Just finished reading Me Talk Pretty One Day(2000) by David Sedaris, a hilarious, sharp and oddly tender collection of personal essays that turn everyday awkwardness into art.
His humor is dry and self-deprecating, his timing impeccable and his observations about people (especially himself) brutally honest. The essays about his childhood, growing up in a neurotic family and living in Paris are especially delightful, blending humiliation and wit in a way few writers can.
Not every piece lands equally well but even the weaker ones carry his wry, confessional and oddly kind voice. Beneath the laughter runs a thread of melancholy and vulnerability that gives the book surprising emotional weight.
Its the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud and then quietly nod in recognition a moment later. Sedaris may not be for everyone, but when his humor hits, it hits perfectly.
8/10
by Zehreelakomdareturns