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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Calypso is probably my favorite from David Sedaris (with the possible exception of Santaland Diaries), with just the right blend of humor, poignancy, truthfulness, and even a few tears. I never cry over books, but I shed a few when he was writing about his mother. This seems to have been written by a kinder, gentler, more mature Sedaris, but one who still sees the humor in bodily functions, and can now understand and empathize with the shame.
For those looking for a typical laugh-out-loud take on David Sedaris's absurd life, this is not the book for you. Sedaris takes a much more intimate look at his relationship with his boyfriend, Hugh, his sisters, and his parents in this collection of short autobiographical stories. Although I did laugh out loud at parts of this book, it was definitely not light hearted. I applaud Sedaris for being so vulnerable and shamelessly and refreshingly honest about his personal life.
I laughed a good bit, but more than that I felt a lot more than I expected. Everything Sedaris writes about his dad is with such a bittersweet poignancy you can't help but look at your own conflicted emotions around your family of origin.
I suspect bits of this are going to stay with me for a while.
I suspect bits of this are going to stay with me for a while.
Laughed out loud several times. Read this while traveling with family during a reflective, big chapter year.
So witty I laughed out loud multiple times, I was ready for a light, well written, thoughtful read and that’s what I got!
You will find yourself chuckling, sometimes quite heartily, throughout. I really enjoyed it, I’m not really sure how to describe why, but I think it’s because it’s just a well-told story.
Who doesn't love listening to David Sedaris on This American Life? I should've taken that as a cue and gotten this on audio book. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, maybe it would have. But this book sort of fell flat to me. Too much was unbelievable. (Getting a tumor cut out by a random guest at a booking signing??) It was the self-deprecating Sedaris we expect, but it seemed to be a rougher, meaner, harder-edged Sedaris. Listening to him, I think I'd love to be friends with him. Reading this, I'm less inclined to feel that way. He sounds difficult to be around.
I appreciated the family stories...even as I wasn't sure I would want to spend time with any of them.
I expected this to be a fun read, but fun is not the word I would use. Overall, I'm glad I'm done with it.
I appreciated the family stories...even as I wasn't sure I would want to spend time with any of them.
I expected this to be a fun read, but fun is not the word I would use. Overall, I'm glad I'm done with it.
I loved this collection, mainly listening to it on Audiobook as I was traveling, an experience I enjoyed so much that I'm now going back to listen to older Sedaris books that he reads himself in audiobook format. Sedaris is truly best when he is writing about his family, a quirky bunch that are each interesting and funny in their own right. Some of these essays strike serious notes and are very poignant, as the book often addresses his father's age and his sister's suicide, but in true Sedaris fashion he always manages to find humor in life's ordinary moments.
Charming, witty, delightful. I don't know why it's taken me so long to read a David Sedaris book, but I'm hooked. Calypso is short stories, tied together in a theme around Sedaris' beach house in Emerald Isle and his family trips there, clearly something important to their family that leads to hilarious moments. Honestly, it made me a little homesick with all the mentions of Raleigh!