I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
Sedaris’s sidesplitting guide to throwing parties hopes to return readers to the times when the word “entertainment” was “charmingly old-fashioned, like courtship or back alley abortions.” While her tongue is firmly in cheek, novice party-planners will actually find some helpful hints along the way as Sedaris offers instructions and real recipes. Her tips run the gamut from how to properly freeze meatballs (freeze them on a cookie sheet before putting them into a freezer bag so they won’t stick together) and deal with the inebriated (”Better to cut them off rather than pretend it’s not happening and then allow them to stay over and wet your bed”). She’s a generous but crafty hostess (”A good trick is to fill your medicine cabinet with marbles. Nothing announces a nosey guest better than an avalanche of marbles hitting a porcelain sink”). Etiquette pointers include inappropriate introductions (”This is Barbara, she can’t have children”) and things to avoid saying to the grieving (”Did she smoke?” “Was he drinking?” “Where were you when this happened?”). Her advice is both practical and hilarious; her instructions on removing vomit stains ends with “or just toss it, chances are you’ve stained it before.” Sedaris’s first solo effort (after Wigfield with her Strangers with Candy co-stars, as well as several plays with her brother, David) is an outrageous and deadpan delight, greatly enhanced by her deliriously kitschy illustrations and photos.
The actor, caterer, film star, comic, and sister of David Sedaris charms, seduces, entertains, instructs, amuses, and just plain invites readers into her somewhat eclectic life. Readers will revel in the more than 100 recipes with menus for dozens of occasions (or not), from blind date at home to table for one (an evening alone, that is, with steak and salad). Her recipes, by the way, are no rivals to the Culinary Institute of America; for instance, the directions for “carrot coins” call for slicing carrots so they look like coins and sauteing with butter, salt, and pepper. Readers can choose from any number of easy items to craft–a Greek dress, a calf stretcher, or a mini-pantyhose plant hanger. Among the various tips shared: “One possible origin of the term ‘monkey dish’ [is] originally a dish made from a monkey’s skull.” But everyone can simply enjoy her wisdom-filled one-liners, with at least one appearing on every page. (About entertaining the elderly, she says, “Keep them engaged or it’s the express train to nappy-land.”) This is hardly a Reader’s Digest compendium, but David Letterman would be pleased with it. Media tours and promotions alone should drive demand.
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Reviews
This book is frickin’ insane and addictive! Amy Sedaris rocks!
Reviewer: Invisiboy2001 “invisiboy2001″ (Chicago, IL United States)
I have been enjoying Amy Sedaris’s freaky-weird acting for years, so I had to snatch up this book the second I heard it was out. And, man oh man, I have been laughing for days. This is one addictive book, like a paper drug. I woke up this morning, and instead of thinking about my husband or cats or breakfast or my job, I imagined Amy Sedaris trying on pantyhose, and I thought “No Squirrels.” (You’ll understand after you read the book.) Then I wondered how on earth I would achieve that baked Alaska featured in her book.
This lady works comedic magic with this book. I have never, ever, ever read or seen anything like this strange book.
Yes, there is a plethora of valuable tips and recipes for entertaining, but the way Amy presents the info is nothing short of comic genius. The pictures are all gold. And her writing is rickety and charming. And wait till you find the secret poster! You will buy a locker just so you can hang it up!
Mark my word, this book will be *the* gift to give this holiday season. It is destined to make Amy Sedaris a household name. Plus, it is extremely useful and entertaining.
There are not enough Stars for this GEM!
Reviewer: SaveJonahDotOrg “You know he’s dying inside…” (NY)
Well…you had me at “IdespiseAndreaHarner”, but you are right on all other accounts.
Miss Amy has done something really special this time, and it shows!
First off, this book is HUGE! I hadn’t imagined how thick it would be- it is literally jammed packed with everything you can imagine (and more, WAY more) from our hostess extraordinaire. The hard cover edition is solid as a rock, nothing flimsy about it.
The recipes indeed appear to be “JACKPOT” and crowd pleasing-I cant wait to try them out. The scrap book feel to this book is ever-present, with zany crafts, priceless photos (old and new) and authentically stained recipe cards in scrawling print surrounding the main text. The party ideas and themed night suggestions are off-beat and creative. It is a much beloved addition to my Sedaris collection.
Amy: Helpful & Hilarious
Reviewer: James P. Zaba “Jim Dog” (Berwyn, IL)
Amy Sedaris is HILARIOUS! Even in this type of book she manages to be both helpful and humorous. I like you too, Amy. Who else would give health hints on washing one’s genitals in a cook/hospitality book.
Good for coffee tables, and discussion.
Add comment January 5th, 2007
