Essays from a local New Yorker who has the quirkiest and strangest life experiences to have ever hit a page find themselves collected and bound in I Was Told There’d be Cake.  Sloane Crosley has written essays for New York Times, Village Voice, and Salon.  Released last April 2008, I Was Told There’d be Cake is a lovable compilation of stories ranging from Sloane’s odd collection of  plastic pony’s to baking a cake in the shape of her boss’ face.  Her voice in the book is said to feel a little like David Sedaris, Carrie Bradshaw, and Dorothy Parker, but the best part about this little piece of literary brilliance is its Sloane Crosley’s.  Keep your eye out for this woman, with a debut book this good I can hardly wait for what the future brings.  Grab I was Told there’d be Cake at your nearest bookshop because your collection won’t be complete without it.

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Tags: april 2008, carrie bradshaw, David Sedaris, dorothy parker, essays, i was told thered be cake, Literature, New York, new york times, nonfiction, salon, sloane crosley, village voice

First, I have to admit that I am a new fan of David Sedaris, I have arrived a little late to this train but at least I am on it!  

You know those creepy people that talk to themselves or laugh at nothing on the subway?  Pick up a David Sedaris book and you suddenly become one of those people, at least in this case you have a book to hide behind.

Naked is named after the last chapter of the book where he goes on vacation at a nudist colony, it is an interesting and provocative  book and I loved it!  Please dont be fooled.  The book doenst just offer side splitting laughter, Sedaris goes into detail about his families struggles and dealing with the death of his mother.  Oddly enough, my favorite quote from this book is during one of those serious moments.

“You can’t brace yourself for famine if you’ve never known hunger; it is foolish to even try.”  If you enjoy well written books, witty humor, and have come from a weird family (lets face it who hasnt?) then David is your man.

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Tags: books, David Sedaris, Literature, Naked

Me Talk Pretty One Day is a true Gem.  Published in 2000 it is by far one of David’s funniest works.  What amazes me is just when you think he has just about covered it all he continues to have new, hilarious stories about his family, love life, work experience, etc.  Me Talk Pretty One Day is about his experiences in speech class, his families dynamics including fathers weird quirks, and his love life.  This book, in my opinion, and raises the bar for all of his other works.  

“Stealing wallets was nothing to be proud of, but I like being thought of as cunning and professional.”

Hilarious, captivating, and clever, well worth the $10.

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Tags: books, David Sedaris, Literature, Me Talk Pretty One Day