Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Wicked Bestiary
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Product Description
Book Description
The brilliantly quirky David Sedaris returns with a book of acerbic and outrageously funny stories about animals who have unmistakably human failings
Product Description
This collection of sharply observed animal-themed tales is a delight, told with David Sedaris's trademark blend of hilarity and goodnaturedness. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of our own everyday interactions. In 'The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck', three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In 'Hello Kitty', a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In 'The Squirrel and the Chipmunk', a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
David Sedaris is someone I stumbled upon during his Santa readings on NPR years ago. I have ever since been a huge fan who will buy his books immediately - he's so funny that you know this his are not the kinds of book you should read in bed as you're bound to annoy the person you're reading beside. His humour has always been of the darker variety, so that was to be expected. What wasn't expected is that this book - while a very clever take on anthropomorphism - is less funny, more dark. So dark that you finish each story feeling like you actually need therapy or, at the very least, a good brain scrubbing. It does linger with you as each story hits particular nerves (particularly the story of the squirrel dating a chipmunk, which is incredibly bittersweet). But other stories, like the one of a ewe and a crow, just make you shudder in horror. It may be a veiled disguise of human nature and our foibles, but to be honest I'd rather have the Sedaris humor vignettes.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Humourist David Sedaris has penned a collection of short stories which use various animals as allegories to represent the more unpleasant aspects of human behaviour. He's a talented writer and they usually start out in an entertaining fashion. For example there is the titular story about a squirrel who is dating a chipmunk and who finds that they've run out of conversation after exploring their mutual love of acorns and dislike of dogs. Another story is about a precocious two week old stork who wants to know where babies come from.
However without fail, the stories descend into melancholy - or more commonly, into violence. Most of the stories are unmemorable and the few that stand out do so mostly because they are so acutely, distressingly unpleasant. The book is also illustrated by children's illustrator Ian Falconer which feels particularly inappropriate. There is a small degree of wry humor but no "laugh out loud" moments. Sedaris can - and has - done better. This book left me cold.
PS: Please don't make the mistake that my father did and think that this is a book to read to children!
However without fail, the stories descend into melancholy - or more commonly, into violence. Most of the stories are unmemorable and the few that stand out do so mostly because they are so acutely, distressingly unpleasant. The book is also illustrated by children's illustrator Ian Falconer which feels particularly inappropriate. There is a small degree of wry humor but no "laugh out loud" moments. Sedaris can - and has - done better. This book left me cold.
PS: Please don't make the mistake that my father did and think that this is a book to read to children!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The thing about David Sedaris is that you either find him funny or you don't -- that's it. I find him generally pretty amusing, albeit in small doses, and that's more or less my reaction to the book. It's a collection of sixteen brief stories featuring animals standing in for humans, a number of which have previously appeared on public radio programs. Caricaturists and cartoonists figured out well over a century ago that if you depict human behavior acted out by animals, it lends what are otherwise straightforward insights a veneer of the ridiculous, humorous, and can even turn into fable. Sedaris isn't really doing anything new or particularly exciting by having barnyard animals engage in Secret Santa, or squirrels and chipmunks date, or various animals standing in line argue about something banal. He's just doing it with his stylistic twist, which I generally enjoy. (Those of a sunny disposition should be forewarned that most of the stories (and illustrations) wind up in somewhat dark and depressing areas -- only a handful have what might be interpreted as a "happy ending".) It needs to be said that the stories read much better if you spread them out, reading one every few days or so, rather than back to back in one sitting. When read back to back, they lose their freshness and sharpness. Although I generally enjoyed the writing, by the end I was feeling that the gimmick was a little too played out, that Sedaris could write thousands of these kind of sketches. And speaking of sketches, each story is accompanied by a color illustration by Ian Falconer, an artist who made his fortune with the popular Olivia series of children's picture books. Here he gets to take his usual animal forms and get grotesque with them. Personally, they didn't add anything to the book for me and felt like another layer of gimmickry on top of the already gimmicky stories.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
chilling and hilarious
This is a gem of a book. I haven't read anything else by Sedaris (it seems like other reviewers who are big fans were more likely to be disappointed). Read more
Published 18 days ago by dorls123
Aesops Fables Crude Style!
This is the first book I have ever read by David Sedaris and as I am unfamiliar with his work I didnt really have any heightened expectations which a lot of these reviews seem to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nikkie
David Sedaris book
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Wicked Bestiary by David Sedaris is a great book of short stories, illustrated brilliantly. The book arrived swiftly and in great condition. Many thanks.
Published 3 months ago by Daniel Morgenstern
Sadly not worth the price
I adore David Sedaris - quite simply the funniest author I have ever come across. While I was intrigued that he was to try something completely different Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Conortje
Short stories (some hard) meant for sensitive hearts with a sense of...
I like David Sedaris. His humor, his simplicity and yet his candour and sensitivity.
These are stories to be read by animal lovers. By some, they will be a little hurt. Read more
These are stories to be read by animal lovers. By some, they will be a little hurt. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ioanna Damia
You have to be in the right mood!
Having listened to DS on the BBC ( radio ) his wit and reflective cutting humour seemed to be right up my street. Read more
Published 10 months ago by 14uinsurrey
Wasn't Impressed
I read alot of reviews before I purchased this book, but unfortunately I wasn;t impressed, I haven't read all of it yet, as I found one of the stories quite disturbing so I haven't... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Penny Sanford
A short story, not a book
Ok, you quickly get the idea: anthropomorphism. Yes, it's well-observed. Yes, it's clever. But it feels like the same short story told over and over again. Read more
Published 13 months ago by TheFlasheart
This might not be what Sedaris fans would expect
I'm a big fan of David Sedaris so was looking forward to this small book of `Aesop-like' stories which I imagined would have his usual wit and style. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Sarah Durston
Not for the faint-hearted
If you appreciate dark humour and close-to-the-bone tales of horror you will love this collection of short stories. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Hayles
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