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{{Short description|2010 short story collection by David Sedaris}}
{{multiple issues|notability=October 2010|unreferenced=October 2010}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox Book
{{Infobox book
| name = Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary
| name = Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary
| title_orig =
| title_orig =
| translator =
| translator =
| image =
| image = Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.jpg
| image_caption = First edition cover
| caption = First edition cover
| author = [[David Sedaris]]
| author = [[David Sedaris]]
| illustrator = [[Ian Falconer]]
| illustrator = [[Ian Falconer]]
| cover_artist = [[Ian Falconer]]
| cover_artist = [[Ian Falconer]]
| country = [[United States]]
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| series =
| series =
| subject =
| subject =
| genre = [[Essay|Essay collection]], [[Fiction]]
| genre = [[Essay|Essay collection]], [[Fiction]]
| publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]
| publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]
| release_date = September 28, 2010
| release_date = September 28, 2010
| english_release_date =
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print (hardcover), [[audio book]]
| media_type = Print (hardcover), [[audiobook]]
| pages = 176 pp (first edition, hardcover)
| pages = 176 pp (first edition, hardcover)
| isbn = 0316038393 (first edition, hardcover)
| isbn = 978-0-316-03839-3
| dewey=
| dewey=
| congress=
| congress=
| oclc=
| oclc=
| preceded_by = [[When You Are Engulfed in Flames]]
| preceded_by = [[When You Are Engulfed in Flames]]
| followed_by =
| followed_by = [[Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls]]
}}
}}
'''Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary''' is a collection of [[animal]]-related humorous short stories by [[David Sedaris]], a [[Grammy Award]]-nominated American humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor. The collection was published in the fall of 2010.
'''''Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary''''' (titled{{clarify|date=August 2016}} '''''Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Wicked Bestiary''''' outside the United States) is a collection of animal-themed humorous short stories by memoirist and humorist [[David Sedaris]]. The collection was published in September 2010.


Sedaris intentionally left names of the animals out as it may give a predisposition to opintion of the animals. Animals, also, don't need description. Sedaris said in an October 2010 interview with [[The Washington Post]], "If I wrote, 'Phillip and Amanda had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about', I would have to give you a whole description. But, everyone knows what a squirrel and a chipmunk look like. So, I wrote it as, 'The squirrel and the chipmunk had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about.'" At one point the title of the book was "Lets Study Diabetes With Owls"
Sedaris did not give the animals names, using only such names as 'chipmunk' and 'squirrel.' Animals, he said, don't need description. Sedaris said in an October 2010 interview with ''[[The Washington Post]]'',<blockquote>If I wrote, "Phillip and Amanda had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about", I would have to give you a whole description. But, everyone knows what a squirrel and a chipmunk look like. So, I wrote it as, "The squirrel and the chipmunk had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about."</blockquote>Sedaris was inspired after reading a book of stories from South African mythology about anthropomorphic animals. Believing he could do better with a modern twist, he wrote 25 stories over two years, with the aim to ensure a high quality book by cutting ten of the 25.<ref>Sedaris, Jonn. Interview on ''The Daily Show''. Comedy Central November 4th 2010.</ref>


==Chapters==
==Stories==
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
===The Cat and the Baboon===
# "The Cat and the Baboon"
Fable about gossip and the service industry. Read on This American Life Episode "That's Not What I Meant" °288 5/6/2005 <ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/288/not-what-i-meant] This American Life °288 5/6/2005</ref>
⚫
# "The Migrating Warblers"
# "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk"{{efn|Previously published as "So a Squirrel and a Chipmunk Walk into a Bar"{{when|date=June 2018}}{{where|date=June 2018}}}}
⚫
# "The Toad, The Turtle, and the Duck"
# "The Motherless Bear"{{efn|In the audio edition of the book, this story is read by actress/singer [[Elaine Stritch]].}}
⚫
# "The Mouse and the Snake"
⚫
# "The Parenting Storks"
⚫
# "The Faithful Setter"
⚫
# "The Crow and the Lamb"
# "The Sick Rat and the Healthy Rat"{{efn|Previously published as "The White Rat"{{when|date=June 2018}}{{where|date=June 2018}}}}
⚫
# "The Cow and the Turkey"
⚫
# "The Vigilant Rabbit"
⚫
# "The Judicious Brown Chicken"
⚫
# "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig"
⚫
# "Hello Kitty"
⚫
# "The Grieving Owl"
}}


⚫
===The Migrating Warblers===
===The Squirrel and the Chipmunk===
Also known as "so a squirrel and a chipmunk walk into a bar". Fable about a squirrel, a chipmunk, and a love that could never be. Read on This American Life episode "Star-Crossed Love" °308, Aired February 20, 2006 <ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/308/star-crossed-love] This American Life °308 2/10/2006</ref>


{{notelist}}
⚫
===The Toad, The Turtle, and the Duck===
===The Motherless Bear===
Audio version read by [[Elaine Stritch]]


⚫
===The Mouse and the Snake===
⚫
===The Parenting Storks===


Sedaris says that title character of "The Vigilant Rabbit" is based on an elderly [[Transportation Security Administration|TSA]] official who demanded that he remove his vest.
⚫
===The Faithful Setter===
⚫
===The Crow and the Lamb===
===The Sick Rat and the Healthy Rat===
Previously called "The White Rat". Read on This American Life Episode "Crybabies" °415 on September 24, 2010<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/415/crybabies] This American Life °415 9/24/2010</ref>


At least six of the stories have been read on ''[[This American Life]]'', a US radio program to which Sedaris has been a frequent contributor. These include: "The Cat and the Baboon", a [[fable]] about gossip and the service industry;<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/288/not-what-i-meant] This American Life °288, "That's Not What I Meant," 5/6/2005.</ref> "The Cow and the Turkey", in which barnyard animals play [[Secret Santa]];<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/305/the-this-american-life-holiday-spectacular] This American Life °305, "The ''This American Life'' Holiday Spectacular," 12/23/2005 (rebroadcast on 12/26/2010).</ref> "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk", a fable about a squirrel, a chipmunk, and a love that could never be;<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/308/star-crossed-love] This American Life °308, "Star-Crossed Love," 2/10/2006.</ref> "Hello Kitty", in which predators and prey meet in an [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] program in prison;<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/309/cat-and-mouse] This American Life °309, "Cat and Mouse," 2/24/2006.</ref> "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig", about finding happiness in spite of the others' expectations;<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/315/the-parrot-and-the-potbellied-pig] This American Life °315, "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig," 7/21/2006.</ref> and "The Sick Rat and the Healthy Rat", about the relationship between positive thinking and physical health.<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/415/crybabies] This American Life °415, "Crybabies," 9/24/2010.</ref>
⚫
===The Cow and the Turkey===
Barnyard animals decide to play "Secret Santa. Read on This American Life episode "The This American Life Holiday Spectacular" °305 December 23, 2005 <ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/305/the-this-american-life-holiday-spectacular] This American Life °305 12/23/2005</ref>


⚫
===The Vigilant Rabbit===
In 2010, Sedaris told various radio personalities, after traveling many cities on a book tour wearing a vest, an elderly TSA woman in an airport aggressively requested him to remove his vest, "I'm going to make you into a rabbit" he said.

⚫
===The Judicious Brown Chicken===
⚫
===The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig===
This story follows a parrot who works as a journalist for a newspaper titled ''The Eagle'' and a pig who took over as director of the city's art museum. The parrot first meets the pig when she interviews him at a restaurant. The parrot learns that he is a [[Vietnamese pot-bellied pig|Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig]]. Later that day, the parrot spoke to a [[Red-shouldered hawk|Red-Shouldered Hawk]] who was a [[Vietnam War]] veteran and found the pig's positon at the museum offensive to himself. The next day, the article was released and its headline, '''Potbellied Museum Director Stirs Controversy''' upset the pig (he didn't want to be refered to as "potbellied.") A while after the paper was released, the pig went on a long diet, losing ten pounds in the process. At a [[costume ball]] for the museum's benefit, he ran into the parrot again. She notices that he had lost weight since the last time she saw him. Apperently swooned by the pig's new appearence, she tells the pig that she's currently single and then offers him to dance with her. By the end of the story, it's evident that the parrot and the pig are now in a relationship. The story was read on Episode 315 of ''[[This American Life]]'' on July 21, 2006<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/315/the-parrot-and-the-potbellied-pig] This American Life°315 7/21/2006</ref>

⚫
===Hello Kitty===
A new story by David Sedaris about what happens when natural enemies meet in an Alcoholics Anonymous program in prison. Read on This American Life, episode "Cat and Mouse" °309 February 24, 2006<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/309/cat-and-mouse] This American Life °309 2/24/2006</ref>

⚫
===The Grieving Owl===
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}



⚫
[[Category:2010 books]]
{{David Sedaris}}

⚫
[[Category:2010 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:American essays]]
[[Category:American essays]]
[[Category:Works by David Sedaris]]
[[Category:Works by David Sedaris]]
[[Category:Little, Brown and Company books]]
[[Category:Fables]]

Latest revision as of 23:05, 10 August 2024

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary
First edition cover
AuthorDavid Sedaris
IllustratorIan Falconer
Cover artistIan Falconer
SpracheEnglisch
GenreEssay collection, Fiction
PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
Publication date
September 28, 2010
Publication placeVereinigte Staaten
Media typePrint (hardcover), audiobook
Pages176 pp (first edition, hardcover)
ISBN978-0-316-03839-3
Preceded byWhen You Are Engulfed in Flames 
Followed byLet's Explore Diabetes With Owls 

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (titled[clarification needed] Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Wicked Bestiary outside the United States) is a collection of animal-themed humorous short stories by memoirist and humorist David Sedaris. The collection was published in September 2010.

Sedaris did not give the animals names, using only such names as 'chipmunk' and 'squirrel.' Animals, he said, don't need description. Sedaris said in an October 2010 interview with The Washington Post,

If I wrote, "Phillip and Amanda had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about", I would have to give you a whole description. But, everyone knows what a squirrel and a chipmunk look like. So, I wrote it as, "The squirrel and the chipmunk had been dating for two weeks when they ran out of things to talk about."

Sedaris was inspired after reading a book of stories from South African mythology about anthropomorphic animals. Believing he could do better with a modern twist, he wrote 25 stories over two years, with the aim to ensure a high quality book by cutting ten of the 25.[1]

Stories

[edit]
  1. "The Cat and the Baboon"
  2. "The Migrating Warblers"
  3. "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk"[a]
  4. "The Toad, The Turtle, and the Duck"
  5. "The Motherless Bear"[b]
  6. "The Mouse and the Snake"
  7. "The Parenting Storks"
  8. "The Faithful Setter"
  9. "The Crow and the Lamb"
  10. "The Sick Rat and the Healthy Rat"[c]
  11. "The Cow and the Turkey"
  12. "The Vigilant Rabbit"
  13. "The Judicious Brown Chicken"
  14. "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig"
  15. "Hello Kitty"
  16. "The Grieving Owl"


  1. ^ Previously published as "So a Squirrel and a Chipmunk Walk into a Bar"[when?][where?]
  2. ^ In the audio edition of the book, this story is read by actress/singer Elaine Stritch.
  3. ^ Previously published as "The White Rat"[when?][where?]


Sedaris says that title character of "The Vigilant Rabbit" is based on an elderly TSA official who demanded that he remove his vest.

At least six of the stories have been read on This American Life, a US radio program to which Sedaris has been a frequent contributor. These include: "The Cat and the Baboon", a fable about gossip and the service industry;[2] "The Cow and the Turkey", in which barnyard animals play Secret Santa;[3] "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk", a fable about a squirrel, a chipmunk, and a love that could never be;[4] "Hello Kitty", in which predators and prey meet in an Alcoholics Anonymous program in prison;[5] "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig", about finding happiness in spite of the others' expectations;[6] and "The Sick Rat and the Healthy Rat", about the relationship between positive thinking and physical health.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sedaris, Jonn. Interview on The Daily Show. Comedy Central November 4th 2010.
  2. ^ [1] This American Life °288, "That's Not What I Meant," 5/6/2005.
  3. ^ [2] This American Life °305, "The This American Life Holiday Spectacular," 12/23/2005 (rebroadcast on 12/26/2010).
  4. ^ [3] This American Life °308, "Star-Crossed Love," 2/10/2006.
  5. ^ [4] This American Life °309, "Cat and Mouse," 2/24/2006.
  6. ^ [5] This American Life °315, "The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig," 7/21/2006.
  7. ^ [6] This American Life °415, "Crybabies," 9/24/2010.


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