turtles all the way down at 1:45 PM on June 16, 2005

Rooster story here.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 2:04 PM on June 16, 2005

brheavy; they're all good, go read them all.
posted by helvetica at 2:49 PM on June 16, 2005

Does anyone else think Sedaris has jumped the shark? His writing in the New Yorker over the past year or so has been too glib, slick, and self-satisfied for my taste. I liked his early stuff better... this does not make me laugh.
posted by chaz at 2:50 PM on June 16, 2005

Oh my GOD!! "You Can't Kill the Rooster" merchandise! WOO HOO!! Now if only he was selling Fuckit Buckets...

Great find, Turtle!
posted by Moondoggie at 2:53 PM on June 16, 2005

I will read them all.
posted by brheavy at 3:08 PM on June 16, 2005

Am I the only one who thinks David Sedaris is a hack? He can't write and he's not funny. My cat coughs up things that are more finely crafted. /yelling at the wind
posted by mowglisambo at 9:22 PM on June 16, 2005

It was better than anything else in that debut fiction issue
*had jury duty this week and took New Yorker*

(Also, like half the cases i was a potential juror for were "Possession of marijuana for personal use," creepy no?)
posted by SomeOneElse at 9:36 PM on June 16, 2005

I used to think he was funny, then reread a bunch of his stuff again recently. Now it all just makes me cringe. Not because it is poorly written, but because of what a miserable young life it details.
posted by Irontom at 6:51 AM on June 17, 2005

Here's a little tip for you, mowglisambo: Questions that begin with "Am I the only one. . ." will always be correctly answered "No." Pick any subject and you will find a percentage of the population that likes it and a percentage that hates it. However, if forming the question in that way makes you feel unique or superior in some way, then by all means continue doing it. I really don't know what you added to the conversation, however.

I really don't understand people who get a kick out of pissing on other people's parades
posted by spock at 11:51 AM on June 17, 2005

This remains the *funniest* thing I've yet heard. Warned: Billie Holiday fans will not thank me.

Act One. Papa Was Not A Rolling Stone. A case study of how children are asked to live the unlived lives of their parents. David Sedaris's father loved jazz, but played no instrument himself. Instead, he dreamt that his children would learn to play, and form a little jazz combo. He sent David to take guitar lessons. David, however, had dreams of his own.
posted by Space Kitty at 3:20 PM on June 17, 2005