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  • Me Talk Pretty One Day

  • By: David Sedaris
  • Narrated by: David Sedaris
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,164 ratings)

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Me Talk Pretty One Day

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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Summary

A hilarious collection of essays from David Sedaris, 'the premier observer of our world and its weirdnesses' (Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt)

Anyone who has heard David Sedaris speaking live or on the radio will tell you that a collection from him is cause for jubilation. A move to Paris from New York inspired these hilarious pieces, including 'Me Talk Pretty One Day', about his attempts to learn French from a sadistic teacher who declares that 'every day spent with you is like having a caesarean section'.

His family is another inspiration. 'You Can't Kill the Rooster' is a portrait of his brother, who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. And no one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers of food and cashiers with six-inch fingernails.

©2000 David Sedaris, All Rights Reserved (P)2000, 2001 Time Warner AudioBooks
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Critic reviews

"At his best, he makes you laugh out loud, which indeed may be worth the price of admission." (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Me Talk Pretty One Day

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Why is he so funny?

The fact that David Sedaris narrates his own observations on daily life adds comic nuances and pauses that are wonderful. Some would say his delivery is dead pan, but this works. I'm not a 'laugh out loud' person but this did make me smile, chuckle, and infuriatingly for them, call other people in to 'Listen to this!' He really makes the ordinary extraordinary and leaves me thinking, 'There, but for the grace of God....' I'll be reading more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious, heavenly prose

I love David Sedaris' writing, and it's even better when he narrates his work. Brilliantly funny, occasionally moving, never less than superb.

If there was anything I'd change about this as a recording, it would be the asinine and pointless music. Why is it even there?

It would also be great, Audible, if the chapters were named after the stories they contained.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another thoroughly entertaining talk with David

I’m going through the David Sedaris audio books backwards. There are many humorous stories of David or his bonkers family and people he meets through life. Each Audible ‘CD’ has one or two diamond stories that has me laughing later in the day or next day.
can’t wait to start the next/previous.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Darkly funny, excellently narrated.

I loved this book from the beginning, David's ability to eek out the humour in what sometimes might be a highly sensitive issue is wonderful. His self deprecation is hilarious, and his slightly quirky narration is just the icing on the cake!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

a pretty funny guy!

i disliked how sometimes the readings were live and sometimes studio, but otherwise i really enjoyed this collection of memoirs! it was recommended by the Hellointernet podcast!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Typical David Sedaris

I enjoy David Sedaris, and this book made me laugh out loud in places. I find the more I listen, the more I appreciate the tales and recollections, so I will return to this title again, no doubt. David's retelling of his attempts to learn French were funniest, in my opinion, and the entire collection is peppered with a bitter sweetness, as usual. There is no doubt his family is unique, talented, damaged, flawed and funny, and I always feel inclined to Google the lot of them to see if they look as unusual as they appear. A good listen, a nice one to dip in and out of, and entertaining as ever.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Quaking in my headphones

Three nights in a row my wife made me get out of bed to finish the chapter as my shaking and snoring were stopping her drift into sleep. Beautiful observations delivered with expert timing, humanity lovingly eviscerated - hilarious and moving. I’ve just ordered Calypso

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Classic Sedaris

I loved this, but as an avid Sedaris fan, found I had read a lot of the chapters or heard the stories elsewhere already - so beware. Also, although it didn't put me off, I sent a copy to someone else before I'd heard it and I don't think they were as keen on the stories about drugs (just mentioning as a warning to anyone who finds such things distasteful haha!)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I never write reviews but...

..this time I do. This is simply brilliant. Laugh out loud, hilarious, accurate, observational, DS hits the spot with me every time!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Made me laugh so hard I peed my pants!

Full of wit, joy and love. A beautiful portrayal of humanity at its best and worst.

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