Calypso

I only discovered David Sedaris' writings a couple of years ago, and already, I have pretty much read everything this man has scribbled. I love how he can take the tiniest moments, like a hotel elevator ride, and then blow it up into a hilarious life lesson.

His family sits at the center of his creative fodder, and his observations on life, death, and love are laugh-out-loud funny. This book is more than just a collection of essays; it is an artfully threaded story of the unique and sometimes complicated love he has for his family. 

I’m a big fan of Sedaris, and whether or not it is deserved, my work has been compared to his. I’ve read or listened to but always enjoyed his writing.

In this one, he deals with deeply personal moments, and yet he still makes me laugh. Humor has been a critical component in my life, getting me through the toughest of life’s adventures. Here, David gets dark as he delves into his family dynamics and his sister’s suicide.

This hit home as I, too, am one of six, and suicide has hit my family, although two generations before me. I… show more.

I love humorists who give us more than just a laugh, and David Sedaris always goes beneath the surface of comical situations to find a deeper meaning. 

I’m an only child, so it’s fascinating to me to read about the bliss and tragedy of being a member of a large family. This writer has elevated the craft of the personal essay like no other. What inspires me most about him is that is unapologetically himself – even when himself is weird and odd and almost creepy. 

It has taken me a lifetime to learn to stop apologizing for who I… show more.