duffymn's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, David. I love you. I appreciate the darker writing, especially around his sister’s suicide. I remember reading facets of it in the New Yorker, and kudos for nailing the true heart of suicide for those left behind. Loved it.
a_ab's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I did not find this book funny at all - not a single occasion to even smile. There are some interesting or clever observations, but they are few and far between. For the most part I was just bored.
pbanditp's review against another edition
DNF. I don’t know if this was sad or funny. Bad episode of Seinfeld. Stating the obvious, looking for a laugh
hannahwouldwhy's review against another edition
4.0
David Sedaris’ second best book after Dress Your Family.
huncamuncamouse's review against another edition
5.0
This is maybe more like 4.5 stars .
I've been a long-time David Sedaris fan, and the humor (and characters) I've come to expect from his work are present throughout Calypso. But there's also a decidedly darker tone to many of these essays, and they tackle weightier material--substance abuse, mental illness, aging, mortality--than I've seen him do before. I think this is his personal best, especially in terms of thinking of this as a unified collection.
I've been a long-time David Sedaris fan, and the humor (and characters) I've come to expect from his work are present throughout Calypso. But there's also a decidedly darker tone to many of these essays, and they tackle weightier material--substance abuse, mental illness, aging, mortality--than I've seen him do before. I think this is his personal best, especially in terms of thinking of this as a unified collection.
enucius11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
4.0
I think this book takes for granted that it isn't the first you've read by him (in which the stories are lighter, and talk more about the parts of his life where he, not loved ones, were struggling); either that or he's just willing to burn some of the good will of strangers, in the way older women have started telling me I will once I turn 40.