Me Talk Pretty One Day is widely regarded as one of the funniest books written in the 21st century. Written by David Sedaris, the comedic memoir is a collection of stories exploring his humorous childhood experiences, family dynamics, and the trials and tribulations of life.
The first chapter is entitled “A Visitor” and follows the story of Sedaris’s first visit to his relative’s home in North Carolina. After an angry exchange with his father, Sedaris is forced to go stay with his aunt and uncle in North Carolina. He arrives to the home and is immediately offered a massive, homemade meal which he greatly enjoys. Sedaris then encounters his Uncle Fred who makes sure to keep a careful eye on him the entire time. Despite the odd behavior from his uncle, Sedaris is surprised to find that his visit is rather enjoyable.
The second chapter, “Go Carolina”, follows Sedaris traveling to a nearby town in North Carolina. He goes to visit the local carnival with his other relatives and has a great time despite the small town’s backwards thinking. The family demonstrates various comedic acts as they go further and further into the carnival and Sedaris finds himself enjoying the experience and feeling a strong sentimental connection with his relatives.
In the third chapter, “The Taximan’s Story”, Sedaris tells a funny story about his experience in the back of a taxicab with a foreign cabdriver. The driver speaks with a thick accent and Sedaris stops trying to continue the conversation after some initial attempts. He eventually hears the man’s full story of the regret and heartache due to the fiasco of a relationship he had with a woman back in his country. Despite some initial laughter, Sedaris begins to empathize with the driver and appreciates the life lesson he was given.
In the fourth chapter, “Me Talk Pretty One Day”, Sedaris details his experience learning French in Paris. Despite lacking aptitude for the language, he forces himself to speak to native Parisians as if they were his equals. After some comical conversations, he begins to get more comfortable with the language and even improvises some funny stories to get the locals laughing.
The fifth chapter, “The Awful German Language”, is Sedaris’s story of studying German in Berlin. He follows the lifestyle of a language student: going out drinking late at night, having wild conversations during class, and failing the dreaded finals with flying colors. Despite all of the struggles with the language, Sedaris eventually becomes conversational in German and is able to appreciate the bizarre manifestations of the language.
In the sixth chapter, “A Fear of Clowns”, Sedaris describes the fear and confusion he experienced when, as a child, he encountered clowns at a birthday party. Later on, he is brought to a clown show in Boston where he is once again overcome with fear. He further explores the scared feelings he gets when he sees clowns and how his fear has shaped his view of the world.
In the seventh chapter, “Laugh, Kookaburra”, Sedaris recounts his experience in Australia with some friendly wildlife. He goes out camping with a group of friends and sees many interesting animals, including a kookaburra, a bird with a rich and distinctive call. As the campers start singing an old Australian folk song, the kookaburra joins in and adds its voice to the chorus.
The eighth chapter, “The Lost Art of Grocery Shopping”, follows Sedaris’s attempt to become a skilled grocery shopper. After years of being scolded for his rushed buying techniques, Sedaris decides to finally try and better himself. He strategically ventures to different aisles and tried his best to only buy what he needed, but still finds himself in trouble when his family finds out he’s still buying things which are unnecessary.
In the ninth chapter, “Signs and Wonders”, Sedaris recollects his strange encounters with religious groups in New York City. He is constantly approached on the street by people promoting Jesus, Scientology, Catholicism, and other forms of faith. Sedaris finds it comical that people are so passionate about their beliefs, and takes solace in laughingly declining their offers.
The tenth chapter, “Repeated Miracles”, follows David and his family on vacation to their summer home in the country. He details a funny occurrence on the way home which involves the family’s car breaking down. They must be rescued by a friendly old couple who pull them out of the mud and Sedaris has the opportunity to converse with the couple and learn about their lives.
Finally, the eleventh chapter, “The End”, closes the book with a feel-good message. Sedaris remembers his old relative that he stayed with in North Carolina and how he helped him gain perspective on life and see the world differently. The chapter shows how Sedaris has grown as he looks back on his childhood experiences. Everyone can appreciate a good story with a heart-warming ending, and this chapter does a great job of wrapping up the book.
All in all, the chapters in Me Talk Pretty One Day contain side-splitting comedy, sentimental moments, and life-altering experiences. Sedaris puts his clever wit and personal experience to work in an effort to bring some joy into the reader’s day. Whether it is through his misadventures in language learning, encounters with wildlife, or bewildering conversations with strangers, David Sedaris’s memoir is a book that will stay with the reader long after it is finished.
