Can anyone tun me on to a David Sedaris type of author?

[mdmc]

Hey now DU. I am having a pretty tough time this week / month. I am deriving a great deal of comfort and joy from re-reading Me Talk Pretty One Day and I was hoping that someone might be able to turn me on to another great author like David Sedaris.

I'll be in the hospital visiting my mother all day tomorrow. She is on a morphine drip, so she will be drifting in and out throughout the day. I would like to take a nice book with me to help make a bad situation more bearable.

ps- I really miss posting in the mental health du group and chronic health du group. I still read the posts daily and wanted to let all those posters know that I am thinking of them.

pss- Peace and low stress. And God Bless.

[TNDemo]

1. If you like the dysfunctional family thing,

try Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I couldn't put it down. And it's a true story.

[soleft]

2. Try Hillary Carlip Queen of the Oddballs

[MountainLaurel]

3. Christopher Moore

Funny and profound at the same time.

[Bluebear]

4. Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man: A Novel (Fannie Flagg)

My personal pick-me-up book.

http://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Fay-Miracle-Man-Novel/dp/0345485602/ref=pd_sim_b_title_3

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. I don't care for Sedaris,

but along those lines, you might like Jonathan Franzen's "The Corrections."

And good luck to you and your Mom.

[Marnieworld]

6. How 'bout more David Sedaris?

He has other works. I personally love listening to his books on tape rather than reading. The delivery really drives the funny home. And on one his sister Amy Sedaris (a successful actress in her own right) guest stars.

I also liked the book on tape of Steve Martin's Born Standing Up.

[InternalDialogue]

7. If it's the humor you like, you might try Tim Cahill, a travel writer

He's not nearly as funny as Sedaris, but his irreverent travel memoirs are beautiful and humorous in their own right. I've read "Pecked to Death by Ducks," and "A Wolverine Is Eating My Leg" is on my list.

[Mist]

9. For travel writing, and other good essays, Bill Bryson. Great. nt

[InternalDialogue]

10. Agreed. Bryson's thoroughly enjoyable. n/t

[Glorfindel]

8. Bailey White - "Mama Makes Up Her Mind"

"Sleeping at the Starlite Motel," etc. Trust me.

[InternalDialogue]

11. Sarah Vowell shares his sensibilities

I've read her "Assassination Vacation," about visiting the historic sites related to the several presidential assassination sites. Very funny woman, Sarah.

And if he's not too wacky for your taste, John Hodgman is a clever and brilliant writer: "The Areas of My Expertise" is a collection of largely fictionalized information about a wide range of things, focusing primarily on hoboes. (Hodgman is the actor who portrays PC in the PC vs. Mac television ads.)

[SmokingJacket]

12. Amy Sedaris's book "I Like You" is a riot.

It's a kind of housekeeping book for the totally insane, completely with recipes and directions for putting on your pantyhouse, etc. The humor is very much like David's.

As someone recommended, there's lots more Sedaris where that came from. I work in a bookstore, and I'm sorry to say there are few humor writers quite as funny, clever, and smart as he is.

[Iris]

13. Ira Glass, host of This American Life just published a collection - New Kings of Nonfiction

http://www.amazon.com/New-Kings-Nonfiction-Ira-Glass/dp/B00164CN2W/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212182861&sr=8-1

[Hamlette]

14. Carl Hiaasen writes very funny mysteries

although laughing out loud in that setting might not be so great. I do mysteries in those settings because they sort of capture me.

I'd second Christopher Moore and Sarah Vowell.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. someone beat me to Hiassen, but try Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries

for laughing out loud funny stuff. "One for the Money" is the first one. they are best read in order.

additional suggestions:

Patrick McManus: They Shoot Canoes, Don't They, Grasshopper Trap, The Night the Bear Shot Goombaw

T R Pearson: A Short History of a Small Place and others

Shirley Jackson: (yes THE Shirley Jackson of The Lottery fame) Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons

Patrick Dennis: Auntie Mame, Around the World with Auntie Mame, and (my personal Favorite) The Joyous Season

P G Wodehouse: one word: Jeeves

Carole Nelson Douglas: Midnight Louie Murder Mysteries. Not as hysterically funny or sardonic but very entertaining light fiction.

you should be able to find something from this list at the library or a good used bookstore actually

[Moochy]

16. Dress your Family in Corduroy And Denim

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dress-Your-Family-Corduroy-Denim/dp/0349116709

I've heard some really funny readings from this book!

Moochy

[Lautremont]

17. "Lucky Jim" by Kingsley Amis is an amazingly hilarious book.

"..his only other trousers were so stained with food and beer that they would, if worn on the stage to indicate squalor and penury, be considered ridiculously overdone."

[eleny]

18. ...

:hug:

[musette_sf]

19. Augusten Burroughs, hands-down.

he reminds me a lot of Sedaris. if you've already read "Running With Scissors", i recommend his essay book, "Magical Thinking".

"Possible Side Effects" just wasn't as good as "Magical Thinking".

and i haven't read his new book about his dad -- it did not get stellar reviews.

but i laughed my @ss off at "Magical Thinking".