Calypso

I don’t think I could love David Sadaris more if I tried .....he’s already filled my entire heart - body - mind - soul - spirit - and funny bone with enough uplifting, awesome and amazing, unforgettable storytelling for a lifetime with the collection of these stories.
They are passionate and affecting — achingly good - urgent and surprising - contemporary and insightful - playful and outlandish- showing us the beauty in the broken — and ultimately teaching us to choose love.

A few times I laughed sooooo hard ( I’ve done this once or twice with a special book:
(Roz Chast comes to mind), while reading sentences to my husband at 5am in the morning- waiting for him to wake - so I could jump him with David Sedaris stories.
I’m home sick with a nasty infection in my throat - but it’s true ‘good’ laugher is healing! When you can’t even finish a sentence out loud because you’re laughing so hard yourself - a nerve has been hit!

I also felt deeply moved - touched - and blessed from memories David shared that were sensitive topics —DAVID IS SO OPEN TO LISTEN FOR UNDERSTANDING....including his own. I really can’t thank him enough for this book. To me- it’s the fullness - most beautiful- breathtaking- ‘rainbow-of-humanity’.

So a few little tidbits... Quotes & Thoughts....
Random picking.....[ There is not a dull let-up in any of these stories].

“In the ocean that afternoon, I watched my brother play with his daughter. The waves were high, and Madelyn hung laughing off Paul’s shoulders, I thought of how we use to do the same with our own father. It was the only time any of us ever touched him”.

“It’s not that our father waited till this late in the game to win our hearts. It’s that he was succeeding”.

“As I grow older, I find that people I know become crazy in one of two ways”....
David will share in details of the TWO WAYS PEOPLE BECOME *Crazy* in the story
“Leviathan”. I was laughing - shaking my head - rolling my eyes - AGREEING- laughing - laughing some more! Right on, David!

I was very impress that David had a GRABBER. I’ll pick up trash if I see it on a trail to toss in the trash can .... I’ll even clean the sinks in ladies bathrooms in restaurants so that a flood of water isn’t all over the counter sink for the next person who walks in.......but I don’t carry a GRABBER. David does.
So one day, David was collecting trash with his grabber. He said it’s always the usual things “ potato chip bags, candy wrappers, Redbull cans”.....
but.....”a strap-on penis?”
“It was Band-Aid colored about three inches long and not much bigger than a Vienna sausage”.
“Bare minimum?” ...... “Like AAA breast implants?”
“Who had this person been trying to satisfy, a Cabbage Patch Doll?”


The stories are OUTSTANDING- SATISFYING - TO FULLY ENJOY!
Taking place in airports, on the plane, about his family - his siblings ( Tiffany committed suicide) - his 92 year old father - memories of his mother - about middle age and aging - trips to the dermatologist ( I can relate)- doctors - ( I can relate)- tumors- his beach house on Emerald Isle - ( find out what people feed the turtles) -
Shopping in Tokyo with one of his sisters - his relationship with his partner, Hugh- an English- speaking program David puts together for business travelers visiting the United States - obsessions with Fitbit - a love affair with an Omega juicer...etc.

These stories are extremely refreshing!

I want a “Calypso....I love David Sedaris” T-Shirt!

Thank You Little Brown and Company, Netgalley, and *David Sedaris*

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By far the best collection of essays I've read. Some of these stories were heartbreaking. And some of them were ridiculously funny - case in point...the second to last essay had me laughing until tears were steaming down my face, and I almost got a headache from the force of it.
The man is a national treasure and I would read his shopping list.

US Release date: May 29 2018

*review will be posted to my blog, Amazon etc closer to release date '

Sedaris is an observer like no other. This latest collection of essays showcases his trademark humor (hilarity, really) while offering a more introspective side to the author. Despite living through challenging times, his sharp wit remains in tact.

I was fortunate enough to see David speak last fall here in Birmingham, Alabama--he's been coming for years, and every year miss out. but finally, my husband and I got tickets, and got to meet him! he signed my old copy of Me Talk Pretty One Day--"Thank you for making me rich" (I told him I worked in a bookstore! I was delighted!). Anyway, a few of the topics he covered that night are revisited here (to my delight) in his newest effort, Calypso. David has mellowed a bit over the years--still a keen observer, but also sensitive to the pain of others (and himself), he's still hilarious and great writer. His family is still reeling from the suicide of Tiffany, his troubled older sister. They miss their mom, and David has become more tolerant of his elderly dad and his flaws and foibles--mainly because he recognizes any day could be their last together. There were a few chapters where I found myself weeping. But in the very next chapter, David had me hooting loudly! I adore his writing. He never fails to make me laugh. And we all need that nowadays...

I love, love, love David Sedaris! I enjoyed so much about this book. There is his usual humor but a lot more insight and sadness into his person life than he normal writes. Can't wait to see him in person in June!

First line: Though there’s an industry built on telling you otherwise, there are few real joys to middle age.

Summary: In the newest book by David Sedaris we get a look into his life in England and at his beach house in North Carolina. He tells stories of his family, partner and the neighborhood fox.

Highlights: I think this is one of my favorite books by him. Ever since I was introduced to him, I have picked up everything I can find by him. He makes me laugh and think. In this book he switched from hilarious stories about have a stomach virus on a book tour to the death of his sister. It was fun and heart felt at the same time. I think in this we get an even deeper look into his life. He bares his family secrets and his soul. I was heartbroken when reading about the last time he saw his sister, Tiffany. I laughed until I cried when reading about the trash he picks up along the road near his home. The stories of his parents were so sad. It takes a lot of courage to write these things. And David does it so well. I cannot wait to see him at a local book signing. I am going to completely fangirl over him!

Lowlights: NOTHING!

FYI: He is going to be at Watermark Books in Wichita on June 20th!!!

Sedaris collects observations. What makes him different from the rest of us, then? Who else would ferret out a favorite curse of Bulgarians: "May you build a house out of your kidney stones"? My sides ache from pain and laughter.

I'm always suspicious when something says a book is a writer's best work. I saw a claim that CALYPSO is David Sedaris's best work yet and thought, yeah right. But the thing is it just might be.

I've always thought that DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM was perhaps the most notable Sedaris essay collection because he is right on point with pulling each piece together in the end. There are a few essays in CALYPSO that don't quite have that same seamless execution, but overall they are truly notable. The content of the essays is rich and hilarious (which was missing from his last couple of essay collections, in my opinion). Whether he's talking about gastrointestinal viruses, his beach house (affectionately called "The Sea Section") or his late sister, Sedaris is at the top of his game here. if it's not his best work yet, then it's at least essential reading for any Sedaris fan.

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.