David Sedaris

Stories of dysfunctional families are entertainment’s bread and butter, from film to TV sitcoms, but essayist and author David Sedaris has managed to etch out a whole new facet of the genre. Sedaris has inspired a fervent legion of fans that laps up stories of his rocky childhood and adolescence in North Carolina. Hopefully those fans are open to something new: Sedaris’ latest book, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, is a collection of allegorical fables starring woodland critters. 2009’s live album, Live For Your Listening Pleasure, shows how his droll deadpan stories play in front of an audience, but a better bet still is to see for yourself.

Updated 04/09/2012