David Sedaris: Calypso (2018, Little, Brown Book Group Limited)
256 pages
English language
Published Jan. 6, 2018 by Little, Brown Book Group Limited.
Shout-out to Susan for her aces recommendation to listen to Sedaris on audiobook. A ray of twisted sunshine in a shadowy world.
Another great collection of stories from the author's life, with a special emphasis on stories involving his parents. If you enjoy Sedaris's observational humor, "Your English is So Good" is a highlight. Indeed, check out the audio book version to hear the author read it in front of a live audience.
Thank you, Matthew, for recommending this to me. I've always enjoyed David Sedaris, but for some reason, haven't read him in a very long time.
This was indeed a different Sedaris experience. As usual, there is something in the way he tells a story that mesmerizes me, keeps me glued, almost in trance like state. I found myself envying his Fitbit obsession a little bit (I'd read some of that before), marveling at his taste in clothes (I'm siding with Hugh), puzzled and amazed that he would let someone he just met perform surgery on him--and truly baffled and grossed out with the turtle feeding bit. Trust me, if you haven't read this, I'm not giving anything away; you'll never guess.
There is always an undercurrent of sadness in Sedaris's work, which he magically balances with humor. However, in this collection of essays, the humor is muted. Sure, there were …
Thank you, Matthew, for recommending this to me. I've always enjoyed David Sedaris, but for some reason, haven't read him in a very long time.
This was indeed a different Sedaris experience. As usual, there is something in the way he tells a story that mesmerizes me, keeps me glued, almost in trance like state. I found myself envying his Fitbit obsession a little bit (I'd read some of that before), marveling at his taste in clothes (I'm siding with Hugh), puzzled and amazed that he would let someone he just met perform surgery on him--and truly baffled and grossed out with the turtle feeding bit. Trust me, if you haven't read this, I'm not giving anything away; you'll never guess.
There is always an undercurrent of sadness in Sedaris's work, which he magically balances with humor. However, in this collection of essays, the humor is muted. Sure, there were some laugh out loud moments for me, but not as many--and the valleys were deeper.
David's frankness about some aspects of his family life is searing. He mentions his late sister Tiffany quite a bit in these essays. Tiffany took her own life. It must have been immensely hard for him to write about the relationship he had with her, and what must be a harsh regret. There is one thing I have in common with the author, and unfortunately, many others: I had a sibling who took his own life. It's not the same story at all, but still--the regret, the unfinished business, is all too familiar. David's chapter is "Now We Are Five." We all have a chapter title for that...it's complicated, forever more.
Sedaris can write about extremely personal topics without self-consciousness, which is a marvel. I found myself feeling a little worried about him and his relationship with Hugh. And clothes! I did google a brand he mentioned and--an intervention may be possible, but then, it's something he loves doing with his sisters Gretchen and Amy, so perhaps it's all good. Or rather, one can see some good in--enjoying some time with the sisters.
