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Me Talk Pretty One Day

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Me Talk Pretty One Day
Paperback cover
AuthorDavid Sedaris
Cover artistJacket design by Chip Kidd
LanguageEnglish
GenreEssay collection
PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
Publication date
May 2, 2000
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages288 pp (first edition, hardcover)
ISBNISBN 0-316-77772-2 (first edition, hardcover) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
OCLC43562054
814/.54 21
LC ClassPS3569.E314 M4 2000
Preceded byHolidays on Ice 
Followed byDress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim 

Me Talk Pretty One Day, published in the year 2000, is a bestselling collection of essays by American humorist David Sedaris. The book is separated into two parts. The first consists of essays about Sedaris’ life before his move to Normandy, France, including his upbringing in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina, his time working odd jobs in New York City, and a visit to New York from a childhood friend and her rather bumpkinish girlfriend. The second section, "Deux," tells of Sedaris’ move to Normandy with his partner Hugh, often drawing humor from his efforts to live in France without speaking the French language and his frustrated attempts to learn it. Prior to publication, several of the essays were read by the author on the Public Radio International program, This American Life.

In April 2001, Variety reported that Sedaris had sold the Me Talk Pretty One Day film rights to director Wayne Wang, who was adapting four stories from the book for Columbia Pictures with hopes of beginning shooting in late 2001.[1][2] At the time, Sedaris commented, "It's just one of those things I had never considered. Like, 'What if I de-clawed a kitten?' But I like Wayne Wang a lot."[2] He recommended Jack Lemmon to play his father and Elaine Stritch for his mother.[2] Wang had completed the script and begun casting when Sedaris asked to "get out of it," after a conversation with his sister aroused concerns as to how his family might be portrayed on screen. He wrote about the conversation and its aftermath in the essay "Repeat After Me", published in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Sedaris recounted that Wang was "a real prince. I didn't want him to be mad at me, but he was so grown up about it. I never saw how it could be turned into a movie anyway."[3]

Contents

One

  1. "Go Carolina" - Sedaris is forced to go to his elementary school speech therapist for his lisp.
  2. "Giant Dreams, Midget Abilities" - Sedaris's father enrolls him in guitar lessons taught by a midget.
  3. "Genetic Engineering"
  4. "Twelve Moments in the Life of the Artist"
  5. "You Can't Kill the Rooster" - Sedaris's brother, Paul, has a dirty mouth, but kind heart.
  6. "The Youth in Asia"
  7. "The Learning Curve" - Sedaris recalls his job teaching a writing workshop while being highly unqualified.
  8. "Big Boy" - After going to a party, Sedaris finds himself trying to get rid of a huge turd that was left as a present by the previous visitor.
  9. "The Great Leap Forward"
  10. "Today's Special" - Sedaris has trouble understanding the many complex food items on menus.
  11. "City of Angels" - A lesbian childhood friend back in North Carolina comes to visit Sedaris and Hugh, and she brings along her rather uncultured hick girlfriend who seems to express culture shock much to the annoyance of Sedaris (and even her girlfriend at times).
  12. "A Shiner Like a Diamond"
  13. "Nutcracker.com"

Deux

  1. "See You Again Yesterday"
  2. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" - Sedaris recalls attempting to learn French in Paris, France.
  3. "Jesus Shaves"
  4. "The Tapeworm Is In"
  5. "Make That a Double"
  6. "Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa" - Sedaris discusses the childhood of his partner, Hugh.
  7. "21 Down"
  8. "The City of Light in the Dark" - With much to do in Paris, Sedaris rather enjoys going to the movies during the day.
  9. "I Pledge Allegiance to the Bag"
  10. "Picka Pocketoni" - American tourists mistake Sedaris for a pickpocket while riding the train in Paris.
  11. "I Almost Saw This Girl Get Killed" - Sedaris recalls an evening at the county fair near his home in France.
  12. "Smart Guy"
  13. "The Late Show"
  14. "I'll Eat What He's Wearing"

References

  1. ^ Fleming, Michael. "'Wave' duo pilot cable; Wang's 'Pretty' deal", Variety, 2001-04-05. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  2. ^ a b c Lafreniere, Steve. "Amy and David Sedaris", Index Magazine, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  3. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh. "10 Questions for David Sedaris", Time, 2004-06-21. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
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