Calypso

Some amusing anecdotes but overall not that funny and lots of time spent on mundane activities.

Can't really relate to some of his generalizations about how horrible some groups of people are either.

Calypso was a difficult book for me to get through. I'm aware that it got rave reviews I did not see any humor in the story just a middle aged man struggling with the loss of his youth and relationships. I wanted to tell him " get a life, see a shrink and take Zoloft."

I really did not like this book. It appears to be a series of columns or articles. There is nothing funny in this book. My bookclub read this and only one person liked it. My biggest regret is that I had to spend money on this thing and give the author the belief that he is popular. SAD

Very disappointed with this book. It got good reviews and was billed as a thoughtful and humorous view on life after 50. Got 25% through and did not find any humour - just bland and uninteresting stories. They weren't even insightful. I also found the writer's voice to be somewhat arrogant.
Cannot recommend.

Calypso by David Sedaris is a very highly recommended collection of 21 darkly humorous, yet touching, essays. This may be the best book by Sedaris yet.

David Sedaris has always had a keen eye for details and the absurd while observing the world with a cynical, but honest, eye. In these stories he focuses more on mortality and death, while simultaneously showing the love and devotion he has for Hugh and his family. The discussions between David and his sisters are both hilarious and insightful. While I can generally mention some topics covered in the essays, Sedaris smoothly segues from one topic to another. This is a memorable collection

Contents:
Company Man: One of perks to middle age is that, "with luck, you'll acquire a guest room."
Now We Are Five: How David and his siblings are handling the suicide of their youngest sister, Tiffany. Also buying a beach house he and Hugh named the Sea Section.
Little Guy: Reflections on being a short man. "I’m not one of those short men who feels he got shafted."
Stepping Out: David discusses his Fitbit obsession.
A House Divided: Reflections on class, and Tiffany embracing poverty as an accomplishment.
The Perfect Fit: "I’m not sure how it is in small families, but in large ones relationships tend to shift over time." And shopping with his sisters.
Leviathan: Sedaris contemplates how people become crazy in two ways: animals and diet, and he discusses feeding the wild turtles near their beach house.
Your English Is So Good: Using a language instruction course doesn't necessarily help you with context or commonly used phrases.
Calypso: America and the spread of information through TV news, along with pictures in wood grain and health concerns, including his desire to feed his tumor to a turtle.
A Modest Proposal: Gay marriage and proposing to Hugh.
The Silent Treatment: His father's inability to have meaningful discussions and growing up with him.
Untamed: A wild fox they named Carol.
The One(s) Who Got Away: David asks Hugh about previous partners.
Sorry: "Whenever I doubt the wisdom of buying a beach house, all I have to do is play a round of Sorry! and it all seems worth it."
Boo-Hooey: Sedaris can’t stand people talking about ghosts, but he does believe they can visit you in your dreams.
A Number of Reasons I’ve Been Depressed Lately: A self-explanatory list.
Why Aren’t You Laughing?: Sedaris discusses his mother's alcoholism.
I’m Still Standing: Having embarrassing accidents in public on airplanes.
The Spirit World: Amy and a psychic
And While You’re Up There, Check on My Prostate: A discussion of what angry drivers yell at other drivers.
The Comey Memo: Jim Comey was staying at an area beach house and their father's declining abilities.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Little, Brown and Company

In this book we find a matured David Sedaris has developed from his usual snarky gay man personae into an older and wiser snarky gay man. He is, at the core, an observer of mankind. Not in an anthropological way like Margaret Mead or David Attenborough but more like a modern day Will Rogers. In this book we find his bon mots have lost some of their prickly edge. He addresses the loss of his sister Tiffany to suicide and his mother’s death by alcohol. He reminisces the sound of her dropping ice into a glass “like a trigger being cocked.” Even hard-headed dad who has been so relevant in most of his former books is now showing signs of unpredictable behavior. He’s no longer the curmudgeon he once was.

I do not mean to suggest that this is in any way a breach from the wildly entertaining writing we’ve come to expect and enjoy from Sedaris. He’s still spot on and we get to ride the David train to all his odd and entertaining stations. Chapter by chapter we are treated to actual out-loud laughs. He brags about the acquisition of a guest room, the true signal that you’ve entered middle age, in fact he has two.

Do you know how tall Rock Hudson was? You will after reading this book. How about your friends? As you get older have they become animal crazy or diet crazy. Sedaris’s observations of his family is pitch perfect and so amusing. He laments about a growth he had to have removed by a sort-of doc so he could take it home for a purpose we’ll not go into here. We are treated to descriptions of his summer home on the Carolina coast he’s dubbed Sea-Section where he and his siblings gather and banter and amuse and annoy each other as they have done in so many other of his books. And Hugh, long suffering Hugh. After almost 30 years together he’s asked to enumerate his partners prior to David.

This book is classic Sedaris. But maybe one with a sharper edge to his humor because now he has, literally, looked into the face of death. This is a review of the audio version of this book read by the author. A real treat.

Good read for college professors, orthodox liberals, or anyone who considered George Carlin or Bill Maher to be funny. Excelsior! (the store required one more to post this review, so I chose to channel Al Gore).

I loved this book – far different from others I’ve read (and I’ve read them all) from Sedaris, this series of essays from the now 60-ish man are poignant, funny, shocking, angry, sentimental, and illustrative. My first introduction to his work was in a story told on NPR radio in which he is ‘Crumpet the Elf’ in a Christmas Santa display. Quickly, he became a storyteller favorite, as this one seasonal job is a favorite of listeners and exposes the ‘dark underbelly’ of all that joy and tinsel. Now several years later, the middle-aged Sedaris is back: reminiscing about family, relationships, people and even his fitbit in Calypso.

It’s a collection that gradually tightens its hold on your attention and heart: like a boa, it starts with the joys of the ‘spare room’, dedicated and used ONLY for guests with a luggage rack, real bed and en suite. Or, the ‘second’ guest room, upstairs, with a bathtub rather than a shower. A sign of being a ‘real grownup’ and with that frisson of “middle-aged satisfaction’, it is instantly clear that this series of stories is of the now – the changes as age creeps up, attitudes change and a dedicated guest room becomes a symbol that epitomizes arrival at that nebulous point of “success’. Of course, this leads to ‘proper behavior’ for the hosting couple: from choreographed displays of support and affection through reaction to oft-told stories, ‘who’ is responsible for and to the quests (His, Yours or Ours), the quirks of family and behavior (just walking out when the conversation / story isn’’t engaging, not saying goodnight, entering in the middle of a story), and every moment is eay to visualize, imagine and wonder about. From here – the stories range from questions you WANT to ask a stranger – mostly to get a reaction, but perhaps because you are a bit curious, to the words that should be banned evermore and never pass your lips, their banality and overuse make them nonsense platitudes, especially in the service industry.

Much time is spent reminiscing and discussing his sister’s suicide, his mother’s death (in 1991 but still rippling through the family), his aging father and the oddly transformative relationships that are had with siblings – the changes as they move from shared interests to shared mocking, sorrows, questions and simple proximity. Relationships and people are explored and discussed: shopping (endlessly) in Japan and the odd things brought home, his obsession with his ‘steps’ and fitbit, worn just under his Apple watch which also cues activity: stand, sit, walk. His collection of badges for steps, and his routine of cleaning the roads near his Sussex home, getting in those 7 miles (or so) of steps.

Relationships are heavily featured here: from passing interactions with cashiers and those coming to book signings, to his attempts to ‘bring everyone together’ at the shore house – for everyone but I get final say on decoration: he’s got a pinch of grumpy old man competing with an often mischievous little boy - prone to inappropriate but highly interesting questions for strangers and a slight judgmental remove when the questioned turns out to be just as expected – confused, slow and perhaps a bit aghast. His relationship with Hugh, now some twenty years on, is lovingly exasperated: they are so different yet accepting of those differences, the changes, the struggles and even his ‘permanent engagement, suggested by the accountant for tax purposes – with few intentions of an actual wedding – the overdone, boring and often all for show ceremony of marriage that people have been subjected to for ages. It’s not that he didn’t believe in the right to marry – he’d actually hoped that upon gaining the right (and completely sending the right into a tizzy) that everyone would rejoice in the ability – but not join the industry….

That’s where the beauty and joy of the observations and these stories reveal themselves. It’s a conversation, admittedly with one person monopolizing all the speaking time, but a conversation that has you comparing your thoughts, experiences and outlook to another person –and finding some common points in the humanity, the desire to connect and the equally strong desire to remain aloof and outside the drama, even as you are framing it within your own views of the world as it exists now, and how different that is from what you did, or could imagine. Sedaris has a knack of making you care about those moments that have become automatic, reacted to rather than planned for, the orchestrated interactions that never quite follow the sheet music as something or someone is consistently out of tune, and the need to move forward: being aware and adjusting as things come up, never forgetting to ask the unexpected question. I loved this (and other) books by Sedaris – the humanity that never quite loses that snarky, sarcastic and often spot-on observations make him a storyteller for these ages –

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

After very much not enjoying Theft by Finding, to the extent that I quit the (unlistenable) audiobook partway through and returned it for a refund, I'm happy to say that I'm a Sedaris Believer once again. And more so.
If I had to say where he won me back, I'd say it was the first line of, "Now We Are Five" (the second chapter) which begins, "In late May of this year, a few weeks shy of her fiftieth birthday, my youngest sister, Tiffany, committed suicide."

These stories are more honest, personal and in some cases physical, than some of Sedaris's previous material. Don't pick it up if you don't want to find out how some of his more private regions are faring through his sixth decade of life. But the message here -- galvanized by Tiffany's suicide -- shines through if anything more clearly than in his previous books: family is precious and fleeting, enjoy them while you can.

Of course, this being Sedaris, we're also treated to gentle doses of the hilarity that also comes right along with having family. I adore the way he can write about his father in a way that's both tender and also brutally, hilariously honest. If you've read and enjoyed any of Sedaris's previous books of essays and wanted to touch base and see how all the characters you came to love there are doing now and coping with the twenty-first century, this is a book you won't want to miss.

As with his other essay collections, I strongly recommend investing in the audiobook version. You'll get the words in the book form, but the audiobook also gives you Sedaris's unique voice and a ton of heart. Better yet, get both so you can share them with friends or (as I'm sure I'll want to do) pass them on to your own family to let them know how very loved they are.

Calypso by David Sedaris takes you on an entertaining romp through David Sedaris' mind. His wit and humor is dark yet charming as he records his observations on life, vacations, and family. 

Confession: this was my first David Sedaris book! Though after reading Calpyso, it won't be my last. I read this book in a day, and if not for kids, I could have read Calpyso in a single sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed Sedaris' observations on life, and his quirky way of delivering his stories. I think what I like most about David Sedaris is that he knows himself well. He doesn't make excuses for who he is, and he's unapologetic as he relays his tales--imperfections and all. 

Calpyso was beautifully written. The stories are short enough to keep you interested but long enough to provide insight into Sedaris' life. Each story features a different facet of his life: his family, his partner, his work, his vacation home, his pet fox . . . Each story is different, but the book feels cohesive. I appreciated the variety within the general theme of the book. 

The pacing of Calpyso is swift. This book is a page-turner! I couldn't chew through the pages quickly enough. I wanted to hear more about his family--his delightful siblings and understanding partner. I was never disappointed.

My favorite stories were "Untamed" and "I'm Still Standing"--for different reasons. "Untamed" is the charming story of Sedaris' fox. Reading it made me want a fox of my own, minus the logistics (would our home owner's association approve of a pet fox?) And then there's "I'm Still Standing." This story was absolutely hilarious, but at the same time terrifying. Read that story and put yourself in his shoes! Yikes! Better him than me. My stomach is upset just thinking about it. 

While there was a lot of fun and laughs in Calpyso, there were also some serious discussions. Reading about Sedaris' wayward sister, for example, was hard to read. It's a good reminder that mental illness doesn't discriminate and can strike any family. 

If you're in the mood for a nonfiction read but aren't sure where to get started, this might be the book for you! It's perfect for a day at the beach or a cozy night at home. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A new book from David Sedaris is always cause for celebration. Fans count down the days to its publication like children eagerly awaiting Christmas. In his latest outing, CALYPSO, he trenchantly tackles the mundane and the mortal, the ephemeral and the all-too-real, all with his trademark acerbic humor. Sedaris is known for his astute dispatches about his life, travels and observations. He talks about life in the English countryside and his recent embrace of technology, especially when it comes to his Fitbit. But as usual, it’s his essays about his family that really packs the emotional punch.

Sedaris, now 61, reflects on the corollaries of time on himself as well as his siblings: “It’s not like we don’t see it now. We’re not pessimists, exactly, but in late middle age, when you envision your life ten years down the line, you’re more likely to see a bedpan than a Tony Award.” He keenly observes the differences in his 95-year-old father, the difficulty in finding safe topics to discuss, and the looming specter of time (or lack thereof) hanging over each interaction: “…The silence my father and I inflicted on each other back then is now exacerbated by his advanced age. Every time I see him could be the last, and the pressure I feel to make our conversation meaningful paralyzes me.”

In many of these essays, Sedaris demonstrates how time and maturity can alter certain memories, sometimes softening them, and bringing others into clearer focus, especially with his mother’s alcoholism. In “Why Aren’t You Laughing?” he segues from talking about his love of the TV show “Intervention” to his realization about his mother’s drinking: “It’s a hard word to use for someone you love, and so my family avoided it. Rather, we’d whisper, among ourselves, that mom ‘had a problem,’ and that she ‘could stand to cut back’…. I think my mother was lonely without her children --- her fan club. But I think she drank because she was an alcoholic.” Not one to give credence to stories about ghosts (see essays “Boo-Hooey” and “The Spirit World”), Sedaris admits that his mom’s drinking had turned his family’s home into a metaphoric haunted house: “It was like the ‘Addams Family’ house, which would have been fine had it still been merry, but it wasn’t anymore. Our mother became the living ghost that haunted it, gaunt now and rattling ice cubes instead of chains.”

But Sedaris realizes, in the wake of his mother’s death from cancer in 1991, that she was still the glue that kept their family intact. In an effort to see his father and siblings more regularly, he and his partner, Hugh, decide to invest in a vacation home on Emerald Isle off the coast of North Carolina, where he used to go on family vacations as a child. Driving with his father and Hugh, they pass a condo complex where they had stayed during the 1980s.

“Hey, [his father] said, ‘that’s where we used to go when we were a family.”

“Well, aren’t you still a family?” Hugh asked.

“I meant when Sharon was alive.”

“Though I hated hearing him say that, I couldn’t deny the truth of it. Our mother was the one who held us all together. After her death we were like a fistful of damp soil, loose bits breaking off with no one to press them back in.” So, in the name of family, they bought this house, which they name the “Sea Section.”

But the essays that are the most heart-wrenching are the ones that deal with Sedaris’ younger sister, Tiffany, who committed suicide in 2013 (“Now We Are Five,” “A House Divided” and, especially, “The Spirit World”). After years of sporadic contact, he hadn’t seen Tiffany in seven years, and had a hard time imagining keeping that kind of distance between himself and his family: “How could anyone purposefully leave us --- us, of all people? This is how I thought of it, for though I’ve often lost faith in myself, I’ve never lost faith in my family, in my certainty that we are fundamentally better than everyone else. It’s an archaic belief, one I haven’t seriously reconsidered since my late teens, but still I hold it. Ours is the only club I’d ever wanted to be a member of, so I couldn’t imagine quitting.”

In “The Spirit World,” his sister, actress Amy Sedaris, relates the information gleaned from a visit with a psychic, where she was told that Tiffany is fine and isn’t mad at her brother anymore: “Perhaps, like the psychic, they were just telling me what I needed to hear, something to ease my conscience and make me feel that underneath it all I’m no different from anyone else. They’ve always done that for me, my family. It’s what keeps me coming back.”

In this 10th outing, we see Sedaris’ most mature, most raw, perhaps even more “naked” than NAKED work. It’s these profound, barbed observations, these accounts from the ridiculous to the sublime, that keep us coming back.

Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

I really like this new book by David Sedaris because he writes about a diversity of subjects. I admire his dedication to fitness. He spends an entire chapter writing about using his Fit Bit and walking 60,000 steps. This is an incredible feat and one that I hope to accomplish someday. I admire his dedication in learning how to speak the Japanese language. I am part Japanese, and I don't even know how to speak the language. Reaching about his experiences about learning Japanese motivates me to learn how to speak it. He also writes about his love of shopping for shorts and hats in Tokyo. He makes Tokyo sound like an enjoyable place to visit which it is. I like the chapter where he writes his experiences with same sex marriage. I found it interesting that his boyfriend Hugh refuses to marry him even though that same sex marriage is now legal in England where he now lives. I like how David and Hugh refuse to put the label their union with the word marriage. He writes openly about the loss of his youngest sister Tiffany to suicide. This is very beautiful chapter and very moving. This chapter reminds me to try to always be on good terms with my own sister because I never know what might happen to her. Sedaris also writes about his brother Paul who lost over sixty pounds on a liquid juice diet. I found this fact to be amazing and wish I could do that. David Sedaris also loves turtles. I never thought of turtles as interesting animals. I want to observe some turtles to find out what makes them fascinating. I really enjoy reading this book.

I really did not like this book. It appears to be a series of columns or articles. There is nothing funny in this book. My bookclub read this and only one person liked it. My biggest regret is that I had to spend money on this thing and give the author the belief that he is popular. SAD

Very disappointed with this book. It got good reviews and was billed as a thoughtful and humorous view on life after 50. Got 25% through and did not find any humour - just bland and uninteresting stories. They weren't even insightful. I also found the writer's voice to be somewhat arrogant.
Cannot recommend.

Calypso by David Sedaris is a very highly recommended collection of 21 darkly humorous, yet touching, essays. This may be the best book by Sedaris yet.

David Sedaris has always had a keen eye for details and the absurd while observing the world with a cynical, but honest, eye. In these stories he focuses more on mortality and death, while simultaneously showing the love and devotion he has for Hugh and his family. The discussions between David and his sisters are both hilarious and insightful. While I can generally mention some topics covered in the essays, Sedaris smoothly segues from one topic to another. This is a memorable collection

Contents:
Company Man: One of perks to middle age is that, "with luck, you'll acquire a guest room."
Now We Are Five: How David and his siblings are handling the suicide of their youngest sister, Tiffany. Also buying a beach house he and Hugh named the Sea Section.
Little Guy: Reflections on being a short man. "I’m not one of those short men who feels he got shafted."
Stepping Out: David discusses his Fitbit obsession.
A House Divided: Reflections on class, and Tiffany embracing poverty as an accomplishment.
The Perfect Fit: "I’m not sure how it is in small families, but in large ones relationships tend to shift over time." And shopping with his sisters.
Leviathan: Sedaris contemplates how people become crazy in two ways: animals and diet, and he discusses feeding the wild turtles near their beach house.
Your English Is So Good: Using a language instruction course doesn't necessarily help you with context or commonly used phrases.
Calypso: America and the spread of information through TV news, along with pictures in wood grain and health concerns, including his desire to feed his tumor to a turtle.
A Modest Proposal: Gay marriage and proposing to Hugh.
The Silent Treatment: His father's inability to have meaningful discussions and growing up with him.
Untamed: A wild fox they named Carol.
The One(s) Who Got Away: David asks Hugh about previous partners.
Sorry: "Whenever I doubt the wisdom of buying a beach house, all I have to do is play a round of Sorry! and it all seems worth it."
Boo-Hooey: Sedaris can’t stand people talking about ghosts, but he does believe they can visit you in your dreams.
A Number of Reasons I’ve Been Depressed Lately: A self-explanatory list.
Why Aren’t You Laughing?: Sedaris discusses his mother's alcoholism.
I’m Still Standing: Having embarrassing accidents in public on airplanes.
The Spirit World: Amy and a psychic
And While You’re Up There, Check on My Prostate: A discussion of what angry drivers yell at other drivers.
The Comey Memo: Jim Comey was staying at an area beach house and their father's declining abilities.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Little, Brown and Company

In this book we find a matured David Sedaris has developed from his usual snarky gay man personae into an older and wiser snarky gay man. He is, at the core, an observer of mankind. Not in an anthropological way like Margaret Mead or David Attenborough but more like a modern day Will Rogers. In this book we find his bon mots have lost some of their prickly edge. He addresses the loss of his sister Tiffany to suicide and his mother’s death by alcohol. He reminisces the sound of her dropping ice into a glass “like a trigger being cocked.” Even hard-headed dad who has been so relevant in most of his former books is now showing signs of unpredictable behavior. He’s no longer the curmudgeon he once was.

I do not mean to suggest that this is in any way a breach from the wildly entertaining writing we’ve come to expect and enjoy from Sedaris. He’s still spot on and we get to ride the David train to all his odd and entertaining stations. Chapter by chapter we are treated to actual out-loud laughs. He brags about the acquisition of a guest room, the true signal that you’ve entered middle age, in fact he has two.

Do you know how tall Rock Hudson was? You will after reading this book. How about your friends? As you get older have they become animal crazy or diet crazy. Sedaris’s observations of his family is pitch perfect and so amusing. He laments about a growth he had to have removed by a sort-of doc so he could take it home for a purpose we’ll not go into here. We are treated to descriptions of his summer home on the Carolina coast he’s dubbed Sea-Section where he and his siblings gather and banter and amuse and annoy each other as they have done in so many other of his books. And Hugh, long suffering Hugh. After almost 30 years together he’s asked to enumerate his partners prior to David.

This book is classic Sedaris. But maybe one with a sharper edge to his humor because now he has, literally, looked into the face of death. This is a review of the audio version of this book read by the author. A real treat.

Good read for college professors, orthodox liberals, or anyone who considered George Carlin or Bill Maher to be funny. Excelsior! (the store required one more to post this review, so I chose to channel Al Gore).

I loved this book – far different from others I’ve read (and I’ve read them all) from Sedaris, this series of essays from the now 60-ish man are poignant, funny, shocking, angry, sentimental, and illustrative. My first introduction to his work was in a story told on NPR radio in which he is ‘Crumpet the Elf’ in a Christmas Santa display. Quickly, he became a storyteller favorite, as this one seasonal job is a favorite of listeners and exposes the ‘dark underbelly’ of all that joy and tinsel. Now several years later, the middle-aged Sedaris is back: reminiscing about family, relationships, people and even his fitbit in Calypso.

It’s a collection that gradually tightens its hold on your attention and heart: like a boa, it starts with the joys of the ‘spare room’, dedicated and used ONLY for guests with a luggage rack, real bed and en suite. Or, the ‘second’ guest room, upstairs, with a bathtub rather than a shower. A sign of being a ‘real grownup’ and with that frisson of “middle-aged satisfaction’, it is instantly clear that this series of stories is of the now – the changes as age creeps up, attitudes change and a dedicated guest room becomes a symbol that epitomizes arrival at that nebulous point of “success’. Of course, this leads to ‘proper behavior’ for the hosting couple: from choreographed displays of support and affection through reaction to oft-told stories, ‘who’ is responsible for and to the quests (His, Yours or Ours), the quirks of family and behavior (just walking out when the conversation / story isn’’t engaging, not saying goodnight, entering in the middle of a story), and every moment is eay to visualize, imagine and wonder about. From here – the stories range from questions you WANT to ask a stranger – mostly to get a reaction, but perhaps because you are a bit curious, to the words that should be banned evermore and never pass your lips, their banality and overuse make them nonsense platitudes, especially in the service industry.

Much time is spent reminiscing and discussing his sister’s suicide, his mother’s death (in 1991 but still rippling through the family), his aging father and the oddly transformative relationships that are had with siblings – the changes as they move from shared interests to shared mocking, sorrows, questions and simple proximity. Relationships and people are explored and discussed: shopping (endlessly) in Japan and the odd things brought home, his obsession with his ‘steps’ and fitbit, worn just under his Apple watch which also cues activity: stand, sit, walk. His collection of badges for steps, and his routine of cleaning the roads near his Sussex home, getting in those 7 miles (or so) of steps.

Relationships are heavily featured here: from passing interactions with cashiers and those coming to book signings, to his attempts to ‘bring everyone together’ at the shore house – for everyone but I get final say on decoration: he’s got a pinch of grumpy old man competing with an often mischievous little boy - prone to inappropriate but highly interesting questions for strangers and a slight judgmental remove when the questioned turns out to be just as expected – confused, slow and perhaps a bit aghast. His relationship with Hugh, now some twenty years on, is lovingly exasperated: they are so different yet accepting of those differences, the changes, the struggles and even his ‘permanent engagement, suggested by the accountant for tax purposes – with few intentions of an actual wedding – the overdone, boring and often all for show ceremony of marriage that people have been subjected to for ages. It’s not that he didn’t believe in the right to marry – he’d actually hoped that upon gaining the right (and completely sending the right into a tizzy) that everyone would rejoice in the ability – but not join the industry….

That’s where the beauty and joy of the observations and these stories reveal themselves. It’s a conversation, admittedly with one person monopolizing all the speaking time, but a conversation that has you comparing your thoughts, experiences and outlook to another person –and finding some common points in the humanity, the desire to connect and the equally strong desire to remain aloof and outside the drama, even as you are framing it within your own views of the world as it exists now, and how different that is from what you did, or could imagine. Sedaris has a knack of making you care about those moments that have become automatic, reacted to rather than planned for, the orchestrated interactions that never quite follow the sheet music as something or someone is consistently out of tune, and the need to move forward: being aware and adjusting as things come up, never forgetting to ask the unexpected question. I loved this (and other) books by Sedaris – the humanity that never quite loses that snarky, sarcastic and often spot-on observations make him a storyteller for these ages –

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

After very much not enjoying Theft by Finding, to the extent that I quit the (unlistenable) audiobook partway through and returned it for a refund, I'm happy to say that I'm a Sedaris Believer once again. And more so.
If I had to say where he won me back, I'd say it was the first line of, "Now We Are Five" (the second chapter) which begins, "In late May of this year, a few weeks shy of her fiftieth birthday, my youngest sister, Tiffany, committed suicide."

These stories are more honest, personal and in some cases physical, than some of Sedaris's previous material. Don't pick it up if you don't want to find out how some of his more private regions are faring through his sixth decade of life. But the message here -- galvanized by Tiffany's suicide -- shines through if anything more clearly than in his previous books: family is precious and fleeting, enjoy them while you can.

Of course, this being Sedaris, we're also treated to gentle doses of the hilarity that also comes right along with having family. I adore the way he can write about his father in a way that's both tender and also brutally, hilariously honest. If you've read and enjoyed any of Sedaris's previous books of essays and wanted to touch base and see how all the characters you came to love there are doing now and coping with the twenty-first century, this is a book you won't want to miss.

As with his other essay collections, I strongly recommend investing in the audiobook version. You'll get the words in the book form, but the audiobook also gives you Sedaris's unique voice and a ton of heart. Better yet, get both so you can share them with friends or (as I'm sure I'll want to do) pass them on to your own family to let them know how very loved they are.

Calypso by David Sedaris takes you on an entertaining romp through David Sedaris' mind. His wit and humor is dark yet charming as he records his observations on life, vacations, and family. 

Confession: this was my first David Sedaris book! Though after reading Calpyso, it won't be my last. I read this book in a day, and if not for kids, I could have read Calpyso in a single sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed Sedaris' observations on life, and his quirky way of delivering his stories. I think what I like most about David Sedaris is that he knows himself well. He doesn't make excuses for who he is, and he's unapologetic as he relays his tales--imperfections and all. 

Calpyso was beautifully written. The stories are short enough to keep you interested but long enough to provide insight into Sedaris' life. Each story features a different facet of his life: his family, his partner, his work, his vacation home, his pet fox . . . Each story is different, but the book feels cohesive. I appreciated the variety within the general theme of the book. 

The pacing of Calpyso is swift. This book is a page-turner! I couldn't chew through the pages quickly enough. I wanted to hear more about his family--his delightful siblings and understanding partner. I was never disappointed.

My favorite stories were "Untamed" and "I'm Still Standing"--for different reasons. "Untamed" is the charming story of Sedaris' fox. Reading it made me want a fox of my own, minus the logistics (would our home owner's association approve of a pet fox?) And then there's "I'm Still Standing." This story was absolutely hilarious, but at the same time terrifying. Read that story and put yourself in his shoes! Yikes! Better him than me. My stomach is upset just thinking about it. 

While there was a lot of fun and laughs in Calpyso, there were also some serious discussions. Reading about Sedaris' wayward sister, for example, was hard to read. It's a good reminder that mental illness doesn't discriminate and can strike any family. 

If you're in the mood for a nonfiction read but aren't sure where to get started, this might be the book for you! It's perfect for a day at the beach or a cozy night at home. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A new book from David Sedaris is always cause for celebration. Fans count down the days to its publication like children eagerly awaiting Christmas. In his latest outing, CALYPSO, he trenchantly tackles the mundane and the mortal, the ephemeral and the all-too-real, all with his trademark acerbic humor. Sedaris is known for his astute dispatches about his life, travels and observations. He talks about life in the English countryside and his recent embrace of technology, especially when it comes to his Fitbit. But as usual, it’s his essays about his family that really packs the emotional punch.

Sedaris, now 61, reflects on the corollaries of time on himself as well as his siblings: “It’s not like we don’t see it now. We’re not pessimists, exactly, but in late middle age, when you envision your life ten years down the line, you’re more likely to see a bedpan than a Tony Award.” He keenly observes the differences in his 95-year-old father, the difficulty in finding safe topics to discuss, and the looming specter of time (or lack thereof) hanging over each interaction: “…The silence my father and I inflicted on each other back then is now exacerbated by his advanced age. Every time I see him could be the last, and the pressure I feel to make our conversation meaningful paralyzes me.”

In many of these essays, Sedaris demonstrates how time and maturity can alter certain memories, sometimes softening them, and bringing others into clearer focus, especially with his mother’s alcoholism. In “Why Aren’t You Laughing?” he segues from talking about his love of the TV show “Intervention” to his realization about his mother’s drinking: “It’s a hard word to use for someone you love, and so my family avoided it. Rather, we’d whisper, among ourselves, that mom ‘had a problem,’ and that she ‘could stand to cut back’…. I think my mother was lonely without her children --- her fan club. But I think she drank because she was an alcoholic.” Not one to give credence to stories about ghosts (see essays “Boo-Hooey” and “The Spirit World”), Sedaris admits that his mom’s drinking had turned his family’s home into a metaphoric haunted house: “It was like the ‘Addams Family’ house, which would have been fine had it still been merry, but it wasn’t anymore. Our mother became the living ghost that haunted it, gaunt now and rattling ice cubes instead of chains.”

But Sedaris realizes, in the wake of his mother’s death from cancer in 1991, that she was still the glue that kept their family intact. In an effort to see his father and siblings more regularly, he and his partner, Hugh, decide to invest in a vacation home on Emerald Isle off the coast of North Carolina, where he used to go on family vacations as a child. Driving with his father and Hugh, they pass a condo complex where they had stayed during the 1980s.

“Hey, [his father] said, ‘that’s where we used to go when we were a family.”

“Well, aren’t you still a family?” Hugh asked.

“I meant when Sharon was alive.”

“Though I hated hearing him say that, I couldn’t deny the truth of it. Our mother was the one who held us all together. After her death we were like a fistful of damp soil, loose bits breaking off with no one to press them back in.” So, in the name of family, they bought this house, which they name the “Sea Section.”

But the essays that are the most heart-wrenching are the ones that deal with Sedaris’ younger sister, Tiffany, who committed suicide in 2013 (“Now We Are Five,” “A House Divided” and, especially, “The Spirit World”). After years of sporadic contact, he hadn’t seen Tiffany in seven years, and had a hard time imagining keeping that kind of distance between himself and his family: “How could anyone purposefully leave us --- us, of all people? This is how I thought of it, for though I’ve often lost faith in myself, I’ve never lost faith in my family, in my certainty that we are fundamentally better than everyone else. It’s an archaic belief, one I haven’t seriously reconsidered since my late teens, but still I hold it. Ours is the only club I’d ever wanted to be a member of, so I couldn’t imagine quitting.”

In “The Spirit World,” his sister, actress Amy Sedaris, relates the information gleaned from a visit with a psychic, where she was told that Tiffany is fine and isn’t mad at her brother anymore: “Perhaps, like the psychic, they were just telling me what I needed to hear, something to ease my conscience and make me feel that underneath it all I’m no different from anyone else. They’ve always done that for me, my family. It’s what keeps me coming back.”

In this 10th outing, we see Sedaris’ most mature, most raw, perhaps even more “naked” than NAKED work. It’s these profound, barbed observations, these accounts from the ridiculous to the sublime, that keep us coming back.

Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

I really like this new book by David Sedaris because he writes about a diversity of subjects. I admire his dedication to fitness. He spends an entire chapter writing about using his Fit Bit and walking 60,000 steps. This is an incredible feat and one that I hope to accomplish someday. I admire his dedication in learning how to speak the Japanese language. I am part Japanese, and I don't even know how to speak the language. Reaching about his experiences about learning Japanese motivates me to learn how to speak it. He also writes about his love of shopping for shorts and hats in Tokyo. He makes Tokyo sound like an enjoyable place to visit which it is. I like the chapter where he writes his experiences with same sex marriage. I found it interesting that his boyfriend Hugh refuses to marry him even though that same sex marriage is now legal in England where he now lives. I like how David and Hugh refuse to put the label their union with the word marriage. He writes openly about the loss of his youngest sister Tiffany to suicide. This is very beautiful chapter and very moving. This chapter reminds me to try to always be on good terms with my own sister because I never know what might happen to her. Sedaris also writes about his brother Paul who lost over sixty pounds on a liquid juice diet. I found this fact to be amazing and wish I could do that. David Sedaris also loves turtles. I never thought of turtles as interesting animals. I want to observe some turtles to find out what makes them fascinating. I really enjoy reading this book.

I've listened to about 5 or 6 books by David Sedaris, and each one I go through the same internal struggle while reading/listening.

1. Oh boy, a new David Sedaris book. Can't wait.
2. Man I missed his humor. Hilarious. so funny. a bit raunchy.
3. Okay this is more than a bit raunchy.
4. Wow. I'm going to hell.
5. Okay that was funny.
6. So much truth!!!
7. Aw man, it's over. Sigh.

This one was no different, and that's a good thing. Each of the stories were funny, or interesting, or contained something that made me facepalm and laugh and want to clean my brain out with bleach.

Already looking forward to the next collection.

Ok - so what took me so long to read a David Sedaris book?

This was hysterical! What a welcomed break from murder mysteries and dramas that I tend to read. Quite often I laughed so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. My intention when I got this book was to only read a few chapters at a time. But once I started I just could not put it down.

There is a saying that laughter is the best medicine. If you're looking for a good belly laugh to make you feel better, don't look any further.

I received this from Little Brown and Company via Netgalley.

I never read anything by this author prior to this book. The NYTines Book Review secreted it as "a collection of comedic stories on mortality, middle age and a beach house dubbed the Sea Section". Sounded promising.

Notwithstanding a few amusing stories, e.g., overused words, "awesome, the ones that you can't forget are about an elderly gentleman defecating on a plane, the author's encounter with gastrointestinal distress, and the removal l of a lipoma that he freezes to feed to a sea turtle. A real knee slapper this book is. Disgusting

This one seems to have some staying power on the best seller list! I'm glad he returned to the essay format, rather than the diary entries of his last effort which came across to me as disjointed. This is much better, a collection of essays on a variety of topics - some disturbing like the suicide of his sister and his relationship with his father; some just pithy observations on this business of life. One thing that gives the book a degree of interest is the changing locations from the "Sea Section" cottage on the NC coast to NY city, France, and Britain. Probably my favorite anecdote is the one about his stuffy New York neighbor noting smugly that he is a vegetarian and so is his dog. Just like you says Sedaris, imagine. Later, out walking someone drops a hamburger coming out of McDonalds and the dog lunges ahead and scarfs it down. "Must have been going for the pickle!", notes Sedaris.

Love Sedaris’s dry wit & droll writing style but this view into his head made me realize what a self-centered, self-aggrandizing a$$hole he is. Funny at times but far too much animal abuse, from the tumor-to-the-turtle to the kitten getting shot in the head, to feeding the wild fox which probably met its end because its fear of humans, to be able to call this book “comedic”. Definitely, as others have said, a “mixed bag”. Only buy if you want to read more stories in the future about how much money he blows on ridiculously priced, absurd clothes.

The chapter on cursing behind the wheel in different countries is infinitely replayable. The somber notes about his mother and increasingly his father are really touching and so brutally honest. It must be so hard to be that in touch with those feelings and then share them so openly and honestly, but that is why I keep coming back to his work. And I am increasingly understanding that Hugh must be a very patient man. While I disagree with his politics, and they are thick in this one, he transcends a single opinion, and makes the case for discourse over condemnation in the end. His chapter on gay marriage is very touching and again very real. Heartfelt emotions that while steeped in comedy reveal a very sensitive and intelligent mind. A keeper in the Sedaris catalogue.

As with all of Sedaris' works, I listened to this. I think performance is an essential part of what he does, and so I prefer the audio format. It is true that it is similar to his earlier "books" ( none of them are actually books, but collections of pieces) such as "Naked", but I am baffled by critics who complain when his work isn't "the same" as Naked or Me Talk Pretty One Day - why would his work be the same over 25 years? First, WE aren't the same - Sedaris was an original when he first hit it big - I hadn't heard anything like him. That can only happen once with him, after that, we're not surprised anymore. We can only meet Paul and Lou Sedaris for the first time once. And wouldn't we expect some changes in the author's voice over the years, some deepening of reflections? I think we get that with this collection - it is a slightly different voice. There is still an edge and an honesty in how he presents himself - and maybe a little darker. His tells the story of the last time he saw his sister, Tiffany, without at all trying to justify how he reacts to her. The listener (or reader) is left to see him in as harsh a light as they wish. Having dealt with elderly parents and siblings with serious problems, I understand the self-doubt, the guilt, the wondering what you can do, etc. I also don't like everything Sedaris says -there are points about him and his family I don't particularly like, and there are things he says that leave me sure that we are not at all on the same page - and this is good. What is it about us that requires that we agree with every point, that a person be good in every way? Sedaris is a bit unguarded in what he says at times, and my guess is that this is intentional. He takes aim at himself enough, that I wonder if there isn't a message for those who are indignant with some of his comments - so, if what you liked was the big three of Naked, Me Talk Pretty, and Dress Your family, you'll like this.

Fans of David Sedaris will find his wit on full display in a new collection of stories titled, Calypso. While earlier stories have disclosed lots about his life and his family, the new collection does so on an even deeper level. A sense of mortality weaves these stories together, and there won’t be laughter when Sedaris talks about his relationship with his sister, Tiffany, at the time of her 2013 suicide. He reflects on his mother’s alcoholism in deeper ways as well. But don’t see this deepness as a downer. Readers will laugh at these stories because Sedaris’ wit is so sharp. Most of us will also think about our own mortality and our family relationships, and that’s fine.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)

I purchased this book because the book summary reported “these stories are very, very funny…”
I believe humor can heal the sole. When I laugh, I feel better about myself. So I purchased the book because I needed some laughter in my life.
Instead I was disappointed with all of the author’s stories and found that I did not laugh at all.
What was funny to this author was not funny at all.

The version that I downloaded from another seller started off as good reading. Amusing anecdotes about the author's travels and adventures along with musings from his personal life and birth family. Writer is single, very short guy who enjoys his sisters and brother's company occasionally. After a few chapters, suddenly extremely dirty mentally ill ideas started imposing into the reader's mind. In the old days, we would say "Not even the darkest African would think such disgusting stuff." Now, we would say "Not even the worst bum on earth would think up that stuff." That's when I deleted the download. Coulda been an enjoyable read.

It's hard to rank the books Sedaris has given us over the years, but it's impossible to say this isn't his most mature, adult-focused work. There is a LOT of focus on family especially his relationship with his siblings. There is also a new portrait of his mother where we see her as less glib and flippant and more of the matriarch in contrast to David's father who remains the same unusual man but older and fading. There is also a lot more candid discussion about the up and down elements of David's relationship with Hugh which is so relieving given how all of our romantic lives fall far short of the ideal. Yes, the book is funny in many places. But it's better than a book you buy to get a good laugh. It's a book for those of us who have come along with David on his reflective journey for many, many years. It feels like a good friend catching us up on where he's at more than where he's been. A great work worth whatever you pay for it.

Sedaris has always been a strong writer, telling stories from his life that evoke pathos and humor and wise observations about society. After so many years, we've come to know his family — his parents, including especially his mother's alcoholism and death by cancer, his siblings, and his boyfriend Hugh. This collection is the first after his sister Tiffany's death by suicide and that, together with the irresistible force of aging, gives Calypso a more melancholy feel than some of his earlier work. But it's still funny, and sweet, and smart, and highly polished. Sedaris is our modern Thurber, and anybody who liked his earlier work will like this collection as well.

I have to say that this is a little more of a mixed bag than many other Sedaris books. It's not the work isn't funny or interesting, but the author processes his sister's suicide in many of the stories here, and I would argue that many of the stories are more serious than humorous. Now, Sedaris never promised books that were 100% light-hearted humor, so I won't hold it against him, but the arrangement of the stories, some with Tiffany's story, some without, make it hard to maintain a steady attitude toward the book. I'll start a new story and I won't be sure if it's going to brighten my mood or make me sad and pensive.

I didn't like the diaries so I was a little worried about this new book by David Sedaris but I was wrong, because there is a sort a return to the great days of "me talk pretty one day" or "engulfed in flames" and I literally read this book from the beginning till the end in one setting and I finished wanting more and more. I love that he is back, even more now that he is in him middle age together with more or less all his siblings, Hugh and the father who is a character in himself.

I diari non mi erano piaciuti, quindi era con parecchia titubanza che mi sono comprata questo nuovo libro di Sedaris che però è stato un clamoroso ritorno ai bei tempi, quelli di "Me parlare bello un giorno" o "Quando verrete divorati dalle fiamme" per capirsi e me lo sono divorato dall'inizio alla fine in un giorno e quando l'ho finito avrei continuato volentieri ancora per parecchio. Mi piace che sia tornato ad essere il solito, specialmente ora che affronta i temi della mezza età che ha raggiunto assieme alla maggior parte delle sue sorelle, mentre Hugh ed il padre sono ormai due personaggi fissi delle sue storie.

This was my first Sedaris book and I have to say, and I realize I’m not in the majority, but I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting a deep, thoughtful exploration of life, humanity, aging, mixed with dry, British humor. And while there were certainly some fairly funny moments, I found the whole book to be rambling without a whole lot of purpose. A much darker read than I was expecting. If you’re looking for insightful prose and actual laugh out loud funny moments and are not already a fan of Sedaris, you may want think twice on this one. I just don’t think he’s my cup of tea.

I took a risk reading this because at first blush you’d probably say I was Sedaris’s exact opposite. But I like memoirs and found his sardonic wit quite humorous.

I did find some commonality (which is why I picked his book up in the first place) with him beyond our sense of humor. We both have father issues, which may be the defining characteristic of our generation.

I think if we can stop trying to put labels on everything and start looking for commonality then maybe we can mend some of the perceived wounds in this country and world.

This was the first time I had read anything of Sedaris' and I enjoyed it. In Calypso, he talks about several recollections of his family and it is a tribute in many ways to his mother and sister who are both deceased and to his elderly father.

There are some extremely funny stories such as how he bought a beach house and named it "The Sea Section" and other ones that are sad such as how he talks about his sister's death and how it happened.

All & all, I did like it and would read something else of his to get to know him even better.

In this book David Sedaris relates a variety of stories involving his family, his summer home, his travels, and his health. They’re full of his sarcastic wit and droll worldview. The recent suicide of his sister and the death of his mother in the more distant past cast a shadow over Sedaris’s stories, though for the most part this is a light, entertaining book which balances stories from his homes in North Carolina and England with anecdotes from his life as a famous author in airports, airplanes and at readings. The seasoned storytelling and unique humour make this a fast and delightful read.

I'm a fan of David Sedaris. I've seen him twice in performance and have all of his books, all in audio as his deadpan delivery doubles the enjoyment. The only time I have been disappointed by one of his books was last year's Theft by Finding so I approached this book with some trepidation, hoping that one of my favorites had not gone permanently off the rails. Fear not, fellow fans. Sedaris is back with the fully developed, self-reflective essays many of us have come to love. There is, though, a difference between Calypso and his earlier works.

Now in his sixties, unquestionably at the top of his genre and in a stable relationship (Don't call it marriage!), for over thirty years, Sedaris seems comfortable enough to examine his familial relationships, his childhood and his losses at a depth never seen before. The death of his sister Tiffany is visited multiple times throughout the book and he describes in unflinching detail his misjudgment of her condition, his regrets. It takes a skilled memoirist to handle this sort of material without descending into a well of sorrow. Sedaris is that skilled and left me smiling through a stray tear or two, identifying with dysfunction, savoring his memories.

It should be noted that only a handful of the essays in this collection are poignant. In between them are the usual uproarious reflections on obsessive use of a Fitbit, bathroom humor and the lighter fare provided by a family known for its outrageous approach to life.

As this was an audiobook, the score reflects both the performance and the material. In this case, both scored five stars for an average of five stars overall. Happy listening.

I couldn’t get through his recent volume of excerpts from his diaries, so reading this book was a return to the David Sedaris I love. Short, funny stories with a touch of snark, remarkable situations and a lot of heart. This collection focuses more than most on his family and revolves around visits to a house on Emerald Isle, N.C., a place I know from visits with my family as well. They are full of love as well as the quirks and conflicts - and sometimes tragedies - that so many families experience. But Sedaris captures it all so well in his unique voice.

If you read David Sedaris, you expect a quirk or two to reveal themselves in his essays. Calypso is no different. I enjoyed his reflections upon getting older, both personal and general. Be warned that Calypso is not for the easily offended (actually David fits that description) and at times can be uncomfortably graphic. The book is only about 100 pages long, easily read, and conversationally written. I wouldn't recommend it as a reader's introduction to Sedaris, but I found it appealing and entertaining.

This collection as as enjoyable as always. In particular, I enjoyed "Stepping Out" for the social commentary it offers on how we are so keen as a society to quantify everything these days. The author's exploration of family dynamics is as strong and as engaging as ever, though the piece about feeding a tumor to a turtle was definitely squeamish, but enjoyable nonetheless. To be able to explore one's life as a microcosm and have it extend to the macrocosm of a general readership is why I enjoy Sedaris so much.

Of course you read Sedaris for his deadly wit, but what makes Calypso unique is how often his commentary is leavened by bittersweet memories. As the author has aged, he has begun to take stock of his life. The cheap jokes are not left to stand alone. Now he acknowledges the frailties of humanity, and this makes his stories even more personal. I read this on a flight and had to frequently stifle my laughter so as not to disturb my seat mate. The personal memories hit home too, but I kept those to myself.

The chapter on cursing behind the wheel in different countries is infinitely replayable. The somber notes about his mother and increasingly his father are really touching and so brutally honest. It must be so hard to be that in touch with those feelings and then share them so openly and honestly, but that is why I keep coming back to his work. And I am increasingly understanding that Hugh must be a very patient man. While I disagree with his politics, and they are thick in this one, he transcends a single opinion, and makes the case for discourse over condemnation in the end. His chapter on gay marriage is very touching and again very real. Heartfelt emotions that while steeped in comedy reveal a very sensitive and intelligent mind. A keeper in the Sedaris catalogue.

As with all of Sedaris' works, I listened to this. I think performance is an essential part of what he does, and so I prefer the audio format. It is true that it is similar to his earlier "books" ( none of them are actually books, but collections of pieces) such as "Naked", but I am baffled by critics who complain when his work isn't "the same" as Naked or Me Talk Pretty One Day - why would his work be the same over 25 years? First, WE aren't the same - Sedaris was an original when he first hit it big - I hadn't heard anything like him. That can only happen once with him, after that, we're not surprised anymore. We can only meet Paul and Lou Sedaris for the first time once. And wouldn't we expect some changes in the author's voice over the years, some deepening of reflections? I think we get that with this collection - it is a slightly different voice. There is still an edge and an honesty in how he presents himself - and maybe a little darker. His tells the story of the last time he saw his sister, Tiffany, without at all trying to justify how he reacts to her. The listener (or reader) is left to see him in as harsh a light as they wish. Having dealt with elderly parents and siblings with serious problems, I understand the self-doubt, the guilt, the wondering what you can do, etc. I also don't like everything Sedaris says -there are points about him and his family I don't particularly like, and there are things he says that leave me sure that we are not at all on the same page - and this is good. What is it about us that requires that we agree with every point, that a person be good in every way? Sedaris is a bit unguarded in what he says at times, and my guess is that this is intentional. He takes aim at himself enough, that I wonder if there isn't a message for those who are indignant with some of his comments - so, if what you liked was the big three of Naked, Me Talk Pretty, and Dress Your family, you'll like this.

Fans of David Sedaris will find his wit on full display in a new collection of stories titled, Calypso. While earlier stories have disclosed lots about his life and his family, the new collection does so on an even deeper level. A sense of mortality weaves these stories together, and there won’t be laughter when Sedaris talks about his relationship with his sister, Tiffany, at the time of her 2013 suicide. He reflects on his mother’s alcoholism in deeper ways as well. But don’t see this deepness as a downer. Readers will laugh at these stories because Sedaris’ wit is so sharp. Most of us will also think about our own mortality and our family relationships, and that’s fine.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)

I purchased this book because the book summary reported “these stories are very, very funny…”
I believe humor can heal the sole. When I laugh, I feel better about myself. So I purchased the book because I needed some laughter in my life.
Instead I was disappointed with all of the author’s stories and found that I did not laugh at all.
What was funny to this author was not funny at all.

The version that I downloaded from another seller started off as good reading. Amusing anecdotes about the author's travels and adventures along with musings from his personal life and birth family. Writer is single, very short guy who enjoys his sisters and brother's company occasionally. After a few chapters, suddenly extremely dirty mentally ill ideas started imposing into the reader's mind. In the old days, we would say "Not even the darkest African would think such disgusting stuff." Now, we would say "Not even the worst bum on earth would think up that stuff." That's when I deleted the download. Coulda been an enjoyable read.

It's hard to rank the books Sedaris has given us over the years, but it's impossible to say this isn't his most mature, adult-focused work. There is a LOT of focus on family especially his relationship with his siblings. There is also a new portrait of his mother where we see her as less glib and flippant and more of the matriarch in contrast to David's father who remains the same unusual man but older and fading. There is also a lot more candid discussion about the up and down elements of David's relationship with Hugh which is so relieving given how all of our romantic lives fall far short of the ideal. Yes, the book is funny in many places. But it's better than a book you buy to get a good laugh. It's a book for those of us who have come along with David on his reflective journey for many, many years. It feels like a good friend catching us up on where he's at more than where he's been. A great work worth whatever you pay for it.

Sedaris has always been a strong writer, telling stories from his life that evoke pathos and humor and wise observations about society. After so many years, we've come to know his family — his parents, including especially his mother's alcoholism and death by cancer, his siblings, and his boyfriend Hugh. This collection is the first after his sister Tiffany's death by suicide and that, together with the irresistible force of aging, gives Calypso a more melancholy feel than some of his earlier work. But it's still funny, and sweet, and smart, and highly polished. Sedaris is our modern Thurber, and anybody who liked his earlier work will like this collection as well.

I have to say that this is a little more of a mixed bag than many other Sedaris books. It's not the work isn't funny or interesting, but the author processes his sister's suicide in many of the stories here, and I would argue that many of the stories are more serious than humorous. Now, Sedaris never promised books that were 100% light-hearted humor, so I won't hold it against him, but the arrangement of the stories, some with Tiffany's story, some without, make it hard to maintain a steady attitude toward the book. I'll start a new story and I won't be sure if it's going to brighten my mood or make me sad and pensive.

I didn't like the diaries so I was a little worried about this new book by David Sedaris but I was wrong, because there is a sort a return to the great days of "me talk pretty one day" or "engulfed in flames" and I literally read this book from the beginning till the end in one setting and I finished wanting more and more. I love that he is back, even more now that he is in him middle age together with more or less all his siblings, Hugh and the father who is a character in himself.

I diari non mi erano piaciuti, quindi era con parecchia titubanza che mi sono comprata questo nuovo libro di Sedaris che però è stato un clamoroso ritorno ai bei tempi, quelli di "Me parlare bello un giorno" o "Quando verrete divorati dalle fiamme" per capirsi e me lo sono divorato dall'inizio alla fine in un giorno e quando l'ho finito avrei continuato volentieri ancora per parecchio. Mi piace che sia tornato ad essere il solito, specialmente ora che affronta i temi della mezza età che ha raggiunto assieme alla maggior parte delle sue sorelle, mentre Hugh ed il padre sono ormai due personaggi fissi delle sue storie.

This was my first Sedaris book and I have to say, and I realize I’m not in the majority, but I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting a deep, thoughtful exploration of life, humanity, aging, mixed with dry, British humor. And while there were certainly some fairly funny moments, I found the whole book to be rambling without a whole lot of purpose. A much darker read than I was expecting. If you’re looking for insightful prose and actual laugh out loud funny moments and are not already a fan of Sedaris, you may want think twice on this one. I just don’t think he’s my cup of tea.

I took a risk reading this because at first blush you’d probably say I was Sedaris’s exact opposite. But I like memoirs and found his sardonic wit quite humorous.

I did find some commonality (which is why I picked his book up in the first place) with him beyond our sense of humor. We both have father issues, which may be the defining characteristic of our generation.

I think if we can stop trying to put labels on everything and start looking for commonality then maybe we can mend some of the perceived wounds in this country and world.

This was the first time I had read anything of Sedaris' and I enjoyed it. In Calypso, he talks about several recollections of his family and it is a tribute in many ways to his mother and sister who are both deceased and to his elderly father.

There are some extremely funny stories such as how he bought a beach house and named it "The Sea Section" and other ones that are sad such as how he talks about his sister's death and how it happened.

All & all, I did like it and would read something else of his to get to know him even better.

In this book David Sedaris relates a variety of stories involving his family, his summer home, his travels, and his health. They’re full of his sarcastic wit and droll worldview. The recent suicide of his sister and the death of his mother in the more distant past cast a shadow over Sedaris’s stories, though for the most part this is a light, entertaining book which balances stories from his homes in North Carolina and England with anecdotes from his life as a famous author in airports, airplanes and at readings. The seasoned storytelling and unique humour make this a fast and delightful read.

I'm a fan of David Sedaris. I've seen him twice in performance and have all of his books, all in audio as his deadpan delivery doubles the enjoyment. The only time I have been disappointed by one of his books was last year's Theft by Finding so I approached this book with some trepidation, hoping that one of my favorites had not gone permanently off the rails. Fear not, fellow fans. Sedaris is back with the fully developed, self-reflective essays many of us have come to love. There is, though, a difference between Calypso and his earlier works.

Now in his sixties, unquestionably at the top of his genre and in a stable relationship (Don't call it marriage!), for over thirty years, Sedaris seems comfortable enough to examine his familial relationships, his childhood and his losses at a depth never seen before. The death of his sister Tiffany is visited multiple times throughout the book and he describes in unflinching detail his misjudgment of her condition, his regrets. It takes a skilled memoirist to handle this sort of material without descending into a well of sorrow. Sedaris is that skilled and left me smiling through a stray tear or two, identifying with dysfunction, savoring his memories.

It should be noted that only a handful of the essays in this collection are poignant. In between them are the usual uproarious reflections on obsessive use of a Fitbit, bathroom humor and the lighter fare provided by a family known for its outrageous approach to life.

As this was an audiobook, the score reflects both the performance and the material. In this case, both scored five stars for an average of five stars overall. Happy listening.

I've been reading David Sedaris since I was in my twenties. I love his work and we are of a similar age. I'm 51. I found this latest collection of essays to be better than ever. He's become more thoughtful and of course is still incredibly funny. I find I can really relate to his view on life as it relates to getting older. You can't go wrong with any of his books but if you've read his other books this one will seem especially poignant because over the years you really feel like you get to know him and his family.

This is my first introduction to David Sedaris. Net worth - 8 million. Since he is in the media and authored numerous books, now I'll pay attention to when I hear his name again.

Darkly hilarious certainly sums it up. Sedaris hits the nail on the head so it was hard to enjoy the humor of mortality and growing older. I found myself reflecting on how people seem to fade away as we age - becoming gray and pale, and becoming weaker in so many ways. Losing balance - need to continue to work on that.

Impossible to take a vacation from yourself.

Around every corner, though, there are the laughs, the twists and turns of a mind that thinks like us, only he has the courage to say it aloud or write it down.

I couldn’t get through his recent volume of excerpts from his diaries, so reading this book was a return to the David Sedaris I love. Short, funny stories with a touch of snark, remarkable situations and a lot of heart. This collection focuses more than most on his family and revolves around visits to a house on Emerald Isle, N.C., a place I know from visits with my family as well. They are full of love as well as the quirks and conflicts - and sometimes tragedies - that so many families experience. But Sedaris captures it all so well in his unique voice.

If you read David Sedaris, you expect a quirk or two to reveal themselves in his essays. Calypso is no different. I enjoyed his reflections upon getting older, both personal and general. Be warned that Calypso is not for the easily offended (actually David fits that description) and at times can be uncomfortably graphic. The book is only about 100 pages long, easily read, and conversationally written. I wouldn't recommend it as a reader's introduction to Sedaris, but I found it appealing and entertaining.

This collection as as enjoyable as always. In particular, I enjoyed "Stepping Out" for the social commentary it offers on how we are so keen as a society to quantify everything these days. The author's exploration of family dynamics is as strong and as engaging as ever, though the piece about feeding a tumor to a turtle was definitely squeamish, but enjoyable nonetheless. To be able to explore one's life as a microcosm and have it extend to the macrocosm of a general readership is why I enjoy Sedaris so much.

Of course you read Sedaris for his deadly wit, but what makes Calypso unique is how often his commentary is leavened by bittersweet memories. As the author has aged, he has begun to take stock of his life. The cheap jokes are not left to stand alone. Now he acknowledges the frailties of humanity, and this makes his stories even more personal. I read this on a flight and had to frequently stifle my laughter so as not to disturb my seat mate. The personal memories hit home too, but I kept those to myself.

Funny and snarky. Loved this book much more than his last one.

However, there were moments in which he just seemed mean to be mean, rather than it serving to be humorous in any way. Sedaris' outlook on humanity seems to be getting more unpleasant with age, but it's still kinda funny. Definitely entertaining throughout.

I feel so lucky whenever a new release by David Sedaris coincides with my summer vacation. This was a delight, read with joy and affection on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Fitbit obsession, more tales of picking up litter, reflections on his siblings, and honesty and humor about his long relationship and the rules of engagement when there are guests...I loved it. Maybe my favorite collection of his yet. Purchased at Brilliant Books in Traverse City. (Go there!)

My husband could hear me laughing from the other room. I had to fight him off from taking the book away before I was finished. I did not want it to end. What a brilliant writer. Poor Hugh, what a trooper. Thank you Hugh for letting David make so many jokes at your expense and at the expense of your family. The book would not have been one-tenth as funny without this. But don't worry, all of David's fans know that you are wonderful - why? because you have a wonderful partner!

David Sedaris dives deep into his family history in Calypso, with both humorous and introspective looks into his relationships. Readers are given a real sense of the author's life, both present and past.
There are some darker elements to Calypso, but Sedaris deftly balances these sections with his humorous viewpoint. The author does a great job of narrating his book and I would recommend Calypso in audio form to other readers.

I'm late to the Sedaris party, but <i>/Calypso<i/> was a good intro. His essays are smart, sharp, and funny. His writing is both spare and detailed - paring away what's extraneous to the story, yet giving enough richness to captivate. If he is as engaging at a party (or a book reading) as he is on the page, he must be a magnet. I've caught the Sedaris bug so look forward to reading his earlier books.

I've been enjoying his work for years now, but if you're new to Sedaris I would start with one of his earlier books like Me Talk Pretty One Day. Calypso is both more personal, earthy and more uneven than some of his other books. The essay on the fatty tumor was beaten to death and wasn't that funny to start with. That said there are some laugh out loud moments here. It's definitely worth the read, but I'm glad I checked it out of the libary instead of purchasing.

Calypso contains the same mix typical of Sedaris' work - humorous observations, brilliant analogies, and wistful reflections sprinkled with a few WTF moments. However, Calypso does seem to have a more melancholic tinge than Sedaris’ previous works and the laugh-out-loud moments are tempered by the introspective moments (especially regarding his family) that can be expected as one closes in on an age that qualifies for senior citizen discounts. Sedaris, as always, lays bare his life and all its complexities. That's what makes him a treasure.

David Sedaris is indeed unique, both as a writer and a perfomer. What is refreshing about Calypso is
that it presents is with Sedaris as he is, not the struggler that he documents in most of his earlier works. Of course, his struggles are very much what has made him the personality so many of us are enchanted with and entertained by. I laughed a lot and sighed some as well.

Serious humor is what I would call this book. With the originality and quirky flare we have come to adore in his writing, David Sedaris gifts us yet another book to laugh with, cringe at, and reflect upon. Sincere and yet uproarious in all the right places, Sedaris takes us on yet another raucous ride through his wild world of writing, travel, family, and turtles with tumors named Calypso.

Very good read, to catch up with David and family so many years after his first book. I read the ebook rather than audio. This is one author that does an absolutely terrific job reading his own material. Still a good read, with some funny parts, but with a bit more serious tone , hearing what has happened all these years later when the “kids” are in their 50s , dad in his 90s. Excellent book.

A great collection of essays by the author . I laughed out loud, laughed until I cried and found myself enjoying each and every one. . This author never disappoints and is always a fun read and escape from life. His commentary and outlooks are a delightful reality like no other. Well done !
Thank you for the ARC . My opinion is my own.

i have read everything by david sedaris and this book is my favorite. discusses a lot more about his family and hugh and his dead sister, tiffany; oh and his dad.and there are quite a few bittersweet moments in the book. the best example is when he talks about his mother's alcoholism and the family's knowledge and lack of action. great great book.

There is something so wonderful about having your favorite storyteller take you on journeys through life's highs and lows. I have listened to this with my spouse, with my sister and, again, on my own. Life is good; life is hilarious; life is so sad and it is all connected. I simply love how he shares Hugh, his father, his siblings, his niece, his in-laws and his own obsessions.

I mean...if you like David Sedaris books, you’ll like this book. Another collection of short stories, I found this book to be darker than Sedaris’ previous work as it explores themes of aging and sickness and death. That being said, I still laughed my butt off, and I highly recommend the audible version just to hear David read his own material!

I have been a David Sedaris fan for years! I’ve read every book, and I just don’t like this one. All I can think about is a whiny old man sitting on his porch cursing the gods for his leaky penis, and inability to conform to the times. I’m giving 3 stars because I did enjoy a few chapters, but the rest sounded like my dad wrote them. Life sucks, we get it.

The language was TERRIBLE! I wish I could have known the language was Rated R before we bought it. I would NEVER have purchased this book. I wouldn’t read it! So I spend useless money! There have been about 3 other books I purchased lately that I won’t read because of the R language!! There needs to be a RATED schedule on these books. I am sure I am not the only one that has purchased boooks they won’t read. We would know ahead of time if there was a place to get the language rating before we buy.

I love all of David’s books. I have all of them in print and on CD. I have read them and listened to them several times. They never get old. My family has alcoholism and suicides, too, but David’s memories are so much more interesting and funny than my own so I’m adopting his. It’s way cheaper and more convenient than going to therapy.

Sedaris is one of very few writers who can make me laugh loudly, out loud. And not just because he can throw in a twisted, vulgar image into almost any harmless situation. He is a keen observer of human foibles and wickedly cutting, particularly with those near and dear to him. Calypso has a lot of the Sedaris family, but his range of fire is much wider than that. Since he has not invited me to his English cottage or to accompany him on trash patrol, this book will have to suffice.

As always, I enjoy David Sedaris. His essays always contain humor and ultimately some life lessons. His latest collection, Calypso, is incredibly entertaining. When you're reading, you feel as though he's talking to you with a stream of consciousness style. He writes about family, relationships, house guests and more. His work is, as always, wonderful.

For several years now, I’ve refused to buy hardcover books. I don’t like the added expense, of course, but mostly, I just don’t like the extra bulk and really don’t like how they feel in my hand: too much like textbooks or hymnals. I don’t need to be reminded of either when I’m trying to read something fun. As a result, I’m consistently a year or two behind everyone else with my reading, a (discount) price I’m willing to pay.

David Sedaris has long been one of the rare exceptions to this rule, and with his new book Calypso being released in May, I figured I’d bite the bullet again. Small problem, though: my embargo on buying and reading books by men, implemented after I discovered my CBR reading list and personal library were heavily skewed towards male authors. I’d intended to follow through at least to the end of the year. Sedaris would have to wait.

And then I found his newly released book in paperback in Schiphol airport on a layover coming home from Sweden, and I didn’t even hesitate. Bought and tucked away, I planned to save it for the proverbial rainy day.

After the long slog through Pachinko, I just wanted something quick and breezy, and Sedaris will always fill that need hole for me, so I plucked it off the shelf far sooner than I anticipated. On the surface, Calypso seems no different from his other books, filled with stories and anecdotes about his family, his partner Hugh, and his adventures with travel and living abroad. I finished this book three weeks ago but still find myself giggling when I think about young David forced to help clean out the mess left behind after he started flushing the empty toilet paper rolls, or when I think about the punny but still clever name for their recently-acquired family beach house that mentions at every opportunity, or when I think about him wearing in public some of the bonkers clothes he bought in Tokyo with his sister Amy.

There’s a new twist, though, a melancholic air that comes with reaching and then edging past middle age. He discusses some of the perks, such as having a guest room and buying a vacation home, but mostly, he talks about losses, some big and immediately life-altering, others small but cumulative.

The biggest loss was his youngest sister, Tiffany, who died of suicide in 2013. That subject has been on my mind lately, as it has with many of us, following the losses of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, in addition to a higher-than-usual concentration of the subject in my reading materials. I didn’t know about Tiffany, so it came as a bit of a shock. It’s a subject that comes up repeatedly through the book both in dealing with the loss as well as with the complicated emotions around losing someone close with whom he had such a fractured relationship.

This theme of loss runs throughout. Sedaris writes quite a lot about his mother, her profound influence on his own storytelling, and how much he still misses her more than 20 years after her death. He includes several bits about his aging father and how much more each family gathering is weighted with importance, knowing that they will become fewer and fewer. He talks about a new obsession with his FitBit, obviously a nod to his obsessive/compulsive nature but undoubtedly also a bid to stave off his own impending old age.

I’m glad I made this exception for Sedaris. I’ve loved all of his books since first reading Naked all those years ago, and this ranks right up there with his best.

(This review was originally posted as part of Cannonball Read 10: Sticking It to Cancer, One Book at a Time.)

Sedaris' observations of life and human interaction are humorous​, and at times, very poignant. His tone is sardonic and his writing is witty. As mentioned, he's a wonderful storyteller, constantly weaving several anecdotes into one story and always expertly bringing the story back around to his original theme. Sedaris' writing is enviable. I highly recommend the audiobook version of Calypso because David Sedaris is a pure pleasure to have in your ears.

This well-written autobiographical book, covering both recent and past events, has both very funny and poignant sections. I enjoyed it but wasn't engrossed in the various stories of David's life. By the last third, when it was obvious that there really wasn't any plot or hidden meaning in the stories, I became a little bored with the fascination the author had with his own and his family's history. First half gets 5 stars, last third gets 2, so the average is my 3.

Reading CALYPSO I took delight in the return of the droll, daring Sedaris of his earlier NAKED, ME TALK PRETTY writing days. Rather put off by the publication of some of his mostly random, neither witty nor clever journal entries in TRUTH IN FINDING DIARIES, my faith was restored by David's latest work. I withhold one star in that not all the author's tales are believable and seem to sorely strive for shock value. I mean, who's to believe a bright, worldly, if eccentric man would allow a stranger to remove an egg-sized tumor from his body late one night in El Paso? Granted, the growth is to be frozen and later fed to a snapping turtle he's nurtured near his Emerald Isle beach house...

I am so sorry I read this book. Some of the book David wrote was inhuman how can you deny a family member. In the next breathe you say how much you loved your mother. My god it was your sister She should haunt you and you desire it Is that what a Romanian would say!

It only took him 1.5 paragraphs to get me to laugh. We’re off to a great start. I totally relate to David’s stories. His writing has an intimacy that makes it feel like he’s talking to only me. If I don’t come back to modify my review either I’m dead or the book didn’t suck.

I’d about given up on David Sedaris. Loved his earlier books, but the last few left me cold. This one is good, laugh out loud good. It’s actually pretty touching, especially as it relates to his parents—yes, age mellows us all. But not too much, I’m pleased to say.

Enjoyed this book overall. Seemed better than his last few. He was also very honest about his family’s problems and may have been TMI, but still, well done. Made me realize how different families are from one another, though could still feel the love between them. A good read.

Since this was the first book I read by David Sedaris, I really didn't want to know this much about him. Maybe if you were a fan of his previous books you would want to. But not me. I felt like I was a stranger and he was confiding in me more than I wanted to hear. But some parts were funny, so three stars.

David at his best. And, if you know his writing at all, his best is terrific and, especially in this book, very personal. For me, there is no better way to experience his writing than through his voice. No one does David Sedaris like David Sedaris does!!

I am not a Sedaris fan so this is not going to be a thumbs up review. This is the second book of his I have read. Both are the same. You have good writing with sharp observations of life. But nothing is funny at all. He is not a humorist. I don't know where that label came from. If you want good humor read an early Dave Barry book. Nor is this book very interesting. He has the typical dysfunctional family. It's the defnition of family. Some of it is tragedy and some hopeful. Kind of ordinary. I do not plan to recommend this to any of my friends. Rather I have been recommending Thaler's "Misbehaving" as a great book to read.

Calypso continues in the amazing tradition of previous Sedaris story collections. In my opinion, no one can strike that perfect balance between funny, sad, and deadly honest like David Sedaris. His descriptions of his relationships with Hugh, his parents and siblings, and others who innocently cross his path can be highly entertaining, bittersweet, and deeply moving - all at the same time. The honesty with which he writes about his family is incredibly refreshing. I hope he comes back to Raleigh to do a reading from this new book. I'll be there!!

David Sedaris..... Wonderful! He is such a gifted story teller. I love this new audio collection of his tales and observations. It is like running into an old friend after a long absence. His biting wit is as sharp as ever.

I love David's sense of humor. I've been a longtime fan of his sister, Amy, but have only read years ago one short story he wrote about quitting smoking, which actually helped ME quit smoking. I "finally got around" to reading one of his books, Calypso, and wow, there were times when I laughed so much, I was annoying my husband. So Mr. Sedaris is now my favorite author and my new best friend, should I ever get to meet him. Now I shall grab his other books and read them.

I was so excited when I read an article stating that David Sedaris had a new book out. Purchased it immediately! His stories are so relatable. I feel like we share a family. When I first started reading the book it didn't seem like his voice. By the time I got mid book it was exactly what I've come to expect and love about his writing. I was laughing so hard my sides hurt and tears were streaming down my face.

I started laughing when Gretchen ate the pressed flies (and the leaves off her poinsettia) as a midnight snack on Page 8 and continued laughing the rest of the way through the book. No one tells a story quite like the author.

Combine all the mixed feelings you could ever have about life and family -- make your reader laugh, think, and cry -- and then add in the same way the suicide of a sibling -- only Sedaris can do this...

I thought Sedaris had lost his fastball, but by engaging with mortality and family issues in a serious way - mixed with his usual fluency and humor - he achieves heights that make Calypso my new favorite Sedaris collection.

My new favorite of David Sedaris’ books. He’s got me giggling and laughing out loud. I find this remarkable as he also manages to touch me deeply. I wish he lived next door to me and we were best friends.

Sedaris doing what he does. It's completely on point. Disturbingly hilarious. He narrates the audio book so the pace and intonations are all his own. Hearing him read his stories makes them that much more authentic and rich.

Every chapter is filled with humor, emotion, and intelligence. One of Sedaris’ best. I highly recommend the audio version; half of the joy of this book comes from hearing Sedaris himself read. It’s “awesome” — sorry, David.

I crow with joy when a new David Sedaris book becomes available. His wit and wisdom shows through each word. He is a bitingly funny as Dorothy Parker, with the heart of the last kid picked for soccer. Calypso did not disappoint.

Life is made up of moments when we tilt our head and say to ourselves, " What was that?"
That's why I like Calypso. It's about those moments. In Maine, where I live, and by the way so does Stephen King, those moments are like a Perseid Metoer shower that never ends.

Loved it! Was so sad when I’d finished, because I wanted more, more, more. (I listened to the audiobook, because I like Sedaris’s delivery so much.) I have enjoyed few, if any, of his books as much as I enjoyed this one. And that’s saying something.

Davis Sedaris is brilliant and this book is beyond compare! He manages to speak to the subjects of alcoholic parents, sibling suicide and aging in a way that is human and honest. Anyone dealing with these will feel so much better when they read this book! Can't wait for his next one!!

As usual David Sedaris does not disappoint! His stories are funny, relatable, amusing, real and just plain a good read. I read this audiobook on my hour-long drive home from work and I highly enjoyed and recommend this book!

Who cares what time of day it is on your beach. Get a physical.

Semi-retired and wealthy from writing gossip on others, his own daily routines have clockwork: oddities, more than redundant. Less than strange or surprising, and stop before they get us thinking.

Loved it! Was so sad when I’d finished, because I wanted more, more, more. (I listened to the audiobook, because I like Sedaris’s delivery so much.) I have enjoyed few, if any, of his books as much as I enjoyed this one. And that’s saying something.

Davis Sedaris is brilliant and this book is beyond compare! He manages to speak to the subjects of alcoholic parents, sibling suicide and aging in a way that is human and honest. Anyone dealing with these will feel so much better when they read this book! Can't wait for his next one!!

As usual David Sedaris does not disappoint! His stories are funny, relatable, amusing, real and just plain a good read. I read this audiobook on my hour-long drive home from work and I highly enjoyed and recommend this book!

Total waste of time and money.If you want to laugh,you would have more luck watching "Everybody Loves Raymond". This book will go into the fireplace.It will not even have a place on my shelves.

David Sedaris is that friend we all have - you know, the one who says such outrageous things that you're not quite sure how to respond, but still are eager to talk to them and hear more. In previous books, this played out as social observations from someone who admittedly feels they're better than most other people, with some family stories. He always had a way to bring a point unexpectedly from the story, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, sometimes both.

As is pointed out frequently in this book, David is aging. Much of the book is about his family: his father, deceased mother and sister, and surviving siblings. There's his typical honesty for much of it, unflinching as he talks about the flaws of his family, yet it feels much too raw this time, like pulling back the tape on a crime scene just to peer inside. This left me unsettled in ways his previous books had not - prompted not by sympathy for the dead, but wondering if some of the stories should have remained in his personal diaries rather than in print.

An example of the writing:

"I’m constantly surprised and delighted by some of the things I hear while traveling across the United States. I’m thinking of a fellow bus passenger who turned to me as our driver barely missed a pedestrian, saying, “See, he don’t love life.” Of a Memphis panhandler who called as I passed, “Hey, man, why don’t you buy me a Co-Cola?” Of the newsstand cashier who did not suggest I buy a bottle of water but, rather, looked at the price of my Sunday Times and said, “That’s five dollars, baby. You OK widdat?” Or of the pilot who somberly said as he turned off the seat belt sign at the end of a flight, “All rise.”

Now that’s what I’m talking about."

Since this was the first book I read by David Sedaris, I really didn't want to know this much about him. Maybe if you were a fan of his previous books you would want to. But not me. I felt like I was a stranger and he was confiding in me more than I wanted to hear. But some parts were funny, so three stars.

David Sedaris..... Wonderful! He is such a gifted story teller. I love this new audio collection of his tales and observations. It is like running into an old friend after a long absence. His biting wit is as sharp as ever.

I have almost all of David Sedaris's books and have enjoyed them all. This one is very similar to the rest. But this one gives insights into his family that I hadn't known and his relationship and his English home. For those who are familiar with Sedaris, you will be comfortable with an extension of your knowledge. For those who don't know, this will give you a sense of who he is.

I've been reading David Sedaris since I was in my twenties. I love his work and we are of a similar age. I'm 51. I found this latest collection of essays to be better than ever. He's become more thoughtful and of course is still incredibly funny. I find I can really relate to his view on life as it relates to getting older. You can't go wrong with any of his books but if you've read his other books this one will seem especially poignant because over the years you really feel like you get to know him and his family.

This guy is so full of himself. He's the loser from fifth grade who makes himself "notable" (but never a favorite) by talking about gross things, including his fascination with animal snuff porn, including shooting a kitten through the head, feeding his tumor to wild turtles, dead things, and his own feces and that of his family. Ha ha ha. The life of the party.

If we think this is "lively" or "funny" no wonder we find ourselves in the political mess we are currently in and children shivering in cages in tinfoil, separated from their parents. Can anyone stand up for decency? And no, humor is not in death, feces, feeding tumors to wild animals, and shooting a kitten in the head. There are plenty of comedians, new and old, who don't trade in that --- Abbott and Costello, Johnny Carson, Gabriel Iglesias, Jerry Seinfeld.

It is a shame that this book is a best seller. It is vile, and it degrades us. So disappointing. Just plain disgusting. He's lucky he didn't grow up near me because if he started with that nonsense in the fifth grade, talking about animal abuse near me, he would have had to make a trip to the nurse's office. Nothing cute or cool or funny about animal abuse in the fifth grade, and nothing cute about it as grown ups. Who broadcasts that kind of thing to turn a dollar?

The guy is a just plain gross weirdo, and nothing would surprise me about him. Not animal abuse, child abuse, or things much worse. He has way too much time on his hands, and revels way too much in the truly macabre.

Total waste of time and money.If you want to laugh,you would have more luck watching "Everybody Loves Raymond". This book will go into the fireplace.It will not even have a place on my shelves.