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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
medium-paced
I didn't realize this was nonfiction. I had avoided it for years because of the pretentiousness of a the title and the raving promotion from the same sort of academia that thinks James Joyce is great. I didn't read it because I assumed it was self-absorbed angst suited for deep classroom discussions about the frivolity of hope or some such nonsense.
I was wrong.
It's about a Dave Eggers raising his younger brother, Toph, after both their parents died of cancer.
That's a simple story, right? It would be if Dave had already successfully raised himself, alas. So it's a story about the two of them figuring out life together and sometimes failing at it. It's sad and great and challenging.
It made me a fan. Of course.
I was wrong.
It's about a Dave Eggers raising his younger brother, Toph, after both their parents died of cancer.
That's a simple story, right? It would be if Dave had already successfully raised himself, alas. So it's a story about the two of them figuring out life together and sometimes failing at it. It's sad and great and challenging.
It made me a fan. Of course.
This was one of the first novels that made me want to write. It is unpretentious and deeply human. Considering the title, you'd think this was a pompous, sophomoric attempt at something profound, but Eggers never takes himself too seriously and tells his story with ease.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
heartbreaking? yes, the story was about a 20-something whose parents die within 5 weeks of each other and he has to care for his much younger brother
staggering? I guess, it was oddly funny despite it being depressing. and lots of f bombs
genius? nope. felt like it was trying too hard to seem genius though?
couldn’t get into this one
staggering? I guess, it was oddly funny despite it being depressing. and lots of f bombs
genius? nope. felt like it was trying too hard to seem genius though?
couldn’t get into this one
I didn't like it, plain and simple. The title is very promising, but it was long-winded and sounded like pure Crap half the time. I really didn't enjoy it at all even though I wished that I did.
The main character was irritating, condescending and generally unlikeable. Glad to say I didn't finish it.
The main character was irritating, condescending and generally unlikeable. Glad to say I didn't finish it.
I've decided to change my rating from 4-stars to 5-stars, because ever since I finished reading this book, it seems to slip into my consciousness every now and then, causing me to believe that is was better than I originally thought. When I first finished reading it, I thought it was funny but still very depressing. I was happy to be done with it, but now I wish I could just read it for the first time over and over. I'm jealous of those who get to experience it for the first time.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Excellent audiobook. Picked this one up because of the San Francisco tie. For a book about death it was funnier than it had any right to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol