Happy-Go-Lucky
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-07 06:52:35
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：David Sedaris
- ISBN：1408714108
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Summary
David Sedaris returns with his first new collection of personal essays since the bestselling Calypso。
For almost thirty years， David Sedaris has been a household name， one that readers around the world associate with irreverent humor and a startling， moving talent for observation。 Now with this new book of personal essays， Happy-Go-Lucky， he returns to the form for which he is most deeply beloved。
Whether shopping for culottes in Japan or frequenting flea markets in Eastern Europe; whether trekking， masked， through a city emptied by the pandemic or reckoning with his father’s final and surprisingly happy years， David Sedaris captures what is strangest， funniest， and most poignant about life in language that is fresh， surprising， and yes… very， very funny。 Happy-Go-Lucky invites readers back into the singular world of a preeminent chronicler of our times。
For almost thirty years， David Sedaris has been a household name， one that readers around the world associate with irreverent humor and a startling， moving talent for observation。 Now with this new book of personal essays， Happy-Go-Lucky， he returns to the form for which he is most deeply beloved。
Whether shopping for culottes in Japan or frequenting flea markets in Eastern Europe; whether trekking， masked， through a city emptied by the pandemic or reckoning with his father’s final and surprisingly happy years， David Sedaris captures what is strangest， funniest， and most poignant about life in language that is fresh， surprising， and yes… very， very funny。 Happy-Go-Lucky invites readers back into the singular world of a preeminent chronicler of our times。
Reviews
Gretchen
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 David， I know you don’t read reviews， but I have to say that I am disgusted and disappointed with your nonchalant attitude about your father’s proclivities towards sexualizing his daughters。 The fact that Tiffany confided in you and your siblings and was not believed is horrible。 Guess maybe she became a drug addict from the trauma she endured living with such a secret and then not being believed。 Instead， she was shunned while the rest of you went on living your lives and acting as if nothing h David， I know you don’t read reviews， but I have to say that I am disgusted and disappointed with your nonchalant attitude about your father’s proclivities towards sexualizing his daughters。 The fact that Tiffany confided in you and your siblings and was not believed is horrible。 Guess maybe she became a drug addict from the trauma she endured living with such a secret and then not being believed。 Instead， she was shunned while the rest of you went on living your lives and acting as if nothing happened。 Obviously， your family is not perfect。 No family is and the past cannot be changed。 What Tiffany endured should not be fodder for you。 。。。more
AD LAND
，
Have always loved his stuff， his unique take on the world around us。 I've read just about everything he's written。 But， I fear he's gotten too wealthy， too cynical。 He's not laughing with us， he's laughing at us。 At his sisters for getting old， even。 Not funny， David。 Probably two stars and one for old times。 Have always loved his stuff， his unique take on the world around us。 I've read just about everything he's written。 But， I fear he's gotten too wealthy， too cynical。 He's not laughing with us， he's laughing at us。 At his sisters for getting old， even。 Not funny， David。 Probably two stars and one for old times。 。。。more
Robert
，
It's a Sedaris book and， like all his others， a mixed bag of essays on life， family， and the general foibles of people。 This is darker and more serious as Sedaris deals with the pandemic， his father's death， and his own entrance into old age。 The laughs are fewer， though no less funny， and the revelations closer to the bone。 It's a Sedaris book and， like all his others， a mixed bag of essays on life， family， and the general foibles of people。 This is darker and more serious as Sedaris deals with the pandemic， his father's death， and his own entrance into old age。 The laughs are fewer， though no less funny， and the revelations closer to the bone。 。。。more
Ray Quirolgico
，
This collection of essays feels markedly different from David Sedaris’s other books， but anything that starts pre-COVID-19 and includes observations about public and personal experiences of the pandemic， travel， social injustices， abuse， death， and struggles， certainly has to be a bit more serious than funny。 But the attention to details in every passing moment and human interaction bring out the author’s humanity and intelligence in ways that feel more subtle and wry and sublime and thoughtful This collection of essays feels markedly different from David Sedaris’s other books， but anything that starts pre-COVID-19 and includes observations about public and personal experiences of the pandemic， travel， social injustices， abuse， death， and struggles， certainly has to be a bit more serious than funny。 But the attention to details in every passing moment and human interaction bring out the author’s humanity and intelligence in ways that feel more subtle and wry and sublime and thoughtful than ever before。 。。。more
Julia
，
3。5 stars rounded down， I liked it and the passages about his father were very interesting to me。 At the end he mentioned not having his live audiences for awhile during the pandemic which he normally relies on to provide feedback for his writing。 Some of the parts I’d glossed over made sense once I read that。 I don’t think someone has to be uproariously funny all the time， certainly。 He just seemed a little more fraught than usual （we’re all a little more fraught than usual， amirite）。
Krystal Marsh
，
I've long been a fan of Sedaris's work， for those same reasons everyone else loves him: his wit and humor， his sobering insight， and the way he seamlessly blends storytelling and argument。 I first read him when I was in a nonfiction writing class in college， and he's been a favorite ever since。 My favorite Sedaris essays -- both in this collection and elsewhere -- are always the ones that depict small moments and memories that， on the surface， wouldn't immediately seem noteworthy and would proba I've long been a fan of Sedaris's work， for those same reasons everyone else loves him: his wit and humor， his sobering insight， and the way he seamlessly blends storytelling and argument。 I first read him when I was in a nonfiction writing class in college， and he's been a favorite ever since。 My favorite Sedaris essays -- both in this collection and elsewhere -- are always the ones that depict small moments and memories that， on the surface， wouldn't immediately seem noteworthy and would probably be forgotten had he not had the foresight to write them down。 Whether that's being an Elf at Macy's， taking a French language class， or literally just walking around his small British neighborhood -- these essays always shine brightest for me。This collection occasionally tells these small stories with big insight。 However， most of these essays sound tone-deaf and curmudgeon-y， which is so surprising given that tone is usually one of Sedaris's core writing strengths。 After reading his various essays about COVID， BLM， or even his father's death -- I felt like he really wasn't saying anything at all， and instead just used this platform to complain。 He felt out of touch with reality。 It was a strange experience given how thoughtful Sedaris usually is， and how carefully he toes the line between insult and insight。 With that being said， I'll never say "no" to reading more Sedaris -- but this was not it for me。 。。。more
Paula Lysinger
，
Funny， Funny， FUNNY！ I felt like David Sedaris and I were walking parallel paths through a lot of this book， but he was able to put a funny spin on the things that had bogged me down over the last few years。 COVID， the loss of a parent， badly behaved children 。。。。。 yes， there's humor in those things！ Thank you Mr。 Sedaris for the much needed up-lift。 Funny， Funny， FUNNY！ I felt like David Sedaris and I were walking parallel paths through a lot of this book， but he was able to put a funny spin on the things that had bogged me down over the last few years。 COVID， the loss of a parent， badly behaved children 。。。。。 yes， there's humor in those things！ Thank you Mr。 Sedaris for the much needed up-lift。 。。。more
Ellen
，
So disappointing。 While I may have smiled once or twice while reading this book， it did not save the book from being a big let down。 When I read about the many awards he has received for humour， I find myself wondering where that humour has gone。 Mostly what I got from this book: he's rich and easily inconvenienced。 So disappointing。 While I may have smiled once or twice while reading this book， it did not save the book from being a big let down。 When I read about the many awards he has received for humour， I find myself wondering where that humour has gone。 Mostly what I got from this book: he's rich and easily inconvenienced。 。。。more
Jenny
，
3。5As always I enjoy reading David's stories， but I don't know if I was prepared to read the creepy things about his Dad。 3。5As always I enjoy reading David's stories， but I don't know if I was prepared to read the creepy things about his Dad。 。。。more
Emmanuel
，
warning: do NOT play a drinking game that involves taking a shot every time david mentions one of his many homes。 you will DIE。
Trisha McGady
，
I didn’t realize he had another book out… bought it at Novel Bay and intended to read it out loud Ended up reading most of it to myself。 Some of the stories this time weren’t funny but more of a reflection on the pandemic， which I was happy to see someone write about with a sense of humor。 Enjoyed it but not as much as the last one I read。
Maggie Cleary
，
I think this is the second or third book I've read by Sedaris and， frankly， the worst。 It was essentially a number of vignettes， as it usually is。 The first essay in the book was by far my favorite， tied， maybe， with the commencement address he gave。 Some of these recordings， though， didn't make this feel like an audiobook at all。 It was sort of randomly spliced together， though I suppose， largely themed around his ailing father。 There was， of course， the regular Trump jabs （though I didn't find I think this is the second or third book I've read by Sedaris and， frankly， the worst。 It was essentially a number of vignettes， as it usually is。 The first essay in the book was by far my favorite， tied， maybe， with the commencement address he gave。 Some of these recordings， though， didn't make this feel like an audiobook at all。 It was sort of randomly spliced together， though I suppose， largely themed around his ailing father。 There was， of course， the regular Trump jabs （though I didn't find them as offensive as some other leftists）。 And one essay， at the end， that was exceptionally disturbing/depressing。 I'm not sure if I would have included it in the collection。 I guess the morale of the story was that people are complex， but I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it。 I didn't find myself laughing out loud nearly as many times as I have during DFW's nonfiction， but I guess Sedaris isn't claiming to be the greatest mind of his generation。 。。。more
Budd Margolis
，
Few know how to tell a tale as well！
Anna Keating
，
A national treasure。
Dan Para
，
Dark and dank。 Not as fun， still a day of pleasure from this short work。
Sharon L
，
More of a collection of family drama filled essays than the snarky， comedic social commentary of his previous works。 I went into this blind and was a bit surprised by the tone and the relative lack of humor。 Still an interesting work， just not what I was expecting。Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review。
Max
，
The things I learned from this book: David Sedaris is wealthy， he owns a Picasso， he has many homes （New York， France， West Sussex， the beach house）， and it upsets him when people do not recognise him and acknowledge his fame。 And。。。 that's it。 The book contains one very good joke that made me laugh out loud。 It wasn't enough to make up for the time lost wading through this。 The things I learned from this book: David Sedaris is wealthy， he owns a Picasso， he has many homes （New York， France， West Sussex， the beach house）， and it upsets him when people do not recognise him and acknowledge his fame。 And。。。 that's it。 The book contains one very good joke that made me laugh out loud。 It wasn't enough to make up for the time lost wading through this。 。。。more
Emma Lee
，
4。5
Linda
，
I love reading David Sedaris， but this one just didn't win me over。 I love reading David Sedaris， but this one just didn't win me over。 。。。more
Matthew Wentworth
，
Mixed in with Sedaris' typical sardonic humor are stories about the recent pandemic which are truly cathartic。 Probably my favorite David Sedaris book， to date。 Mixed in with Sedaris' typical sardonic humor are stories about the recent pandemic which are truly cathartic。 Probably my favorite David Sedaris book， to date。 。。。more
Rachel
，
3。5 - 4 stars
Yulia
，
Because I always give Sedaris 5 stars。 Call me sentimental。
Steve Betz
，
As usual， I listen to Sedaris' books as audiobooks -- they're read by him and I think give a very good sense of what he's like to see in person。 This is a very strong collection， covering the main topics of the last couple of years: Trumpism， the pandemic， guns， etc。 Sedaris also intersperses his typical family stories of his siblings and his longtime partner Hugh。 He spends a good deal of time talking through the relationship with his father， who died recently。As always， his stories are funny （ As usual， I listen to Sedaris' books as audiobooks -- they're read by him and I think give a very good sense of what he's like to see in person。 This is a very strong collection， covering the main topics of the last couple of years: Trumpism， the pandemic， guns， etc。 Sedaris also intersperses his typical family stories of his siblings and his longtime partner Hugh。 He spends a good deal of time talking through the relationship with his father， who died recently。As always， his stories are funny （often laugh-out-loud so）， wry， insightful， and poignant。 The sense that I got time and time again through this collection is how weary David sounded。 Aren't we all？ 。。。more
Casey Leigh
，
Another hilarious read from Mr。 Sedaris！
Robin
，
David Sedaris never disappoints with his witty， unique stories。 I laughed out loud several times。 A quick read and glimpse into this author's personal life with a twist of humor added in。 David Sedaris never disappoints with his witty， unique stories。 I laughed out loud several times。 A quick read and glimpse into this author's personal life with a twist of humor added in。 。。。more
Jonathan Grant
，
Didn't realize this was his latest one until I started。 The bits about his teeth are hysterical。 Didn't realize this was his latest one until I started。 The bits about his teeth are hysterical。 。。。more
Katie
，
4。5。 Took a while to warm up but when it did it was hilarious and typical Sedaris。
Loraine
，
Hilarious in places but is he trying to come off as an elitist a**？ Feels that way at times。 It was easier to like when he was an underdog without the multiple Picasso name drops。
Paula Rohde
，
True to form， hilarity ensues as DS recounts all things family， pandemic， travel， good deeds and more。 This book has more of a melancholy feel， as he writes of his father’s death。
Laura Maher
，
I will always love David Sedaris。 I've been a die hard fan for 15 years， gotten 7 books signed by him， and purchased almost everything he has ever published。 I know he wanted a new book out post-vaccine to get back to touring and talking with fans， but I don't think this is his strongest book。 A lot of it is recycled from published essays and his 2021 book of diaries CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY。 I felt like I'd already read so much of it， and the book jacket makes the book sound like it's more about th I will always love David Sedaris。 I've been a die hard fan for 15 years， gotten 7 books signed by him， and purchased almost everything he has ever published。 I know he wanted a new book out post-vaccine to get back to touring and talking with fans， but I don't think this is his strongest book。 A lot of it is recycled from published essays and his 2021 book of diaries CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY。 I felt like I'd already read so much of it， and the book jacket makes the book sound like it's more about the pandemic than it really is。 So much of the book is light until one of the last few chapters， which will make your jaw drop。 He saves a really dark one for the end。 I love him and will buy his books as long as he continues to write more， but I wish this felt a little more fresh。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Happy-Go-Lucky
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Happy-Go-Lucky&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Happy-Go-Lucky&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0