Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris is a bit different from the other books we’ve read so far for The Bestseller Code 100 Challenge. For that reason, this review is also going to be a change of pace.
This post contains spoilers.
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
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Summary: This small book is a collection of short, fable-like stories featuring anthropomorphic animals. Regardless of the format, these are most definitely not tales for children.
Rather than reviewing every short story in the book, I thought I’d pick out one and delve into it more deeply.
The Mouse and the Snake
Number six out of a total of sixteen stories, this fable featured a mouse who kept a baby corn snake as a pet. She adopted the snake when she saw it hatching from an egg. Over time, the mouse became extremely attached to it, even to the point where she began to shun other relationships. She justified bringing home baby toads for it to eat, and lied about the mole she’d captured. One day a mother toad and mother mole stopped by looking for their offspring, but no one answered the door. Just as well, because the snake had eaten its mouse benefactor and would have eaten the two of them as well if it had the opportunity.
Like most of the short stories in the book, this one has a dark edginess. Bad things happen. It may be that Sedaris choose to feature animals as characters to give some distance and perspective to the events, but they are still hard to swallow (sorry).
Each of these stories has layers of meaning. For example, we could interpret the love of the mouse for the snake to represent a bad relationship, when we love people who aren’t good for us. These unhealthy relationships can make us do terrible things and aren’t likely to end well.
You could also interpret the snake to mean a destructive habit, like drug use or alcoholism. Drug or alcohol abuse can make a person do things they wouldn’t normally do, and the addict can’t always see the harm of their actions. Sometimes the addiction (snake) wins.
Although it isn’t a pleasant book to read, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is complex and at times profound. Each story is short and quick, but the collection is likely to stay with you long after you finish.
Have you read Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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What are we reading next?
If you ever have questions about what we are reading next or when we’re starting the next discussion, check the 100 Book List tab in the navigation bar at the top of the blog. Links in the list go to the landing page from this blog where the discussion starts. However, this is an open-ended challenge so feel free to jump in with any of the books at any time after the discussion starts.
77. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (2013) – Discussion begins September 18, 2017
Genre: Historical fiction
Or it could be a commentary on the stupidity of people who treat their pets like people – dressing them up in clothes, treating them as though they were human – not understanding that those pets are still semi-wild (or completely wild in some cases) and could revert to their natural instincts at any time. Anyone who keeps a boa constrictor for a pet and can sleep easily at night is not in their right mind!
Yes, it could mean that, too. So many different interpretations are possible. It would be interesting to know what was in his head when he wrote it.