• Me Talk Pretty One Day

  • By: David Sedaris
  • Narrated by: David Sedaris
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (12,030 ratings)

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Me Talk Pretty One Day  By  cover art

Me Talk Pretty One Day

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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Publisher's summary

David Sedaris' new collection of essays - including live recordings! - tells a most unconventional life story. It begins with a North Carolina childhood filled with speech-therapy classes ("There was the lisp, of course, but more troubling than that was my voice itself, with its excitable tone and high, girlish pitch") and unwanted guitar lessons taught by a midget. From budding performance artist ("The only crimp in my plan was that I seemed to have no talent whatsoever") to "clearly unqualified" writing teacher in Chicago, Sedaris' career leads him to New York City and eventually, of all places, France. His move to Paris poses a number of challenges, chief among them his inability to speak the language. Arriving a "spooky man-child" capable of communicating only through nouns, he undertakes language instruction that leads him ever deeper into cultural confusion. Whether describing the Easter bunny to puzzled classmates or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other to every unforgettable encounter.
©2000 by David Sedaris, All Rights Reserved (P)2000 by Time Warner AudioBooks, A Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing

Critic reviews

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

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What listeners say about Me Talk Pretty One Day

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,088
  • 4 Stars
    2,376
  • 3 Stars
    907
  • 2 Stars
    341
  • 1 Stars
    318
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    6,925
  • 4 Stars
    1,060
  • 3 Stars
    394
  • 2 Stars
    134
  • 1 Stars
    146
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,906
  • 4 Stars
    1,654
  • 3 Stars
    619
  • 2 Stars
    255
  • 1 Stars
    196

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

this is abridged

I bought this especially for the segment called 'you can't kill the rooster' only to discover it's been cut out, so I am disappointed with my purchase. The rest is wonderful David Sedaris, witty cynism with his heart and hope sneaking through for balance. His own delivery is just right.

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

love David Sedaris

his audio books are one of my best ways for getting through the tough stuff in life.

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

loved it.

great story teller and the stories that he shares are so funny and will make you put a smile on your fsce

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

Hilarious

David sedaris is so funny. I love the way he tells the stories then goes and has him telling stuff live while hysterical laughter ensues

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

Cried laughing

This was hilarious and poignant, with a masterful delivery. Hearing this book read in The author’s own voice was perfection.

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

Great book!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story! I currently live in Germany so I understand, and can relate to, learning another language and being an Ex-Pat.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very entertaining

this was the first david sedaris book i read/listened to. i found myself laughing out loud. he has a very quirkly sense of humor that i enjoyed. this book made me want to read another of his books, dress your family in corduroy. I'm half way through that book, but I can already tell Me Talk Pretty is much more entertaining.

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

I could read it again.

Fabulous narration! worth listening to again! this was a summer reading assignment for my son, (11th grade) but I enjoyed Naked, so I thought I'd have a listen. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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

made me a bigger fan than i was before

What did you love best about Me Talk Pretty One Day?

When he talks about his life in France and learning the language is amazing. The book is extremely funny but it also has some more sombre and serious notes, it sounds off putting, i know, but it added a pleasant balance that kept it from being tiring.

What other book might you compare Me Talk Pretty One Day to and why?

I would compare it to

What does David Sedaris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

David Sederis is funny without it needing to be actually said by him but inflection can be lost when the narration is handed over to someone else, him doing it makes it perfect. Less like someone is reading a book to you and more like someone is telling you a really great and well thought out story, its conversational.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed so hard it almost made me cry.

Any additional comments?

This book is amazing, I have probably listened to it 30 times over and its still funny. Definatly worth the money.

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

great read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this audiobook

What did you like best about this story?

finding humor in some hard places

What about David Sedaris’s performance did you like?

I thought it was read very well

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no. but I never want that.

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