Happy-Go-Lucky

 Tell me a story... that’ll make me laugh 

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris

Expected publication date: May 31, 2022

Date read: April 9, 2022

In a more serious tone than in some of his earlier collections - but still with his own brand of humor - Sedaris tackles the issues of the past few years, from the pandemic, to the death of his father. 

This is the first book by David Sedaris that I haven’t listened to the audiobook of (which he always reads himself). I still enjoyed this collection, but it’s not the same as hearing him read his stories. (I wasn’t about to pass up a Sedaris advanced copy, though!) 

I also need to note, before I get into the stories themselves, that the cover of this book is horribly perfect. The old-timey clown picture is unsettling, but it kind of works, and was obviously done on purpose, because that’s who Sedaris is. But my reaction upon first seeing the cover on NetGalley was “No way, I’m not going to read a book with that creepy clo… oh, it’s David Sedaris! Yes please!” I mean, the cover definitely got my attention. 

Now, I adore David Sedaris. I think his books - especially his earlier collections - are wonderful. Whenever someone asks me about trying out audiobooks for the first time, I recommend Me Talk Pretty One Day as a great choice. This collection still contains his trademark humor and wonderful tales about his family (Amy makes a lot of appearances in this one), but the topics are overall much more serious. There are a few essays dealing with his ailing/dying father, a few with the COVID pandemic, and a lot about just getting older. It’s still an enjoyable collection of personal essays, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend starting here if you’ve never read his books before. Because despite the title, this is not a happy book. 

It must also be said, in case you’re unfamiliar with Sedaris, that his humor is not for everyone (although is any comedian’s humor really appealing to all audiences?) Sedaris is very politically liberal, and not afraid to mention politics in his work, although none of the essays are purely political pieces. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, as I have enjoyed all of Sedaris’s work up to this point. I like how he can make me laugh even when discussing serious topics; I found “Unbuttoned” - about his father’s illness - particularly funny. Not a great starting point if you’ve never read Sedaris before, but definitely one to check out if you’re already a fan. If you’re looking for a better place to start, pick up Me Talk Pretty One Day or When You Are Engulfed in Flames, on audiobook if possible. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Trigger warning: mentions of death/illness of a parent, suicide, sexual assault, prostitution, physical assault, depression, mental illness, and drug use

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.