Heartfelt, revealing, and told with Sedaris's singular wit, Calypso ranks among the essayist's best works.

As the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert was airing on Livestream I opened my ebook and began to read. I was soon laughing out loud. A few paragraphs later I laughed even longer and harder. I had to read out loud to my hubby. And then I knew. I could not read Calypso by David Sedaris while listening to the symphony.

I could not read it in bed. I would laugh my husband awake. When could I read it? During the day, with the windows open to let in the fresh spring air, so inviting after a very, very, long winter? What would the neighbors think?

Sedaris, Sedaris. You are such a problem, I thought.

Then I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride because the next story was about David's youngest sister's suicide. All of the siblings had pulled away from the family to "forge our own identities," he explained; except Tiffany stayed away. And later in the book, he remembers his mother's alcoholism and her early death, his father's eccentricities, living with a defunct stove so his kids could inherit more money.

You laugh, you shudder, you feel slightly ill, and you feel sad. Because Sedaris is ruthless enough to write about life, real life, his life in particular, and we all see our own families and own lives in his stories.

I loved Sedaris's chapter on the terrible tyranny of his Fitbit, and how he was adamant that he got to keep his fatty tumor to feed to a turtle. That crazy moment with his dad drove past a man exposing himself and then u-turned to take another look, his young daughter in the car.

Looking at family photos, Sedaris recalled "that moment in a family's life when everything is golden" and the future held promise. In middle age, looking forward ten years "you're more likely to see a bedpan than a Tony Award."

Ouch. Too close to home, David.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

An older, more thoughtful Sedaris. Still very funny but with "growing older" concerns brought on with actual aging and the death of his mother and suicide of his youngest sister. As always a laugh out loud enjoyable read

I am currently on a David Sedaris binge and really resent that I’m coming to his work so late. This book made me laugh out loud, cringe, and wish that I was as comfortable writing about my own family members.

I am so looking forward to Calypso by David Sedaris. Its no secret that I enjoy a memoir and David Sedaris has a great track record with incredible books.

I’m eager to sit down and get into this one. I always think that I need a “sick day” just an excuse to lay around and do nothing but read under the guise of feeling too sick to do anything else, know what I mean?

Here are the details:

When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And life at the Sea Section, as he names the vacation home, is exactly as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it’s impossible to take a vacation from yourself.

With Calypso, Sedaris sets his formidable powers of observation toward middle age and mortality. Make no mistake: these stories are very, very funny-it’s a book that can make you laugh ’til you snort, the way only family can. Sedaris’s powers of observation have never been sharper, and his ability to shock readers into laughter unparalleled. But much of the comedy here is born out of that vertiginous moment when your own body betrays you and you realize that the story of your life is made up of more past than future.

With this one line, “it’s impossible to take a vacation from yourself” I knew exactly what he means and I think this book will resonate with me, I mean..middle age and mortality? Its like he wrote it for me!

While I have loved David Sedaris for the past 15 years, I feel as though I've lost commonalities with him. Unfortunately, I don't own a beach house or a home in the English countryside, nor do I walk miles a day collecting trash, feeding snapping turtles, or criss-crossing the country on tour. I still enjoy his style, but no longer feel that, "I know, right?" connection.

David Sedaris always writes a winning book. Although I usually wait to hear him read the audiobook, I really enjoyed this advance copy!

Another fabulous view into David Sedaris's world! This book is full of the family stories I've come to love, as well as insights into his personal life and travel. The tone is a little more serious than past books, as he discusses his sister's suicide and the election of Donald Trump.

David Sedaris is his hilarious snarky self in his latest collection of essays. We learn more about his family relationships through both humor and pathos. No topic is too intimate or personal to escape Sedaris scathing observations. I really enjoyed reading more of his relationship with longtime love Hugh also. Can’t wait to hear him read these essays!

Thanks to netgalley.com I got an early release of this one! I read a few essays a week to savor them. Mostly this was a rereading as I've seen most in New Yorker and elsewhere, but I still love the experience of reading Sedaris. He's manages to be hyper-observant, funny, and poignant in each one.

Sedaris fans are going to go crazy over this installment. He always makes me laugh and I enjoy his take on life.

In Calypso, David gives us 21 essays, YES, twenty-one essays or stories for us to laugh and maybe even tear-up a little. Some of these essays have been published in various periodicals before, primarily, "The New Yorker," but not to worry. Sedaris' fans follow David like a bloodhound (myself included), but most of these stories sounded fresh to me. David seems more pensive, slightly introspective in these essays. He talks much more about his family in the present-day, which we love to hear, and he clearly loves to tell. His Dad is now 92 but sharp and healthy. It was nice to hear him mention Hugh's late father and what he was like. Also lots more about Gretchen, Lisa, Tiffany and Amy. Hearing about his brother Paul, and his wife Kathy and their daughter Maddy was wonderful. I feel like we're closet cousins to the Sedaris' family and we have a right to know how they're doing! Right!
David is still irreverent, surly and hilarious as always, so there's plenty of laughter. One of my favorite stories is , 'Perfect Fit'; where Amy, Gretchen and David go shopping in Tokyo at a clothes store called, Kapital:
"The clothes they sell are new but appear to have been previously worn, perhaps by someone who was shot or stabbed and then thrown off a boat. Everything looks as if it has been pulled from the evidence rack at a murder trial"
Asked by Hugh and Ma Hamrick why they shop there, "Obviously we have some hole we're trying to fill, but doesn't everyone? And isn't filling it with berets the size of toilet-seat covers, if not more practical, then at least healthier than filling it with frosting or heroin or unsafe sex with strangers?"
Initially, I wanted to comment on each of the 21 essays, but that review would be as long as the book itself. The BOOK is what you want to read. You'll love it, as I did!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Co.

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.

At times heart-wrenching, at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, David Sedaris's new collection of essays will please his fans and recruit new admirers. There is a focus on his family, and particularly the reaction to his youngest sister's suicide. The piece about his mother and her alcoholism is achingly poignant, and throughout the book we learn about many sides of his complicated relationship with his father. Of course, it's fascinating to read about his author persona and book tours, his husband, his many homes, and the big personalities of his sisters. Since we can't all have an in-person visit with Sedaris, this books makes him feel like somebody we want to know.

Already a fan of the whole Sedaris clan, this was a nice collection from various sources, some I had read when they were in the New Yorker, but worth a re-read. I was laughing out loud. A must read.

Sedaris is one of those authors who I can always relate to; Even in the most ridiculous scenarios he makes the absurdity of life sincerely humorous.

To say that this is a biased review might be the understatement of the decade. Many of you are already familiar with my love for the Sedaris family. It began with Amy and Strangers With Candy before I discovered her brother was a writer. Having now read all but one of his collections – and more recently re-listening to several of them during my commute – I have no shame in admitting I am completely smitten with every single one of the Sedaris clan. So much so that when a conversation between two people who didn’t enjoy Sedaris popped up on my feed last week I practically had to cut my fingers off to not interject with a "butbutbutbut" and nearly had myself convinced that the parties must be aliens and I should probably report them to the proper authorities. Then I remembered that people are allowed to have opinions and since David himself is probably well aware that he’s not everyone’s cuppa I should resign myself to that fact too. All that being said, I obviously need mental help and my rating should probably be taken with a grain dumptruck of salt.

Calypso IS good, though. A stand out, even. If you are a fan this should rise to the top of the ranks. With a reoccurring theme of visits with family (and Carol) at home in Sussex as well as at the “Sea Section” beach house in North Carolina, Sedaris delivers both humorous as well as poignant memories in spades – and even though I know I’m not supposed to quote an advanced copy as anything I was privileged enough to read could still end up on the cutting room floor, this little line sums things up perfectly . . . .

“Ours is the only club I’ve ever wanted to be a member of, so I couldn’t imagine quitting.”

Oh how I would love to be a fly on the wall during their “club meetings.”

By this point in my life I’ve actually received numerous offers by friends to attend one of David Sedaris’ public readings which are put on pretty much yearly here by a local bookstore and held at a giant, beautiful, non-denominational church. While I’m flattered that people like me enough to voluntarily spend time with me without being paid to do so, my response is always no. First, because of other humans. Ew. And second, but more importantly, because I’m terrified I would become this a squeeing fangirl.

At this point I don’t think I could settle for less than Thanksgiving at the Sea Section (I still agree with Paul that the Conch Sucker should have been the winner) on Emerald Isle (on the West side of the house where the visitors stay, of course - I’m not psycho). It is there we will binge-watch My 600-lb Life. Afterwards I will help dig a hole in the sand for the turkey deep fryer to sit in and make sure I have plenty of cash on hand to tip Amy while she performs my spa treatment after I kick alllllllll of their asses at Sorry.

I’m also fairly certain that I need a piece of driftwood art in my life like the one that will be featured on the cover. One-eyed raccoons. Such judgey little assholes, right? But you can’t deny the other option featuring a lounging sunbather reading a book is sheer perfection.

Oh, before I forget. I can't sign off until I mention the part about pants pooping. You might not have to love David Sedaris in order to be my friend, but you do have to find people crapping their drawers hilarious. No exceptions.

Man I can’t wait to listen to this one. Every Star.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Hope you don’t regret it!

Sedaris' best in years, this was a compelling book of essays.

As usual, David Sedaris is hilariously clever in his new book, Calypso! He writes about his everyday life -- taking walks in the country side, spending time with his family and, of course, writing yet he manages to find the humour in these humdrum activities. Think about it, how funny can it be picking up garbage on your daily walks, becoming ill while on an airplane, watching your 92 year old father age? Not funny at all, unless you have the genius of Sedaris to find a punchline in even the most mundane story.
I recommend this book!

What a rare treat for a book to make me laugh out loud, especially when it occurs multiple times throughout the book! David Sedaris walks that line between honest, funny and almost mean. His reflections on family, personal life and society ring true and are not to be missed.