‘Call him something stupid like Calypso’ – my first venture into a David Sedaris book and it’s a good one
Calypso – the blurb
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.
Fitbits, turtles and Japanese clothing
Calypso is a set of short stories, or memoirs if you will about David, his family and life as an author. It is at times deeply personal and moving (his dad and sister Tiffany), at times really funny (insults from behind the wheel) and sometimes just bizarre (clothes shopping in Japan). I didn’t really know the guy going into the book but found reading about his life really interesting. And how original is that cover!
It was my book club’s book but a refreshing break from Doctor Zhivago which I’m currently ploughing my way through. I would say the blurb isn’t really a realistic depiction of the book, Sedaris seems perfectly at home in his skin with no vacation needed. It would however make a cracking holiday read, easily dipped into on a balcony or by the pool. I’ll definitely be looking for his back catalog next time I’m browsing.
