Calypso

Some parts of this collection of essays are exquisite, and even I read them twice, but as always with Sedaris, it ‘s a mixed bag. “Your English Is So Good” made me howl. However, for some reason Sedaris has this fascination with people pooping. Such humor is not my cup of tea, so to speak. The essay “I’m Still Standing” made me gag several times (elderly people bepooping themselves in the close quarters of a crowded plane doesn’t tickle my funny bone, I’m sorry); furthermore, poop allusions can be found splattered across the text. Come on, David! That is just so juvenile, or maybe I’m just a squeamish prude. And I do understand that Sedaris is trying to bring out the humor that accompanies the decrepitude and disappointments of getting older and then of getting much older. Of course, most of it is black humor that can be a little depressing, but some of it is just straight-foward humor related to the ironies of life. Overall, I still recommend reading this collection because it contains more gold than dung.

If you love David Sedaris’ writing, I promise that his newest book of stories entitled CALYPSO will make you laugh, perhaps cry a tiny bit, and love him even more (which I didn’t know was possible), and wonder how can a grown man have the imagination of a child (a slightly twisted one) at times, anthropomorphize foxes but not think it necessary for him to be locked up, realize that his siblings share the same language and sick sense of humor and should be crowned as our own American royalty because their humor is so badass, and I am still holding out for a Sedaris family documentary written by David, starring David, directed by David but equally starring his father, sisters, his partner Hugh, and bit roles to Hugh’s mother and sister, as well as his brother Paul’s wife and daughter must be playing Sorry! as they do so well and absolutely get producer credit.If you need me, I’ll be re-reading CALYPSO. When you finish it and want to talk about escapades at his house in Sussex, their family trips to the beach on Emerald Isle, or when he and his sisters go shopping in Tokyo, think of me as your go-to virtual book club member.

This is a collection of essays mostly about family and relationships: between Sedaris and his husband; Sedaris and his siblings; Sedaris and his father. The author has the rare talent to make descriptions and observations about mundane day to day existence, extremely entertaining. Reading Calypso is like eating comfort food. It sits well and you don’t want it to end.Chief among the characters is paterfamilias Sedaris. The Sedaris clan are a close-knit bunch and as Sedaris states: their father waited until late in the game to steal their hearts. Growing up, their Dad was a somewhat detached figure. But with the passage of time and a softening of his edges; he is a lovable curmudgeon who regularly nags the author about looking after his health.Among my favorite passages were Sedaris’s reflections on: middle age, Fitbit obsession, shopping sprees and hanging out with family on vacation. Sales for the board game Sorry may have spiked as a result of his observations about game strategy and the play of his 12-year old “show no mercy” niece.Sedaris muses about his sister Tiffany. She was estranged from the family (what fun she missed out on!) and lived a hard scrabble, tragic life. Also, very sad, is his description of an unfettered public expression of racism that he witnessed as a boy after his family had settled in North Carolina.The only passage that didn’t work for me, was his comparison of swearing and cursing in various cultures. It goes on for way too long and it felt like filler material.Reading Calypso often made me laugh out loud and usually had me grinning. I wholeheartedly agree with one sentiment that Sedaris expressed; I have zero interest in hearing about the dream that you had last night.

I enjoyed much of the humor in Calypso - Sederis is very witty and fun at times - but too much of it descends into low-brow humor at the expense of others to whom he betrays an attitude bordering on arrogance. The potty talk is so juvenile and unfunny as is the feeding of his "tumor" to a turtle. And his horrible shutting of the door in the face of his mentally ill sister Tiffany who later commits suicide shows how hard-hearted and unfeeling he can be. At least the famous writer could have given her a couple of twenties and sent her on her way.

I love David Sedaris, but... I found this book, if you can call it that, to be severely self-indulgent. OK, I know that's what he does, but this was a little over the top. More a diary than a funny book. There were moments, of course. I thought his story about the tumor was funny. There is another thing that bothers me. After bathing in the latest Follet book for weeks, I found this to be a gyp. What is it? 100 pages? And not cheap either. You could literally read it in a couple bathroom sits.Oh hell, I'd still buy it again because I just like hearing stories about a family that was nearly as dysfunctional as my own.

This is my first experience with David Sedaris and I was, after reading the glowing accolades on the book jacket, expecting a rollicking laugh-out-loud read. This book is not that. This is a rather touching memoir, presented in a series of self-contained essays, reflecting on Sedaris' life within a moderately dysfunctional family. The story includes suicide, alcoholism, bullying by a domineering father and the heart-warming bonds forged by the siblings - still strong and affectionate in spite of the different life paths taken. It is, to be sure, often amusing - but not the hilarious laugh-fest you might expect.

Writer and essayist David Sedaris first came to my attention on the BBC’s Radio 4 ‘Meet David Sedaris’ series a few years ago. Having found myself completely entranced and highly amused by his stories, I thought it was about time I got hold of one of his books.In this volume, many of the tales centre around the beach house he bought on the Carolina coast, and the various family interactions that take place at the property. The prospect of getting older and the inevitability of death are very much at the forefront in this collection, and while the author’s knack of turning an ordinary story into an hilarious escapade is still very much in evidence, he also has the power to move the reader to tears.I chuckled my way through this collection and had many genuine laugh-out-loud moments, so I can say with complete sincerity that this is the funniest book I’ve read in years. David Sedaris is an insightful writer with true comic genius. Buy his books today.

Love love Love David's books only problem is I read them so fast too fast, I devour his books in a couple of evenings and then left void of his humour and family insight until the next is released. I have now taken to reading his books again taking my time and letting the shared experience settle with me, I also watch and listen to my family and friends differently now.Thank you David

Has excelled himself regarding wit, observations, and descriptions of family life. Laughing out loud on one page and lump in my throat on the next. Brilliant writing. Trying to pace my reading so I don’t finish it too soon in order to extend enjoyment of it.

Wonderful!! Have enjoyed David Sefdaris's radio shows of diary and other readings for a few years now, but reading the words is even better. At times very funny, sometimes a bit sad, but always very human. These diaries are often compared to Alan Bennet's, and while they are different in style and content, for me they are enjoyable in similar ways. I'm now going to go back through the previous books and hopefully enjoy those also.