Happy-Go-Lucky

De: David Sedaris

Narrado por: David Sedaris

An Audie Award Winner

David Sedaris, the “champion storyteller,” (Los Angeles Times) returns with his first new collection of personal essays since the bestselling Calypso.

Back when restaurant menus were still printed on paper, and wearing a mask—or not—was a decision made mostly on Halloween, David Sedaris spent his time doing normal things. As Happy-Go-Lucky opens, he is learning to shoot guns with his sister, visiting muddy flea markets in Serbia, buying gummy worms to feed to ants, and telling his nonagenarian father wheelchair jokes.

But then the pandemic hits, and like so many others, he’s stuck in lockdown, unable to tour and read for audiences, the part of his work he loves most. To cope, he walks for miles through a nearly deserted city, smelling only his own breath. He vacuums his apartment twice a day, fails to hoard anything, and contemplates how sex workers and acupuncturists might be getting by during quarantine.

As the world gradually settles into a new reality, Sedaris too finds himself changed. His offer to fix a stranger’s teeth rebuffed, he straightens his own, and ventures into the world with new confidence. Newly orphaned, he considers what it means, in his seventh decade, no longer to be someone’s son. And back on the road, he discovers a battle-scarred America: people weary, storefronts empty or festooned with Help Wanted signs, walls painted with graffiti reflecting the contradictory messages of our time: Eat the Rich. Trump 2024. Black Lives Matter.

In Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris once again captures what is most unexpected, hilarious, and poignant about these recent upheavals, personal and public, and expresses in precise language both the misanthropy and desire for connection that drive us all. If we must live in interesting times, there is no one better to chronicle them than the incomparable David Sedaris.

©2022 David Sedaris (P)2022 Little, Brown & Company

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Sedaris's latest update on his family and society brings the funny. Still, there's growing depth and empathy in his writing and delivery. Sure, shooting guns with his sister and visiting his nonagenarian father bring laugh-out-loud moments. But profound reflections also pepper his writing as his tone and delivery match his heartrending observations. Sedaris chronicles the Covid-19 pandemic and all the absurdities of reactions to precautions. His voice matches the frustration and bewilderment of lockdown and life behind a mask." (AudioFile)

“A sweet-and-sour set of pieces on loss, absurdity, and places they intersect… Sedaris remains stubbornly irreverent even in the face of pandemic lockdowns and social upheaval.”—Kirkus Reviews

Always 5 out of 5 stars

I love everything David Sedaris writes. I was dissapointed that so much of the book was previously published in The New Yorker though.

I enjoyed the story about his father's inappropriate behavior. I know that's horrible to say, but I've been reading his books since he was just breaking out in the 90s, and while he is a master of self depreciation, I've always sensed huge intentional gaps about his family dynamic. Obviously, the family has a right to their privacy, so I truly appreciate his willingness to share such difficult topics with us all.

I miss stories about his mother. It is clear in his essays that he loved her so deeply, and even when he relays negative details he does it with such care and delicacy. I enjoy her stories immensely.

If only I could tell a story like that

It is so enjoyable to listen to David Sedaris tell stories. Some people might find him offensive but if anyone’s honest with themselves they know they think the same way… Sick and twisted from time to time. I hope he takes it as a compliment. The only thing that made me feel a bit bummed out was that I had listen to a bunch of his talkshow and podcast appearances before listening to his books and the stories do repeat so lesson learned… But this is also my first book of his that I have read/listened to so if I go back to the beginning and read some of his early work I’m sure I will be delighted through and through

His best yet. Funny, dark, thoughtful.

This collection of stories are easily some of my favorites. Funny, touching, heartbreaking, enlightening. Moving through family laughs, dysfunction, abuse, and love, David Sedaris speaks to so much of what so many of us understand. There are cringey stories and stories that help frame some of the horrible events we all endured during the pandemic. He also walks us through his experience grieving the death of his father, who had somewhat of a transformation near the end of his life. This not uncommon theme - abusive young father to loving elderly father - is thoughtfully explored. Each topic in the book is truly well crafted with his trademark acerbic humor cutting right through the darkest moments. I enjoyed every minute spent listening to this book.

Never tire of this guy

As weird as he sometimes gets, I find myself nodding in agreement, laughing in recognition of an insightful truth, delighting in his outrage at annoying people, and marveling at his curiosity. And despite his umbrage with the inanity of fellow Americans (or maybe because of it), whenever I listen to him speak David Sedaris restores my faith in humanity.

Sedaris never fails

I enjoyed this read. An ironic review of current events. Lots of laughs and a few tears.

The best

I do enjoy and laugh a lot at David’s sense of humor. On the other hand his stories are very poignant.

The absolute Best!

There’s nothing I’d rather do than to listen to David Sedaris read his books! Wonderful

Funny of course

His delivery is wonderful and insights sharp. Classic Sedaris. honesty from the author is endearing.

David Sedaris Masterclass

Perfect. The typical Davjd Sedaris brilliant wit with more depth and specificity I've longed for as a devoted fan.

Hilarious and Heartbreaking

Once again, David Sedaris walks the line between laugh out loud funny and heart wrenching poignancy with perfect execution.