Me Talk Pretty One Day
by David Sedaris
★ Top 25 book of 2000 · #18 on Best Books of 2000
After moving from New York to Paris, David Sedaris gathers a collection of humorous essays, including a tale of struggling to learn French under a brutal teacher. Family also features, along with his sharp irritation at everyday modern absurdities like oversized restaurant food.
Best for: Readers who enjoy humorous essays about family, travel abroad, and modern annoyances.
Me Talk Pretty One Day is #18 on BookWard's Best Books of 2000, out of 45 2000 books that cleared our data bar.
What Me Talk Pretty One Day is about
David Sedaris turns embarrassment into comedy in this 2000 collection of essays. The first part looks back at his upbringing in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina, and his odd jobs in New York City. The second part, "Deux", follows him and his partner Hugh to Normandy, where he struggles, with plenty of frustration, to learn French.
The title essay recounts a French class in Paris. Elsewhere, he draws a portrait of his brother Paul, who has a kind heart despite his horrible language. Family members such as his father Lou and sister Amy turn up throughout, and other pieces poke fun at elaborately described restaurant food and French notions of Americans. Several essays were first read on This American Life. Readers who like wry, self-deprecating humor about family and culture clash will enjoy it.
Me Talk Pretty One Day on the Best Books of 2000
Me Talk Pretty One Day came out in 2000. Of the 45 books first published in 2000 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #18 on our Best Books of 2000 list.
Why it made the list: 281 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.9 out of 5 (55 ratings). The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
Nearby on the 2000 list
- Basic Economics Thomas Sowell, #16
- The Princess Diaries Meg Cabot, #17
- The Visitor Lee Child, #19
- The Austere Academy Lemony Snicket, #20
See all Best Books of 2000 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 1999 Best Books of 2001.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 204 want to read it, 6 are reading it now and 71 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 3.9 out of 5 from 55 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 64 | 55% |
| Reader love | 38 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 16 | 20% |
Questions about Me Talk Pretty One Day
When was Me Talk Pretty One Day published?
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris was first published in 2000.
Was Me Talk Pretty One Day one of the best books of 2000?
Me Talk Pretty One Day is #18 on BookWard's Best Books of 2000, out of 45 2000 books that cleared our data bar. 281 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.9 out of 5 (55 ratings).
Why is Me Talk Pretty One Day on the Best Books of 2000 list?
281 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.9 out of 5 (55 ratings).
More of the best books of 2000
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling, #1
- The 48 Laws of Power Robert Greene, #2
- Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo, #3
- The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson, #4
- Life of Pi Yann Martel, #5
- Esperanza Rising Pam Muñoz Ryan, #6
See the full Best Books of 2000, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
Find your own best books
Add what you have read, rate it, and BookWard will recommend what to read next.
Free while in beta. No credit card needed.