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Kelly (and the Book Boar)'s Reviews > Calypso

Calypso by David Sedaris
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it was amazing
bookshelves: arcs, dysfunction-junction, favorites, funny-haha, like-this-or-we-cant-be-friends, read-in-2018, pretty-on-the-outside, you-had-me-at-hello
Read 3 times. Last read April 16, 2018 to April 18, 2018.

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To say that this is a biased review might be the understatement of the decade. Many of you are already familiar with my love for the Sedaris family. It began with Amy and Strangers With Candy before I discovered her brother was a writer. Having now read all but one of his collections � and more recently re-listening to several of them during my commute � I have no shame in admitting I am completely smitten with every single one of the Sedaris clan. So much so that when a conversation between two people who 徱’t enjoy Sedaris popped up on my feed last week I practically had to cut my fingers off to not interject with a "butbutbutbut" and nearly had myself convinced that the parties must be aliens and I should probably report them to the proper authorities. Then I remembered that people are allowed to have opinions and since David himself is probably well aware that he’s not everyone’s cuppa I should resign myself to that fact too. All that being said, I obviously need mental help and my rating should probably be taken with a grain dumptruck of salt.

Calypso IS good, though. A stand out, even. If you are a fan this should rise to the top of the ranks. With a reoccurring theme of visits with family (and Carol) at home in Sussex as well as at the “Sea Section� beach house in North Carolina, Sedaris delivers both humorous as well as poignant memories in spades � and even though I know I’m not supposed to quote an advanced copy as anything I was privileged enough to read could still end up on the cutting room floor, this little line sums things up perfectly . . . .

“Ours is the only club I’ve ever wanted to be a member of, so I couldn’t imagine quitting.�

Oh how I would love to be a fly on the wall during their “club meetings.�

By this point in my life I’ve actually received numerous offers by friends to attend one of David Sedaris� public readings which are put on pretty much yearly here by a local bookstore and held at a giant, beautiful, non-denominational church. While I’m flattered that people like me enough to voluntarily spend time with me without being paid to do so, my response is always no. First, because of other humans . . . .



And second, but more importantly, because I’m terrified I would become this . . . .



At this point I don’t think I could settle for less than Thanksgiving at the Sea Section (I still agree with Paul that the Conch Sucker should have been the winner) on Emerald Isle (on the West side of the house where the visitors stay, of course - I’m not psycho). It is there we will binge-watch My 600-lb Life. Afterwards I will help dig a hole in the sand for the turkey deep fryer to sit in and make sure I have plenty of cash on hand to tip Amy while she performs my spa treatment after I kick alllllllll of their asses at Sorry.

I’m also fairly certain that I need a piece of driftwood art in my life like the one that will be featured on the cover . . . .



One-eyed raccoons. Such judgey little assholes, right? But you can’t deny the other option is sheer perfection . . . .



Oh, before I forget. I can't sign off until I mention the part about pants shitting . . . .



You might not have to love David Sedaris in order to be my friend, but you do have to find people crapping their drawers hilarious. No exceptions.

Man I can’t wait to listen to this one. Every Star.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Hope you don’t regret it!


ORIGINAL "REVIEW:"

Note to Little Brown from my husband: Please give my wife the new Jason Sudakis book so she'll shut up about it already.

Note to husband from myself: Please don't try to help ever again.
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Reading Progress

Finished Reading
April 10, 2018 – Shelved
April 10, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
April 16, 2018 – Started Reading
April 18, 2018 – Finished Reading
April 19, 2018 – Shelved (Audiobook Edition)
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read (Audiobook Edition)
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: arcs
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: dysfunction-junction
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: favorites
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: funny-haha
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: like-this-or-we-cant-be-friends
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: read-in-2018
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: pretty-on-the-outside
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: you-had-me-at-hello
August 16, 2018 – Started Reading (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: audio (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: favorites (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: i-read-it-right (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: like-this-or-we-... (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: read-in-2018 (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Shelved as: summertimesummer... (Audiobook Edition)
August 20, 2018 – Finished Reading (Audiobook Edition)
January 2, 2019 – Shelved as: book-of-the-mont... (Audiobook Edition)

Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)

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message 1: by Beverly (new)

Beverly 😂


message 2: by Crumb (new)

Crumb This is so funny!! Especially the note from you to your husband.. love your sense of humor :-)


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Crumb wrote: "This is so funny!! Especially the note from you to your husband.. love your sense of humor :-)"

Thank you!


Julie G Kelly, I love this!! I’m a Sedaris nut. Is this new material or a “greatest hits� compilation? I’m desperate for something new.


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Julie wrote: "Kelly, I love this!! I’m a Sedaris nut. Is this new material or a “greatest hits� compilation? I’m desperate for something new."

No it's all new! (Well, I mean I'm sure some of these have been published in magazines, but they were all new to me.) They are more current too. Most of the entries are from after when their mother and Tiffany died.


message 6: by Ɗẳ� 2.� (new)

Ɗẳɳ  2.☊ Yeah, at this point, it's probably best to steer clear of his personal appearances.


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Ɗắ� 2.� wrote: "Yeah, at this point, it's probably best to steer clear of his personal appearances."

He even sold out the theater in my hometown and that place is filled with a bunch of knuckledragging cavepeople. Waaaaaay too people-y for me.


message 8: by Ɗẳ� 2.� (new)

Ɗẳɳ  2.☊ The smell alone must be staggering.

We're probably long overdue for an apocalypse event to thin the herd a bit, but don't go getting any clever ideas.


Julie G Kelly: Yea!!! I'm so excited.


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Suren wrote: ""

Not today Satan<\s> spammer.


message 11: by debra (new)

debra Love your review, Kelly! Don't know how I missed this( Well... I prob saw it and then fell on my head again.) Anyways" it's being released to thepeons public May 29-yay! Tried to recommend OverDrive to please buy it for me, but they told me to GFM until 7 days have passith. : ))


Kelly (and the Book Boar) debra wrote: "Love your review, Kelly! Don't know how I missed this( Well... I prob saw it and then fell on my head again.) Anyways" it's being released to thepeons public May 29-yay! Tried to recommend OverDriv..."

I'm so jealous your system actually buys what you want - mine pretty much gives me a "we'll take it under advisement, you effing psycho book hoarder" form letter.


Melanie Your review is fantastic Kelly and I can't wait to read this. I love David :))


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Thank you Melanie! I hope you love it ... but I still call dibs on the best guest room at the Sea Section ; )


message 15: by Melissa (new) - added it

Melissa LOVE the ELF .gif! That would be me too!! I met him once, but it was wayyyyy to quick. A few sentences, a smile, and a hand shake! My ex led me away stuttering and sputtering. LOL!


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Melissa wrote: "LOVE the ELF .gif! That would be me too!! I met him once, but it was wayyyyy to quick. A few sentences, a smile, and a hand shake! My ex led me away stuttering and sputtering. LOL!"

Oh he doesn't let people touch him anymore so you are super lucky!!!!


message 17: by Melissa (new) - added it

Melissa Kelly (and the Book Boar) wrote: Oh he doesn't let people touch him anymore so you are super lucky!!!!
I met him in 2011.



Debbie LOVED your review, Kelly!

-You're hysterical--which matches this hysterical book!
-Funny, I used to HATE gifs!!! Who says we old farts can't change? Loved all the ones you picked.
-And damn, in my review, I forgot to include the poop-in-pants story as a favorite! What was I thinking? I loved that story!
-Loved your conversation with hubby.


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Debbie wrote: "LOVED your review, Kelly!

-You're hysterical--which matches this hysterical book!
-Funny, I used to HATE gifs!!! Who says we old farts can't change? Loved all the ones you picked.
-And damn, in..."


Thank you so much Debbie! I loved figuring out how to use gifs - they fill in the blanks since I don't use words as well as most of you other reviewers : )

Poor hubby. I actually bought a roll of stickers like this:



when a group of us at work took on a new assignment and felt like we sucked at everything that we passed around to each other as a reminder to not take every complaint to heart. I should have given him one for his "help" ; )


Diane Barnes Your review is ALMOST as good as the book itself. How can anyone not love David Sedaris? Heartless, judgey people with no sense of humor maybe. Sad.


Kelly (and the Book Boar) Thank you Diane!


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