Review: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
by David Sedaris
Published by Little Brown and Company
Publication Date September 28, 2010
Source: Bought
Genres: Humor
Goodreads

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life.

In "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck," three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In "Hello Kitty," a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk," a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.

With original illustrations by Ian Falconer, author of the bestselling Olivia series of children's books, these stories are David Sedaris at his most observant, poignant, and surprising.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris is a child’s storybook for adults, or a fucked up version of Aesop’s Fables.  The book is filled with short stories accompanied with illustrations of everyday occurrences or controversial  themes, all portrayed by animals.

Strangely enough, they all seem to have a moral.  In The Squirrel and the Chipmunk for which the novel was named after, involves a love crossed squirrel and chipmunk who’s respected families don’t approve of the match eventually leading to the breaking of the couple. Although, a misunderstand of what jazz is also contributes. “What if jazz was squirrel slang for something terrible,like anal intercourse?”  All in all a very clever look at biracial marriages.

The Motherless Bear deals with loss and pity.  A young cub loses her mother and tries to live off of the sympathy and sorrow this abandonment presents,  “And then she just… died”.   After testing all the other animal’s patience she moves on to fresh blood, but doesn’t go exactly the way she had hoped.

Lastly, in The Crow and the Lamb, a crow commiserate s with an ewe on the trials of parenting and suggests she take up meditation, giving the sheep her first lesson.  Well, let’s just say you should never talk to strangers and keep both eyes on your lamb.

A hilarious book of short stories,  The Squirrel and the Chipmunk didn’t have me laughing as hard as some of David Sedaris’ other works but was enough for people to ask, what are you reading?