Happy-go-lucky by David Sedaris

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else read this? I need someone to talk to about it. The main theme is his father's death, and the weird juxtaposition between how he was near death and how he was in life.

[Anonymous]

Loved it.

[Anonymous]

Darker and more introspective than his previous work, but I enjoyed reading it. He's likely facing down his own mortality.

[Anonymous]

Haven’t read it, but I love David Sedaris,especially his audio books, which he reads. I will look for it. Thanks OP.

[Anonymous]

Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

OP. She’s mentioned as well. Yes, I think it’s darker or at least similar. He’s discussing whether the treatment the kids received from their father was abusive.

[Anonymous]

Couldn't get through this and some other of his works. I gave up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

OP. She’s mentioned as well. Yes, I think it’s darker or at least similar. He’s discussing whether the treatment the kids received from their father was abusive.

Hmm. If he comes across as having more empathy towards Tiffany with the distance of time I might start reading him again. I stopped for a while after the Tiffany New Yorker article. https://www.metafilter.com/133059/Now-thats-a-big-family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

OP. She’s mentioned as well. Yes, I think it’s darker or at least similar. He’s discussing whether the treatment the kids received from their father was abusive.

Hmm. If he comes across as having more empathy towards Tiffany with the distance of time I might start reading him again. I stopped for a while after the Tiffany New Yorker article. https://www.metafilter.com/133059/Now-thats-a-big-family

It's been a while since I read his other books so it's hard to compare, but he does revisit her life and death and consider whether she was abused at home in addition to at the rehabilitation center she was sent to. I really appreciated that part because we have a very similar dynamic in my family. A mentally ill member claims her father sexually abused her, and no one else had that experience or thinks it likely, and it's hard to believe someone who is clearly not sane, but you don't want to totally dismiss them either. It's very hard to deal with.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed this book. It was sad to me that it seemed he was re-processing his entire life. I think people go through that stage naturally at times, but his was spurred by the me too movement which unlocked some disturbing memories of his father. He also seemed to wrestle with years of rejection by his father and his ultimate desire to be accepted by him when his father died. He came across as very honest and transparent, and vulnerable and sad.

[Anonymous]

This was a rough read for me. I came from a big family so have always related to a lot of his stories, and sense of humor. My father has passed so I did a lot of crying while reading it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed this book. It was sad to me that it seemed he was re-processing his entire life. I think people go through that stage naturally at times, but his was spurred by the me too movement which unlocked some disturbing memories of his father. He also seemed to wrestle with years of rejection by his father and his ultimate desire to be accepted by him when his father died. He came across as very honest and transparent, and vulnerable and sad.

I think so too. A lot of writers used the Covid period to do the same.

I think it's his best work yet. Very poignant and introspective. It's been on my mind for days after completing it.

[Anonymous]

I loved it. I especially loved his takes on Covid and the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

OP. She’s mentioned as well. Yes, I think it’s darker or at least similar. He’s discussing whether the treatment the kids received from their father was abusive.

Yes, his father was a pedophile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Darker than his stories about his dead sister Tiffany? That was rough and I don't think he came off that well in it (given that she seemed to have asked him not to write about her anymore).

OP. She’s mentioned as well. Yes, I think it’s darker or at least similar. He’s discussing whether the treatment the kids received from their father was abusive.

Yes, his father was a pedophile.

Wait, what?!