Hi everyone,
This week’s recommendation is a humorous read to start getting into a festive mood. I hope you enjoy it!
mariana
PS. I’ve added two notes and the end of the newsletter. I hope you get to them :)
Why did I read this book?
When the lockdown started, my friend Andre and I took advantage of a 2 for 1 promotion and signed up to Masterclass. It’s amazing, I recommend it. My first class was David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humour. I really enjoyed it and this made me want to read something written by him. I did my research, and SantaLand Diaries had one of the highest ratings across his publications, so I chose it as my starting point.
What is the book about?
Unconventional Christmas stories: David Sedaris is mostly famous for his essays and his satirical sense of humour. This book is a compilation of six atypical Christmas stories that will make you think about the festive season differently. Some stories are funnier, some are more cynical, and others are just plain ridiculous.
Absurdity: David Sedaris is all about capturing the ridiculous aspects of our lives and cultures. He portrays this absurdity with his words and makes fun of himself as well as others.
“Young children, ages two to four, tend to be frightened of Santa. They have no interest in having their pictures taken because they don’t know what a picture is.”
― David Sedaris, SantaLand Diaries
Why should you read it?
If you like raw, dark humour: I don’t think everyone will like this book, but some of you will. I laughed a lot with some of the essays and others made me a bit uncomfortable. If you don’t like reading about the worst traits of humanity displayed with utmost irreverence, maybe skip this one.
A light and quick read: The book is small and easy to read. If you’re looking for a mentally undemanding book, this is it. Apparently, the audio version is way funnier and more enjoyable, something to consider.
“When it was my turn I explained that I wanted to be an elf because it was one of the most frightening career opportunities I had ever come across.”
― David Sedaris, SantaLand Diaries
Links to buy the book
UK
Mexico
Books, books, books(If possible, try to support this bookshop)
Gandhi (Libro electrónico)
La Casa del Libro (Libro electrónico)
Spain
La Casa del Libro (Spanish version)
Italy
US
Favourite quotes
//The purpose of this section is to share some of my favourite book bits, so you can come back to them when you finish a book, if you wish to do so. I’ve put in bold my favourite ones, in case you want to read a few (or all) ahead of the book.//
“I tend to avoid leaflets but it breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco. So, if there is a costume involved, I tend not only to accept the leaflet, but to accept it graciously, saying, ‘Thank you so much,’ and thinking, You poor, pathetic son of a bitch. I don’t know what you have but I hope I never catch it.”
“When it was my turn I explained that I wanted to be an elf because it was one of the most frightening career opportunities I had ever come across.”
“Most of the managers are former elves who have worked their way up the candy-cane ladder but retain vivid memories of their days in uniform.”
“Everything these elves said had an exclamation point at the end of it!! It makes one’s mouth hurt to speak with such forced merriment. I feel cornered when someone talks to me this way. Doesn’t everyone?”
But still, I wanted to say that at least I get paid to look stupid, that he gives it away for free. But I can’t say things like that because I’m supposed to be merry.
“Young children, ages two to four, tend to be frightened of Santa. They have no interest in having their pictures taken because they don’t know what a picture is.”
“I often take photographs of crying children. Even more grotesque is taking a picture of a crying child with a false grimace. It’s not a smile so much as the forced shape of a smile. Oddly, it pleases the parents.”
“All I do is lie, and that has made me immune to compliments.”
“All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I’m afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprints.”
“Every gathering has its moment. As an adult, I distract myself by trying to identify it, dreading the inevitable downswing that is sure to follow.”
“Under certain circumstances parental pride is understandable but it has no place in the theatre, where it tends to encourage a child to believe in a talent that, more often than not, simply fails to exist.”
“The point is that you want to take the best offer but at the same time you’ve got to think fast. Wait too long and that prize piglet will grow into a bearded old sow with none of its youthful charm. It’s like that with stories as well. Sit on something too long and eventually you won’t be able to give it away, much less sell it.”
“I’d attempt to make adult conversation, saying something like ‘I just paid eight thousand dollars for a pair of sandals that don’t even fit me.’ Doug would counter, saying that he himself had just paid ten thousand for a single flip-flop he wouldn’t wear even if it did fit him.”
Important notes
For UK and US readers, Bookshop.org is a great option to support your local bookshop. You can read more about it here.
If you’re using Gmail and the newsletter keeps going to your Promotions tab, you can try the following:
Open Gmail on your computer or laptop (it doesn’t work on mobile phones), and then drag the email from the Promotions tab into the Primary tab.
Add mariachi@substack.com to your contact list