Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

A Modest Bestiary

By: David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris, Sian Phillips, Dylan Baker, Elaine Stritch

Length: 3 hrs

Publisher's summary

This collection of sharply observed animal-themed tales is a delight, told with David Sedaris's trademark blend of hilarity and goodnaturedness. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of our own everyday interactions.

In "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck", three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In "Hello Kitty", a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk", a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2010 David Sedaris (P)2010 Hachette Audio

One of my favorite Sedaris collections

These stories are side splitting funny. Sedaris captivates me with his characters. And hearing them read by him is always a big bonus. This is an easy read with 19 short stories/essays. Good luck putting it down. This is one I have read and listened to over and over. His wit and humor make him one of my absolute favorites. Highly recommend this and other books by Sedaris.

Best described as "okay"

Somewhat tongue and cheek. None of the stories were ones that I would describe as must reads. It made me really uncomfortable when the word "oriental" was used (multiple times, across two stories I believe). I couldn't tell if it was intentional, a word that was only used in the vocabulary of a specific type of character, or just a word that was used in Sedaris' common speech. I guess I'd give more leniency if the former were the case. Overall, the voices were entertaining. It was an good collection of short stories.

love it!

I've already read all of these by David Sedaris, but they are even more funny when you hear him reading it. Great book! I highly recommend this and anything by David Sedaris

Not his best work

This doesn’t measure up to the authors best work. Much of it is simply annoying to listen to.

Short hilarious stories

David Sedaris is one of my favorite author and he did not disappoint with this.Each storie us brought alive by the performance.

Interesting

Lessons of life thought the personification of different types of animals. Awesome narrators, humorous writing.

I ADORE David Sedaris but...

these stories were too sad for my taste. I love everything David Sedaris does and I was so happy to add this book to my collection but the stories while very poignant and meaningful just weren't what I was expecting. Still well written, brilliantly performed just not what I was looking for.

Sedaris knocks another one out of the park!

Would you listen to Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk again? Why?

Yes, because it made me laugh out loud several times.

What did you like best about this story?

David's wit and humor are at their best.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Too many to choose (this is a short story collection).

Who was the most memorable character of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and why?

See above.

Any additional comments?

David's many animal personae are hysterically funny, and a true reflection of our own human foibles and imperfections. Best read since Holidays on Ice.

In this bestiary, I do miss his humanity

In some ways this collection of stories by Sedaris is, well, brutal. He holds fast to certain aspects of an animal's life span - that it's mostly taken up with eating, sh-tting, mating and dieing. To this end, most of his animals are selfish and self-absorbed in a way that one would expect from that kind of existence, and in some ways that only Sedaris could come up with.

So many of his stories in the past have made me laugh out loud, and others have made me cry. I will admit to having a few good chuckles over some of the scatological humor in Squirrel, however these stories do not pack the punch that I am used to with Sedaris. And it could be that this is because the life span of most animals is indeed quick and brutal, and thus there isn't time for sentimentality in this universe.

His commentary on American life and culture is wicked and comes through loud and clear as he gives each of his animal characters a certain intellectual spark and situates them in modern day human social situations, and I am still thinking about a number of the stories. Sedaris hasn't lost his wit or keen eye by any means, but in this bestiary, I must say, I do miss his humanity.

(And it's worth listening to on audio - Elaine Stritch is AMAZING.)

So Funny!!

I loved this book. And have already listened to it more than once. The voices of the narrators are great too. This is a must have.