Author: Amy Sedaris
Publisher: Warner
Pages: 304
Price: $27.99
Is Amy Sedaris a party expert?
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"No! I do the same thing over and over again," says the comedian, actress, little sister of best-selling storyteller David Sedaris and author of a kooky new book, "I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence" (Warner, $27.99). "The only reason my book is in chapters is because I just thought those would be challenging situations for a hostess."
Each chapter -- "A Rich Uncle Comes to Visit," "Grieving," "The Out of Town Guest" -- comes with tips, recipes and Sedaris-style suggestions for successful entertaining.
Those attending a wake, for example, should not ask if the deceased smoked or was drinking at the time of death.
Out-of-town guests should not only offer to set the table but also rake leaves, wash windows and paint baseboards.
Sedaris is not quite famous, not quite nobody. She starred in "Strangers With Candy" as the freaky Jerri Blank, the oddly sympathetic former drug addict who returns to high school in middle age. She was in "Elf" and "School of Rock" and played Carrie Bradshaw's publisher on "Sex and the City." She sells cheese balls and cupcakes that she makes in her West Village kitchen. She's a regular on David Letterman's show.
"I don't think of myself as a famous person," she says. "I don't get stopped on the street. I don't endorse products. The telephone's not ringing off the hook. It's great, but I don't know if I'd attach the word famous to it."
Her book is filled with not-so-subtle references to pot smoking. Thus, the "under the influence" portion of its title. Designer Todd Oldham took many of the photos, and other friends helped put the book together over 18 months. It's loaded with visuals reminiscent of a vintage cookbook, a kitsch-filled thrift store and your college party pics. It was photographed in Sedaris' apartment.
Buy this book for instructions on making a plant hanger out of pantyhose, or if you like the sound of the following pumpkin pie recipe: "Directions are on back of can of pumpkin."
