David Sedaris reading

I do David Sedaris (and myself) no justice by writing just now about the reading he gave at McNally Robinson on November 22.  Oh well.  

I'm adding an audio file, later tonight because it's taking forever to load, that I took of him telling jokes and relating stories from his book tour.

David "No Pictures" Sedaris, who for whatever reason we weren't allowed to take pictures of during the reading or the signing as McRobinson staff watched us like hawks, gave a reading from his new book, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.   See how many people came to see him?  This wasn't even in front of him, these were the poor people who got pushed to the side.


                                                                      
Sedaris's new book is a book of modernized fables, minus
any tell-tale morals.  They're more of an anthropomorphism          
on how ridiculous people are.

He did his reading of the story, "The Squirrel and the    Chipmunk," about the squirrel that "got away."  Squirrel and
Chipmunk are dating, and the relationship is getting kind of
stale.  The Squirrel tells Chipmunk that he likes jazz.
Chipmunk has no idea what that is and agrees just for the
sake of agreeing that she's into that.  Chipmunk, realizing that   jazz could mean something terrible, like squirrel slang for anal sex.  Chipmunk's family is disturbed and force her to break it off.

Years later, Chipmunk and Squirrel have kids of their own
and Chipmunk finds out what jazz is, and she associates that
with all that she failed to appreciate in her life.



Sedaris's tour theme this year was, "jokes," because people come up during the signings and tell him the most ridiculous jokes.  If you listen to the audio file, when I get it posted, you will hear some of those, including the snail joke he told on The Daily Show.

David Sedaris is hilarious.  The book is actually very funny, I highly recommend it.  One of my personal favourites is, "The Toad, The Turtle, and the Duck," about the three of them being stuck in line at the DMV.  Pretty awesome.

David Sedaris is a writer, comedian,Grammy Award-nominated humorist and radio contributor.  Recognition came from his essay, "SantaLand Diaries."  He has made contributions to The New Yorker B.B.C. Radio, and Esquire. 



Anyway, I will get that audio file to you tonight.  Happy Holidays!
Photo of David Sedaris courtesy of DavidSedaris.net.