That Sample Chapter Thing
Courtesy of the New York Times, you can read the first chapter of David Sedaris' new collection, 'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim':
WHEN MY FAMILY FIRST MOVED to North Carolina, we lived in a rented house three blocks from the school where I would begin the third grade. My mother made friends with one of the neighbors, but one seemed enough for her. Within a year we would move again and, as she explained, there wasn't much point in getting too close to people we would have to say goodbye to. Our next house was less than a mile away, and the short journey would hardly merit tears or even good-byes, for that matter. It was more of a "see you later" situation, but still I adopted my mother's attitude, as it allowed me to pretend that not making friends was a conscious choice. I could if I wanted to. It just wasn't the right time.
Or, if you've already read the entire book, you can join the discussion at one of the sites listed at AllConsuming.net. Still haven't bought it myself, and after seeing Jessa Crispin's mention ("I read the first half of the book and realized I had yet to laugh."), it's not at the very top of the list.
Not that I have a list. I just sort-of make it up as I go along.