David Sedaris spoke to a nearly sold-out crowd on Nov. 19 in Cordiner Auditorium. Sedaris was brought in by Main Street Studios in cooperation with Northwest Public Radio and Barnes and Noble.

Sedaris read three essays about his family, his height, and people who insist on pronouncing foreign words like natives. A North Carolina native who now lives in England, Sedaris poked fun at himself and living in a foreign country.

At the end of his lecture, Sedaris plugged This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. Sedaris praised Patchett’s writing and storytelling.

“I’m not upset that I can’t write like her,” said Sedaris. “I’m just happy that someone out there can write like her. It doesn’t have to be me.”

Sedaris also spoke about the Love Hope Strength organization that helps pair bone marrow matches. Sedaris is a spokesperson for the organization and encouraged all those who could donate, to do so.

Sedaris is one of the many artists coming to town via Main Street Studios. For more information, please check the Main Street Studios events calendar.

Audience members mill around the foyer of Cordiner Auditorium before a reading by essayist David Sedaris on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Photo by Halley McCormick.