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Calypso
'Unquestionably the king of comic writing' Guardian
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Check link for latest rating. ( 144,076 ratings, 12,891 reviews)
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Calypso
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
The long-awaited new collection of stories from David Sedaris, America's favourite humorist.
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Description
'Sedaris is the premier observer of our world and its weirdnesses' Adam Kay, author of THIS IS GOING TO HURT
'He's like an American Alan Bennett' Guardian
A New York Times Notable Book of 2018
'Entrancing . . . This book allows us to observe not just the nimble-mouthed elf of his previous work, but a man in his seventh decade expunging his darker secrets and contemplating mortality . . . The brilliance of David Sedaris's writing is that his very essence, his aura, seeps through the pages of his books like an intoxicating cloud, mesmerising us so that his logic becomes ours' Alan Cumming, Scotsman
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.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Calypso by David Sedaris is widely praised for its blend of humour and poignancy, offering a candid look at the author's life and family. Critics highlight Sedaris's ability to turn everyday events into comic gold while also delivering an introspective and moving meditation on themes of love, death, and familial relationships. With comparisons to Alan Bennett, reviewers commend Sedaris's skillful phrasing and the way he presents his extraordinary life in an engagingly ordinary manner, allowing readers to feel both entertained and deeply touched.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349141893
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 04 June 2019
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Abacus
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 126.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 220g
Pages: 272
Collections
About the Author
David Sedaris is the author of twelve previous books, including, most recently, A Carnival of Snackery, The Best of Me, and Calypso. He is a regular contributor to the New Yorker and BBC Radio 4. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, the Jonathan Swift Prize for Satire and Humor, and the Terry Southern Prize for Humor.
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