Calypso

By: David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

If you've ever laughed your way through David Sedaris's cheerfully misanthropic stories, you might think you know what you're getting with Calypso. You'd be wrong. 

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 realisation: 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 writing has 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 realise that the story of your life is made up of more past than future.

This is beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumour joke. Calypso is simultaneously Sedaris's darkest and warmest book yet - and it just might be his very best.

©2018 David Sedaris (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK

Critic Reviews

"Unquestionably the king of comic writing...Calypso is both funnier and more heartbreaking than pretty much anything out there." (Hadley Freeman, Guardian) 

“In Calypso, David Sedaris’s essays marry meditations on family, suicide, grief and mortality with the hazards of bodily functions and frequent travel for his massively popular public readings. Sedaris is as much standup comic as writer, making this a great audio and one for the car journey.” (Aminatta Forna)  

Funny and sad

Really funny but also surprisingly sad, probably because even though my family and life are pretty different, it was so easy to relate to.

Better than ever!

Wonderful stories by DAVID Sedaris again. Funny and poignant and intimate and just wonderful. Best yet.

Enjoyed everything except...

the live recordings. It was still classical Sedaris, but I found the audience’s laughing inappropriate at times

A 'laugh out loud' treat!

As always, David Sedaris entertains and his frankness, humour and sensitivity, plus his obvious love for his family and loved ones, shines through in Calypso. However, having read/listened to almost everything he has written, I was a little dissapointed that some stories from previous books are included in this one and this leaves me feeling slightly short changed.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Rrpeat repeat

I was disappointed to discover I have heard a lot of this material before. I think as parts of the bbc‘s ‘Meet David Sedaris’ series. Low rating for story is because it isn’t one so really this is not applicable. This is still laugh out loud funny though and the new material I really enjoyed. Particularly the touching piece about his sitter Tiffany.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Not what I expected but thoroughly enjoyed it.

when I bought this I was expecting I different type if humour. However, I did thoroughly enjoy it. I felt it was very true to life and I could relate to a number of his stories, or could see other family members doing similar things. Due to it being a very real account of his life some parts are very emotional .

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

laughed out loud on the train..<br />

laughed out loud in the train and was stared at by some people who thought I was mad

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A heartwarming and smile inducing listen

As a fan of Sedaris' work, this didn't disappoint. If you've enjoyed his other books, I see no reason why this would be any different!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

One of his best

Totally loved this book. Tender, observant and frequently hilarious. I’ve read everything he’s written and this is one of his best

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another Slice of Sedaris Life

More essays about the life of David Sedaris and the characters that inhabit it, mostly hysterically funny, sometimes piercingly poignant and very occasionally heartbreakingly sad. Never boring, that's for sure. I listened to this in two big chunks as I always feel, somehow, befriended by the author and wanting to join in the conversation. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Found it boring

But disappointed as it's a bit boring if I'm honest. After reading reviews was expecting to not stop laughing

Dry humour at its very best

Sedaris is, in my opinion, a genius in writing. His darkly comic observations on all aspects of life, from rubbish collection to suicide, are handled in a way that neither disregards decency or humour. While we may not all share in his life experience, the open and unfiltered accounts he give leave the reader with the feeling of stepping in and out of someone else’s life and mind. Furthermore, his execution emphasises every possible piece of comedy and is even better as an audiobook than a written novel for it. As his most recent work (in 2018), it focuses more on middle age so I might consider downloading some of his earlier works first if you are new to him, but you will not miss out by starting with ‘Calypso’ either. So, unless you are extremely squeamish, this should be a compulsory listen.

Always A Five Star Experience

It’s David Sedaris, what more do you need to know. Brilliant observational comedic writing read as always wonderfully by the man himself.