Title: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary
Publisher: Liitle, Brown, and Co.
Review: This is an interesting little book that I was able to read in an hour. Sedaris takes a critical look at the weakness of human judgment through the anthropomorphizing of animals, but still retaining his very sharp wit. Most of the time I kept saying to myself this is a very strange book until one of the stories, or fables if you will, hit home.
The judicious brown chicken tells the story of a chicken that sees the tragedy that strikes everyone around her as the will of God, usually because of some offense they have done. She even extends this perception to herself and the abusive relationship she is in. Anyway, reading that I was able to clearly see people in my life making the same short sighted judgment of others as an excuse not to love them.
I once had a psychology professor who approach top therapy was to just tell stories with some sort of moral. Eventually he said you would hit upon one that would reach your client and effectively redirect their lives. I came to appreciate this book in that perspective – read enough of these little tales and something will make you think; and the rest will just make you laugh.
I found the dog out to stud explaining to his significant other that it was just “work particularly amusing. You can’t go wrong with Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk if you want some quick, intelligent wit. Maybe not bedtime stories for the kids, but t=it should work for the parents.
We would love to know what you thought about this book. Thanks
ISBN: 9780316038393
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 159
Quick Review: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: Really enjoy David Sedaris
Where I Obtained the Book: At my local library
Synopsis: If animals were more like us, if mice kept pets and toads could cuss, if dogs had wives and chipmunks dated, sheep sat still and meditated, then in the forest, field, and dairy you might find this bestiary, read by storks, by rats and kitties, skimmed by cows with milk-stained titties. "I found the book to be most droll," might quip the bear, the owl, the mole, Others, though, would be more coarse. "Bull," could say the pig and horse. As to the scribe, they'd quote the hen: "Trust me, he's no La Fontaine."
Author Biography: David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist and radio contributor. Sedaris came to prominence in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "SantaLand Diaries." He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994. Each of his four subsequent essay collections, Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004), and When You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008) have become New York Times Best Sellers.
As of 2008, his books have collectively sold seven million copies. Much of Sedaris' humor is autobiographical and self-deprecating, and it often concerns his family life, his middle class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, Greek heritage, various jobs, education, drug use, homosexuality, and his life in France with his partner, Hugh Hamrick.
Other Reviews:
FYI:
I've seen this book displayed at the library, indie bookshops, and even at Target but it just didn't look interesting enough for me to even pick it up to see what it was about. Thanks to your review, I changed my mind and added this to my 'to read' list. :)
ReplyDeleteGrace @ www.feedingmybookaddiction.blogspot.com
I liked it.
ReplyDelete-Jack
Thanks for the comments:) Lisa
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