A Carnival of Snackery cover art

A Carnival of Snackery

Diaries (2003-2020)

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A Carnival of Snackery

Written by: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris, Tracey Ullman
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About this listen

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

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.

©2021 David Sedaris (P)2021 Little, Brown & Company
Comedy & Humor Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Hotel Funny Comedy Jokes Short Stories
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What the critics say

“Sedaris is a singularly talented humorist who lands acerbic zingers with the calculating precision of a kamikaze pilot.... Throughout the colorful, caustic yarns that fill his best-selling essay and story collections, he’s maintained league-of-his-own status by staying light on his feet: Just when you’re expecting a wry jab, he clocks you with a poignant gut punch.” (Rachel Rosenblit, Washington Post)

“Deeply satisfying.... the diaries are as clear, direct and funny as his essays.... [Sedaris] has such a gift for illuminating small things.” (Liana Finck, New York Times Book Review)

“Uproarious… a must for Sedaris fans.” (Lesley Kennedy, CNN)

What listeners say about A Carnival of Snackery

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Sedaris adds Ullman and has yet to disappoint

For short snippets of observational humour and bold self-exposing thoughts David Sedaris delivers in this audiobook. The addition of Tracey Ullman to read some of the British entries switches up the listening pleasure without sacrificing any humour. A great listen.

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hungry for more

Just finished and starting over. Having Tracy Ullman read the sections requiring accents was perfect.

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Droll brilliance.

This could have been even longer and I would still want more. Tracey Ullman really is exceptional with her voice.

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Hey, It's David Sedaris. Enough Said?

David Sedaris AND Tracy Ullman as readers is almost too much of a good thing. ; )

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Love the Honesty

You know how people write LOL all the time but probably don't actually LOL? Well with this book, I actually laughed out loud on numerous occasions... I listened with a headset on so I'd startle my husband when I did. Now, for the record, this book would not be for everyone. David Sedaris is very candid and relays his thoughts honestly; thoughts that most of us would not admit to. I may not have related to his opinions in my earlier years but after spending 35 years in the workplace, managing people and often dealing with the general public, and of course friends and family, his observations towards people is definitely relatable for me. This was my first David Sedaris read (yes, obviously I've been hiding under a rock all these years) and I will be reading many more. Perhaps I'll do so on road trips with my husband who is soft and loves everybody. Ha ha He may have a different view than I.

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Very nice

Not a novel but delightful snippets from David’s journals. Light and funny, easy to listen to.

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Give Tracey Ullman a chance!

Like basically everyone else, I was sceptical of anyone but David Sedaris reading David Sedaris. Admittedly it was jarring at first, but once I let that weird feeling go, I really enjoyed the bits Ullman narrated (and Sedaris is obvious fantastic as always). As Sedaris himself says in the introduction, she does AMAZING accents and she mostly narrates the sections that have multiple different accents. Sedaris wouldn't have been able to do the plethora of accents Ullman does without coming across at best as distracting and at worst, as offensive. Ullman also does a remarkable impersonation of Hugh. I'm now convinced that Ullman sounds, not like Sedaris himself, but like Hugh (who's always been a favourite of mine and everyone else's, I think).

The diaries themselves are wonderful--far more polished and readable than Theft by Finding. The audio was 17 hours long and it felt like 5. I'm sad that it's over and I have a long wait until the next book is published. Five stars all around. It really doesn't get any better.

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Best book ever!

loved it! this was my first David sedaris book and I was very pleased. his humour and the way he looks at the world is so similar to mine and I love that!

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David used to be warmer

There's meanness and edge to this piece that makes me uncomfortable at times. Has David become a misanthrope? He shows himself to be most compassionate to a small creature he finds on the road...but not so much to people.

As well, I have admired Tacey Ullman's work in the past but here - she sounds hard and tough.

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