Fri. Nov. 2

Several years ago, I had the good fortune to have lunch with David Sedaris and found him as witty and charming as audiences on tv, radio and live have. Or perhaps I should say as his readers have, with the humorist and Grammy nominee is perhaps best known for his books ("Me Talk Funny One Day") his New Yorker pieces (about the quasi-comic travails of being an American in France). But Sedaris translates his writings into readings - he's one of the few to do so on "Letterman" - and quite effectively. It's not performance, per se. You just love following the man's Southern inflections and thought processes, played out in front of you. It's gentle, occasionally acerbic, ultimately bonding stuff, that makes you feel a little more part of the dysfunctional human race. Sedaris accepts this position with grace and some dignity. We're all messed up to some degree and he tries to explain and understand. Sedaris reads and handles a Q and A session Friday Nov. 2 at Symphony Hall. The promoters, the Celebrity Series, say there are few tickets left, so act soon or head to the ticket agencies for the, eh, slightly more inflated charges you'll find there. Starts at 8. Tickets $35-$30.

301 Massachussetts Ave., 617-482-6661 www.celebrityseries.org