me talk pretty one day
Although the title of this memoir is some what offbeat, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris is anything but. The memoir starts off with an explanation for the peculiar title; David Sedaris had a lisp as a child. The whole memoir is comprised of random vignettes that some form a narration.
This memoir is a quick, casual read that takes absolutely no brain power to read. The Library Journal calls it, “[The chapters] are all based on the author's own experiences and are all nicely constructed, cheerful, and absolutely not taxing on the brain.” Due to the structure of Me Talk Pretty One Day, a reader could open the memoir up at any page and understand what is going on.
The vignettes are especially entertaining to read. Most of them are about his family and the quirks that they posses. One of the most enjoyable vignettes is about David’s sister, Amy. In the chapter “Shiner Like a Diamond,” Sedaris wrote, “The last time she was asked out by a successful bachelor, Amy hesitated before saying ‘Thanks for asking, but I’m not really into white guys right now.’ ”
David Sedaris’s random vignettes somehow turn into a miniature story with a plot and an ending. While on the subway, an American tourist mistakenly assumes that he is a pickpocket who does not understand English. In an interview with Michael Sims, David Sedaris has said about the vignette “Picka Pocketoni,” “I could feel the anticlimax. But I didn't want to make up an ending.” David Sedaris understands that memoirs should be as truthful as possible not just created for dramatic moments.
The hilariously titled vignettes are almost as entertaining to read as the vignettes themselves. A reader can understand the gist of the vignette but values the humor of the title after reading the vignette. One of the vignettes is humorously titled “You Can’t Kill the Rooster.” The vignette is about David Sedaris’s gangster wannabe brother has proclaimed himself “The Rooster.” His foul mouthed brother when threatened says, “Certain motherf***ers think than can f*** with my s***, but you can’t kill the Rooster.” Jonathan Reynolds has said, “Many lines and several of the premises are brilliant, worthy of our best comic essayists… At his best, he makes you laugh out loud, which indeed may be worth the price of admission.”
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir by David Sedaris. I recommend it to anyone who has trouble concentrating when reading. Due to its structure, this memoir allows the reader to understand the general idea of the book with minimal attention. David Sedaris is an amazing writer and I plan on reading his other memoirs.
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