David Sedaris presents 'The Land and Its People: Essays'

Third Place Books welcomes beloved humorist David Sedaris to our Lake Forest Park store for a conversation about his new book, . From purchasing a bespoke priest's cassock in Vatican City to caring for his boyfriend after hip surgery, from daring a dear friend friend to methodically eat a truck tire to lauding the virtues of a well-made pair of underpants, Sedaris explores the strangeness and joy of observation.
What you need to know:

• All tickets come with a copy of The Land and Its People.
• No photos or videos allowed.
• Be prepared for a long night! David's public signings are legendary, and they frequently run for several hours. He will stay until the very last book is signed, and he likes to spend time with everyone in line. Signing line priority will be given in the order in which guests check in night-of. Check-in will open at 5:00pm. Please contact us at [email protected] any accessibility inquiries.
• Tickets must be purchased through Eventbrite. Pre-ordering the featured book will not grant you access to the event.
• If you are unable to attend the event, your book will be placed on hold at our Lake Forest Park store. You may request to have your book transferred to our Ravenna or Seward Park neighborhood stores.
• Please note we cannot guarantee signed copies will be available to ticket holders who do not attend the event.

Copies of The Land and its People and other books by David Sedaris will be available for purchase at the store.

Having trouble registering? See Eventbrite's troubleshooting FAQ here.

In The Land and Its People, his collection following Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris reflects on what it means to be a foreigner, a brother, a lifelong friend.
He tries on the role of caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh’s hip-replacement surgery, and both succeeds and fails. He buys his sister a cape and discusses his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot. He walks dozens of miles with his friend Dawn and challenges her to eat a truck tire. Ever adding to his list of “Countries I Have Been To,” he rides a horse named Tequila in Guatemala, buys a bespoke priest’s cassock in Vatican City, and goes on safari in Kenya without taking a single photo.
There is sadness here—scrolling through his address book, he realizes how many dear friends are now deceased—but also delight: he revels in authors’ biographies, the malapropism that becomes a decades-long inside joke, and pair of well-made cotton underpants. He is bitten by a dog. A train passenger vomits in his face. A woman on the street late at night either sexually harasses him or doesn’t. Look how hard it is to be alive!
Throughout these essays—at once acerbic and tender, playful and profound—Sedaris shows how much there is to marvel at when you keep your head up and your eyes open, observing with warmth and curiosity this fascinating human species and the lands we inhabit.

David Sedaris is the author of fifteen previous books, including Happy-Go-Lucky, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and Me Talk Pretty One Day. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and BBC Radio 4. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, the Jonathan Swift Prize for Satire and Humor, and the Terry Southern Prize for Humor. (Photo credit: Anne Fishbein)

Founded in 1998 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, Third Place Books is dedicated to the creation of a community around books and the ideas inside them. With locations in Lake Forest Park and Seattle's Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, Third Place Books is proud to serve the entire Seattle metro area. Learn more about their event series at thirdplacebooks.com/events.

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