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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
In the "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of this Book," Eggers says "5. Matter of fact, the first three or four chapters are all some of you might want to bother with. That gets you to page 109 or so, which is a nice length, a nice novella sort of length. Those first four chapters stick to a one general subject, something manageable, which is more than what can be said for the book thereafter." This was a fairly accurate statement. Those first four chapters, covering the deaths of his parents, particularly his mother, are very tight, well-executed, and moving; the rest of the book goes in fits and bursts of interestingness and quality. There are a few character traits of his various family members introduced in that latter section that do really heighten the initial story, and I'm glad I read on to learn them: [spoilers!] Eggers' father's drinking and eruptive anger; his mother's means of coping with that situation; the difference in the two's parenting styles and relationship with their kids; how those styles influence Eggers raising Toph. Other than these points, the exploits of Might magazine were not very compelling and the friend group around the magazine was minimally developed.
Stylistically, the stream of conscious narrative was quite captivating. I particularly enjoyed the device where Toph or other friends seamlessly start speaking Eggers' inner dialog aloud to him. This is superbly executed so that the shift occurs with the reader hardly realizing it, but without being confusing.
Stylistically, the stream of conscious narrative was quite captivating. I particularly enjoyed the device where Toph or other friends seamlessly start speaking Eggers' inner dialog aloud to him. This is superbly executed so that the shift occurs with the reader hardly realizing it, but without being confusing.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book had some initial promise - Eggers does know how to write. His description of watching his mother die from cancer was so evocative, I almost had to stop listening - too many vivid memories from watching loved ones go.
Unfortunately, when he strays from this type of straight-reporting style (his description of early Silicon Valley was also fascinating), everything falls apart. The writing moves to a more stream-of-consciousness format that results in repetition and thoughts of "where the hell is he going with this?" He also has a habit of having secondary characters break character, so he can thoroughly explain the symbolism that the reader is so obviously missing.
Finally, Eggers consistently comes off as a total jerk - a friend is in hospital and all he can think about is having sex with another friend? Someone please tell me all guys aren't really like this.
Unfortunately, when he strays from this type of straight-reporting style (his description of early Silicon Valley was also fascinating), everything falls apart. The writing moves to a more stream-of-consciousness format that results in repetition and thoughts of "where the hell is he going with this?" He also has a habit of having secondary characters break character, so he can thoroughly explain the symbolism that the reader is so obviously missing.
Finally, Eggers consistently comes off as a total jerk - a friend is in hospital and all he can think about is having sex with another friend? Someone please tell me all guys aren't really like this.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Although I like almost everything else DE has written, and like McSweeny's, etc... etc..., I found this book to be a heartbreaking work of staggering tedium.
Just a fantastic memior that defies convictions. Changed the way I think about writing. And he went to U of I for a minute! Look for his description of the South Farms....
emotional
funny
fast-paced
I wonder if I would’ve liked this book more had I read it at 16, 22, 25.