6D - Fall 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

EVENT PREVIEW
David Sedarns to speak at Literati

Famed author and
humorist comes to
A to give reading
and sign books
By GIANCARLO BUONOMO
ManagingArts Editor
JUNE 10, 2014 - Hold onto
your moleskins: David Sedaris
is coming to town.
The famed essayist and
comedian, and author of works
such as "Dress Your Family in
Corduroy and Denim" and his
latest essay collection "Let's
Explore Diabetes with Owls,"
will be appearing at Literati
Bookstore Wednesday night.
Since he read his humor-

ous essay "SantaLand Dia-
ries," about working as an elf at
Macy's, on NPR in 1992, Sedaris
has become perhaps the preemi-
nent humorist in America today,
one whose essays, radio broad-
casts and speaking events have
earned him numerous fans.
Sedaris' writing is unique in
that he finds remarkable ele-
ments in very unremarkable sit-
uations. His stories aren't about
exotic adventure and intrigue,
but rather mundane elements
of his own life, from Hallow-
een ("Us and Them") to flying
to Paris ("Journey into Night").
But because of his wit and tone
(nebbishy but wise), he brings
out the absurd humor and unex-
pected lessons of these stories.
Sedaris is a raconteur - he
excels at telling stories, par-

ticularly funny ones, which has
made him immensely popular
as a public speaker.
"I find that if I conscious-
ly try to be funny it always
seems forced," Sedaris said in
an e-mail exchange with The
Michigan Daily. "Rather, I try
to be entertaining. I think of
how the story might sound out
loud to an audience and I pro-
ceed accordingly."
Sedaris often discusses
transgressive subjects - one
essay, "Full House," recalls a
game of strip poker in the sixth
grade where a still-closeted
David revels in witnessing the
bare bodies of his male friends,
one of whom he eventually con-
vinces to sit on his lap. But even
with his frank discussions of
sexuality, drug use and cancer,

he has such widespread appeal
that his essays are taught in
high schools. Sedaris himself
is rather blase about the whole
matter.
"I've never thought of myself
as particularly subversive," he
said. "If my essays are in English
classes perhaps ithas more to do
with the writing than the topic.
The New Yorker puts an odd
stamp of approval on things."
Tickets to the reading
became available on June 3, to
those who purchased a copy
of Mr. Sedaris' latest book and
sold out within an hour. But
the book signing is open to the
public and will go on as long as
there are eager fans in line
"From the sound of it, he's the
most accommodating human
being on planet earth," said

John Ganiard, Events Coordi-
nator at Literati Bookstore.
It's no surprise that for his
visit to Ann Arbor, Mr. Sedaris
chose Literati. Since opening in
April2013, the East Washington
store has become a cultural hot-
spot, with its regular hosting of
authors and open-mic nights.
"Since we opened, it's been
our mission to bring notable
authors to our space, which is
an intimate space, because we
serve the community beyond
just being a general bookstore,"
Ganiard said.
Sedaris is popular with all
ages, but high school and col-
lege students seem to respond
particularly well to his writ-
ings, and they flock to readings
like these with as much enthu-
siasm as if they were meeting a

favorite musician or actor. Per-
haps it is because Sedaris sim-
ply makes writing seem fun.
"Especially as a teenager, you
think of writing as something
you're forced to do in school,
and then watching someone do
it, and making you laugh, your
first thought is "I want to do
that," Ganiard said.
Sedaris doesn't harbor any
fantasies that his books will
keep people, including teenag-
ers, reading.
"Goodness no. If anything,
it's pornography that will keep
people reading," he said.
But he does have some advice
for those, attending or not, who
aspire to be writers.
"My advice is to write every-
day (with a pen that's shaped
like a candy cane)."

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