Book freaks discussion

Here is the discussion thread for Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris! Let the comments begin.

I just opened the book and these stories are incredibly short! I've read two in just ten minutes!

Picked up the book yesterday from the library. : )

April wrote: "Picked up the book yesterday from the library. : )"

Yay! You won't regret reading it!

Well, this wasn't something I would have urged my self to read if it wasn't for the August's read but since I was brought up with Aesop's fables, I thought that this would be nice for a summer read, so I gave it a try...I have to say that it was good but I'm not thrilled about it. I think, the result of these tales could easily be a mixture of Aesop's works (of course there is no comparison whatsoever) and Woody Allen's caustic way of writing..Sedaris tries to re-introduce us with every day situations in a very smart way, maybe even leading us think at first that these would be children stories but let me assure you that there is nothing meant for kids in there

This is so cool and funny! Although I could finish it in a few hours, I'm not going to. I want to savor and sip. Did I mention how sweet and funny?

Anastasia wrote: "Well, this wasn't something I would have urged my self to read if it wasn't for the August's read but since I was brought up with Aesop's fables, I thought that this would be nice for a summer read..."

You're so right. When we picked this book we were under the impression that it was short sweet and completely appropriate for all ages...boy were we wrong. sedaris isn't shy about pointing out fatal human flaws by using his motley collection of animals. It was scary how easily he captured humanity!

Ok I gotta say this is such a great title I am recommending it to everyone I see now. I have laughed quite a bit so far and even got the evil eye from both my son and my niece while they were trying to watch an anime film. I read the The Toad, The Turtle, And The Duck and just cracked up. I think this book should be made into a Broadway show with effects like they did for The Lion King and the Aladdin Show at Disneyland. That Ian Falconer person could do the set and costume design since he's done that type of work before.
Gorfo, thank you so much for picking this title. This is a perfect example of why these reading groups are awesome. This is a title I probably would have passed by but because of this group and you, I am now enjoying an awesome book :o) You Rock ! :O)

Gorfo, thank you so much for picking this title. This is a perfect example of why these reading groups are awesome. This is a title I probably would have passed by but because of this group and you, I am now enjoying an awesome book :o) You Rock ! :O)


DITTO!

My favorite is the Grieving Owl. Whatever philosophy we use to get through our days, it appears eat and be eaten is the real purpose of existence, so we might as well find amusing diversions to make it fun, like this book! Now, here's hoping a hippo, singing leeches and gerbils make my day today.

I picked this up at the library and it was a quick read though a few of the stories were a little unsettling. The Crow and the Lamb for one. These are definitely not the politically correct fairytales of today but have a bite to them that is unexpected given the cute furry animal theme. lol

April wrote: "Gorfo, thank you so much for picking this title. This is a perfect example of why these reading groups are awesome. This is a title I probably would have passed by but because of this group and you..."

Steven wrote: "Ok I gotta say this is such a great title I am recommending it to everyone I see now. I have laughed quite a bit so far and even got the evil eye from both my son and my niece while they were tryin..."

Thanks guys, that really boosted my spirits like through the roof! It just goes to show you something about book groups. Sometimes you find that the book isn't your cup of tea and other times you stumble upon a gem! It's just luck that we did the latter! :)

What was everybody's favorite story?

I gotta go with The Toad,The Turtle And The Duck so far. But I also enjoyed the Faithful Setter...as for the Crow and The Lamb that was twisted but I must be twisted cause at the end I let out an evil chuckle :o)

I agree with Steven on the toad, the turtle and the duck...after all the conversation you can't NOT laugh with this: A moment of silence, and then the toad continued, “I should have smeared a honeydew with shit—or no, a honeydew and a cantaloupe. I should have smeared both melons with shit and forced them down her throat. Then I should have poured acid on her, and then I should have set her on fire.”

“Well,” said the turtle, “there’s always the next time.”

Oh yeah that's about the part where I laughed out loud and got nasty looks from my son and niece that were trying to watch an anime film...so off to my library with a Joker's laugh I went :O)

Oh and my wife and duaghter also read that one and well for the next few hours everything seemed to be revolving around melons covered in a thick gooey brown substance :O)

Steven wrote: "Oh and my wife and duaghter also read that one and well for the next few hours everything seemed to be revolving around melons covered in a thick gooey brown substance :O)"

hahahahahahaha!!!

:O) Cheesey Grin

Steven wrote: ":O) Cheesey Grin"

Glad to know that the book is good for the whole family :)

Trying to get in touch with David Sedaris somehow so maybe he can join Goodreads and then visit our group. He seems like a funny guy and would be entertaining to have a Q&A with someday.
And yes the family really did enjoy the book :O)

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Having David Sedaris in our group would be soooooo amazing. I think I'll definitely continue to explore the rest of his works. I haven't read anything but squirrel seeks chipmunk and realize I've really been missing out!

Yeah, I have to agree with you. His work is new to me but it's been a great discovery and I hope to read more by him as well. I haven't gotten an email back from his people yet and his personal website doesn't have any contact info set up yet but it looks like he is working on that. so hopefuly we can connect somehow soon.

Steven wrote: "Trying to get in touch with David Sedaris somehow so maybe he can join Goodreads and then visit our group. He seems like a funny guy and would be entertaining to have a Q&A with someday.
And yes ..."

Oh Lord! this would be wonderful....I hope he joins....

I wasn't quite sure what to make of this one. I think perhaps I'm a little too conservative for this pick. Some of them made me laugh but most just made me kinda sad. Maybe I watched too many Disney movies as a kid but I'm not a fan of dark or grim things. "Black comedy" if you will. I did like "The Faithful Setter" and "The Grieving Owl" they were kind of sweet in a twisted way. All in all I definitely didn't hate it but it was definitely not a re~read.

Rebecca wrote: "I wasn't quite sure what to make of this one. I think perhaps I'm a little too conservative for this pick. Some of them made me laugh but most just made me kinda sad. Maybe I watched too many Disne..."

Haha! I know the feeling! I kinda wanted to cry after some of them but for the most part I guess I'm a Black comedy kinda person :)

yeah, for a few you might have to have a sick sense of humor. The book was had quite the variety of stories though. It seems there was a little something for everyone. The one with the crow stealing the lambs eye was sick & funny but also a little scary cause we have some really big crows & ravens up by me :o/

Oh and it would help to have a New York style sense of humor when you read this title too. I grew up on Long Island and spent a lot of time with family in Bayside Queens and Whitestone and also worked for almost 2 years in Times Square so I've run into some sick humor before.

I'm still waiting for this in the mail... my son recommended this book to me just last week (I'd never heard of it or the author before), and I joined this group because I saw it was your current read. I'm really looking forward to it.

David is Amy Sedaris's brother -- and Amy is a strange and funny lady in her own right.

Janice George wrote: "I'm still waiting for this in the mail... my son recommended this book to me just last week (I'd never heard of it or the author before), and I joined this group because I saw it was your current r..."

YES! Mission accomplished! People are joining the group because of the reads! Well I hope you'll enjoy it! brace yourself to be shocked sometimes and pleasantly and sometimes otherwise!

Didn't take long to listen to the audio - 3 disks - and what do I have to say?

Reeeeeediculous! And terribly funny!

Carly wrote: "Didn't take long to listen to the audio - 3 disks - and what do I have to say?

Reeeeeediculous! And terribly funny!"

Haha! Nice to hear!

ok I know that in here we're suppose to discuss about the SSC but I wanted a place to express my enthusiasm about September's read!!!!I had heard and read so much about this book that I put it on my to buy list A.S.A.P!
.........so...opportunity given by you guys I'm gonna buy it this week!!! Nicely done Gorfo and Steven!!! :)))

Anastasia wrote: "ok I know that in here we're suppose to discuss about the SSC but I wanted a place to express my enthusiasm about September's read!!!!I had heard and read so much about this book that I put it on m..."

Wow thanks, if you're that excited I'll put the thread up right now :)

I think if people found this book entertaining and were happy to have a bit of humor in there reads, maybe we should look for either more Sedaris or we could put something by Dave Barry up. He's got a novel out called Big Trouble that sounds interesting.

I've gone through 1%-60% in a sitting -- not that the book's that lengthy, but -- it really is enjoyable! Thanks for the suggestion :-)

I heard an interview with the author on CBC radio the other day. He read a passage about the squirrel and the chipmunk, it sounded witty and funny...even light hearted. But, boy was the rest of the book not what I was expecting!
At some points I was left with a feeling of, uh, disturbed humour? The rats in the cage was funny in a way, but, very disturbing in another? And even more disturbing that it could be funny, KWIM?

There were lots of stories I liked, the faithful setter, the migrating warblers, the grieveing owl...but others?

I'm left with the debate; am I not into dark/sick humour or was I just expecting something completely different?

Steven wrote: "I think if people found this book entertaining and were happy to have a bit of humor in there reads, maybe we should look for either more Sedaris or we could put something by Dave Barry up. He's go..."

Barry's Big Trouble is a kick, very much fun, and far better as a novel than I had expected.

Bookworm wrote: "I heard an interview with the author on CBC radio the other day. He read a passage about the squirrel and the chipmunk, it sounded witty and funny...even light hearted. But, boy was the rest of the..."

Haha! You're not the first to be completely shocked! I must say the one story about the Crow was scary. "I have to do what I have to do." Was that her mantra?

Just finished Squirrel (late-ish), and I have to say that while putting the ugliness and humor and beauty of human nature in an animal context was unpleasant at times and funny at others, Sedaris did an excellent job of writing it and putting it in a different perspective! It made me very pensive...

Ya! Like after I finished I just felt that I had been with knowledge on the inner workings of humanity!

Yeah, definitely...it was frighteningly accurate, and I need to give props to Sedaris for writing this so well

Ana wrote: "Yeah, definitely...it was frighteningly accurate, and I need to give props to Sedaris for writing this so well"

Is this your first Sedaris?

Sure is, and I have little doubt that I would love his other works! How are they?

Ana wrote: "Sure is, and I have little doubt that I would love his other works! How are they?"

So far I've also read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and it was excellent! All of his other works are about his family though.

Wait what was your favorite Squirrel story?

Interesting! It just may be worth a look...my favorite story must be the one about the grieving owl, but possibly because that was the most lighthearted out of all of them!

Ana wrote: "Interesting! It just may be worth a look...my favorite story must be the one about the grieving owl, but possibly because that was the most lighthearted out of all of them!"

I found something I like in all of them...even the crow one believe it or not. My least favorite though was the one about the bear...I just couldn't help feeling a sense of justice....

I agree! That one did frustrate me until the end, and then I let out a small "hah"...

Ana wrote: "I agree! That one did frustrate me until the end, and then I let out a small "hah"..."

Yes! It's good to know I'm not the only one!

OK ... we were away this weekend and took these two pictures, so I might as well share them here ...

I'm not sure if that last one is a chipmunk or some kinda squirrel. He was just too funny - we were on the dam at Elliot Falls. The critter came scampering along with that pine cone. He seemed afraid to pass us - left the pine cone and ran away. Then he came back and picked up his pine cone.

While Jeff took pictures on a part of the trail I couldn't do, the critter kept running past me - he was obviously afraid, but still wanted to take a good look at me. Ha ha!