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Carnival of Snackery: Diaries (2003-2020)
Carnival of Snackery: Diaries (2003-2020) | David Sedaris
12 posts | 12 read | 16 to read
There's no right way to keep a diary, but if there's an entertaining way, David Sedaris seems to have mastered it. If it's navel-gazing you're after, you've come to the wrong place; ditto treacly self-examination. Rather, his observations turn outward: a fight between two men on a bus, a fight between two men on the street, pedestrians being whacked over the head or gathering to watch as a man considers leaping to his death. There's a dirty joke shared at a book signing, then a dirtier one told at a dinner party--lots of jokes here. Plenty of laughs. These diaries remind you that you once really hated George W. Bush, and that not too long ago, Donald Trump was just a harmless laughingstock, at least on French TV. Time marches on, and Sedaris, at his desk or on planes, in hotel dining rooms and odd Japanese inns, records it. The entries here reflect an ever-changing background--new administrations, new restrictions on speech and conduct. What you can say at the start of the book, you can't by the end. At its best, A Carnival of Snackery is a sort of sampler: the bitter and the sweet. Some entries are just what you wanted. Others you might want to spit discreetly into a napkin.
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Maria514626
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Absolutely delightful!

Chelsea.Poole Love him! 3y
Maria514626 @Chelsea.Poole He is just the best! I met him at a book signing and acted like a silly school girl at a boy-band concert. It was a reflex. 🤦‍♀️ I was so embarrassed. He was charming. 3y
18 likes2 comments
review
Cinfhen
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Pickpick

David Sedaris is such a delight - definitely off-putting at times but if you can‘t laugh at life‘s absurdities then maybe you‘re not really living fully. This collection highlights diary entries from 2003 through 2020. Most were hilarious but I must say when I got to 2020 the tone was much more sobering. Hearing the shitshow that was 2020 illuminated by Sedaris was both frightening & comforting, And yes, funny too 😍

Megabooks Great review! 😘 3y
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Lindy
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed the first volume of Sedaris‘ diaries and this one is even better. He‘s kinder and humbler as he ages. Also, his favourite hobby is picking up garbage from the roadside; what could be more endearing?
Audiobook is read by the author, with his masterful sense of comedic timing. #LGBTQ

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Lindy
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Health report: my broken wrist is healing well (9 days in) and cognitive abilities (impaired by head injury) are very slowly returning also. I have been enjoying the tagged audiobook in short instalments, followed by longer periods of rest.
Photo: detail from a wreath ornament that was a gift to us. Along with a couple of poinsettias, it‘s the sum total of our holiday decor.

Ruthiella Glad to hear you are feeling better and healing.❤️ 3y
Chrissyreadit Hope you continue to heal well. ❤️ 3y
MaureenMc Glad to hear you‘re on the mend ❤️‍🩹. 3y
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BkClubCare Oh no! Sending warm healing thoughts 3y
kspenmoll I am so sorry about your injuries. Sending you healing & love. 3y
AmyG Hope you are feeling better soon! 3y
Reggie Glad you‘re getting better. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Oh no! I‘m so sorry, I hope you keep feeling better! 3y
LeahBergen It‘s good to hear you‘re slowly on the mend! ❤️❤️ 3y
bnp Glad you're starting to feel (and function) better. Keep taking it easy! 3y
IndoorDame Glad to hear you‘re starting to heal ❤️‍🩹 3y
squirrelbrain Glad to hear you‘re getting better. 3y
Avanders Glad to hear you‘re on the mend! ♥️ 3y
sarahbarnes I‘m so glad you‘re on the mend, and I‘m sorry this happened! 3y
marleed Oh I hope progress continues swiftly. Sometimes it does a body good to enjoy just a few bits of holiday decor! 3y
Megabooks So glad to hear things are improving! 💜 3y
CarolynM 💖 Glad you're feeling a bit better. 3y
batsy So glad that are you are on the mend. Take care of yourself ❤️ 3y
TrishB Glad you‘re on the mend Lindy ❤️ 3y
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JacqMac
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Audio-walk with David Sedaris. I love him. Most of our #leaves are on the ground now. And some are under snow and ice. Nobody told these geese that it‘s time to leave.
#GratefulHarvest @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful!! Snow and ice already 😳🥶 3y
Eggs Looks chilly there😳🥶😶 3y
38 likes2 comments
review
britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Significantly less bleak than his first volume which is indicative of life progression. The entries from which sprung recognizable essays were probably my favorites; a window to his process. Having Ullman narrate a good chunk of the audio was a bit disconcerting at first. I‘m not sure this choice garnered the desired effect, though I got used to it. Still, I would‘ve preferred ALL Sedaris, but it‘s 5 stars for this mega-fan nonetheless.

Megabooks It was 4.25/4.5⭐️ for me, but still very enjoyable. Great review! 3y
britt_brooke @Megabooks Thank you! 💚 I‘m so happy you enjoyed it, too. 3y
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JenDR
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Afternoon coffee while trying to finish Sedaris latest book. Only a 7 day loan period from the library.

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britt_brooke
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Gorgeous sunrise this morning while walking the pupper. 🤩

#audiowalk

Megabooks Lovely! 3y
AmyG Wow! 3y
Ruthiella Beautiful! 3y
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MicheleinPhilly I‘m so grateful Pickles is the laziest living thing in this house. She is ALWAYS the last one out of bed in the morning. 3y
britt_brooke @MicheleinPhilly Champ demands a walk first thing, and is totally obnoxious until it happens. 😂 (edited) 3y
MicheleinPhilly I think the pandemic “broke” her. For the first few months I was constantly taking her for walks. It got to the point where I would say, “Do you want to go for a walk?” and she would completely ignore me. 3y
86 likes8 comments
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FashionableObserver
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I am in the midst of A LOT of adulting right now (😒), but this baby landed on my porch yesterday and it would be a crime for me to not take a few minutes to give it a little bit of the attention it deserves.
I adore David Sedaris and am so excited to delve into his latest selection of journal entries.
Here‘s hoping I can score tickets to see him live this winter. I‘m vaxxed, have a killer mask selection and am ready to be entertained!

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

The decision to have Tracey Ullman narrate about 40% of his diary entries was a strange choice for a man whose fans (including me) love to hear him read his own material. That said, she does a decent job, but the irregular switches between her and David made for a jarring listening experience.

The content is certainly a lot better than his first diary release. His craft has been honed, and the entries are sharp, concise, and funny. ⬇️

Megabooks ⬆️ There is some (humorous) reflection on what fame and fortune has brought him, but mainly it‘s new funny stories about his kooky family and interesting fan interactions. 3y
JenReadsAlot Glad it was still a pick! 3y
britt_brooke Fair review! 3y
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Megabooks @britt_brooke thanks! Tag me when you write yours. 👍🏻 3y
Cinfhen Agree with @britt_brooke this is a VERY HONEST and I‘m assuming accurate review! I ended up returning my title to Audible and I‘ll #BorrowNotBuy 😝 I started listening on the plane but wasn‘t feeling it - I think I was prepared to be upset. I bought this one instead 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I enjoyed the Union a lot more!! I think you made a smart choice. Thanks for the review love. I‘m fine owning it because I am a sedaris super fan, but I don‘t think it‘s his best. He really shot himself in the foot with the Tracey thing. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
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Megabooks
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TFW you find out half of David‘s diaries are read by Tracey Ullman. 👎🏻 I mean she‘s okay, but you get the #audiobook for David. I‘ve listened to 2003 and half of 2004. So disappointing.

Cinfhen Oh , that SUCKS!!!! Why would he betray us like that????? @britt_brooke 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I honestly don‘t know Cindy! 3y
Cinfhen I‘m SUPER BUMMED 3y
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JenReadsAlot OMG what??? That's so not okay. 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen @Megabooks I don‘t think it‘s having the effect he thought it would. I just want his voice. I‘m still enjoying it, but disappointed, too. I think he‘ll get a fair amount of backlash for it. 3y
Cinfhen I‘m almost ready to ask for an Audible refund @britt_brooke @Megabooks 3y
Reviewsbylola STOP IT 3y
Reviewsbylola Thanks for the heads up. Returning it now. 3y
Jess Is the narration terrible or are you just bummed it isn‘t David? @Cinfhen @britt_brooke 3y
britt_brooke @Jess At least half of it is David. The rest is Ullman. It‘s not bad at all, just not what I expected. I‘m still enjoying it! 😄 3y
Megabooks @Jess agree with what @britt_brooke it‘s not bad narration, it‘s just not David. 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola @Cinfhen it‘s not bad. It‘s just a bummer that her voice keeps popping in. 3y
britt_brooke @Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m in 2011 now, and I have to say, even though I‘d prefer it was all Sedaris, the narration has grown on me. 3y
Reviewsbylola So would you say it‘s half david/half Tracy? @Megabooks @britt_brooke 3y
britt_brooke @Reviewsbylola I think it‘s probably more like 2/3 David, 1/3 Tracey, but that might be generous (on David). 3y
Reviewsbylola Hmmmmm. I think I‘ll go library then. @britt_brooke 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola yeah, I think library will be fine. I agree with Britt about the split, roughly 60/40 David/Tracey. The biggest complaint I have is that switching narrators takes me out of the flow of the book. And why his diaries of all books?!? @britt_brooke 3y
britt_brooke @Megabooks It takes me out, too, at least for a couple of beats. It‘s a weird choice especially for this book. He excitedly mentioned her helping narrate when I saw him last month, but I thought it would be in a lesser capacity. Library is good, @Reviewsbylola . Hope we‘ve prepared you well! 😅😂 3y
Cinfhen Hi Jess!!! I‘m just BUMMED it isn‘t David as I find his voice and narration the pinnacle of perfection in reading/sharing HIS stories @Jess it seems like an odd choice - he did have his sister narrate one of his collections ~ right @Megabooks @britt_brooke ??? And it was a little disappointing then too! 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen His sister Amy, and some other guests, pop in in some of the collections. Holidays on Ice comes to mind, but there‘s some fiction in that one, too, so it made more sense. I feel like Ullman might‘ve even narrated an essay prior to this, too, but I‘m not certain. 3y
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Cinfhen
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Just in time for tonight‘s flight ✈️ can‘t imagine a better travel companion than David Sedaris 🙌🏻Thanks @britt_brooke for putting this on my #ReadersRadar #NewRelease #AudioDelight ♥️🎧

britt_brooke Absolutely perfect! Hope your flight is smooth.🤞🏼I was so busy yesterday, I forgot today was pub day until I saw my preorder this morning. 😅 Trying to figure out how it‘s already October 5th, but I‘m SO happy! 3y
BarbaraBB Have a safe flight ✈️ 😘 3y
Cinfhen Thanks 😅deep breaths @BarbaraBB @britt_brooke 💚💚💚 (edited) 3y
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Megabooks Safe travels dear friend!! 😘😘 3y
LeahBergen Safe travels! 😘😘 3y
KarenUK Travel safe, and enjoy! 💕 3y
Cinfhen Flight was fine but I was just wiped out yesterday….of course now I‘m wide awake @KarenUK @LeahBergen @Megabooks 3y
TrishB The joys of jet lag! 3y
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