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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
bro has successfully scared me out of ever writing a memoir for fear of sounding like this.
This book has it all: action, drama, comedy, and diagrams. There is something wonderful on literally every page of this book.
I read this book before I was really interested in books. HBWSG changed my view on the world around me and how I interact with those I like and I dislike. I've heard it said that readers in their early 20's are the ones that really love this book and see it's value. That may be true but isn't this also true for almost every work of art that really moves you? I wholeheartedly believe this is a work of staggering genius. Even now when I pick it up to read a few random pages here and there I am always entertained.
I had to read it based on the title alone -- and while I'm not sure it broke my heart, it was exciting and inventive and fun.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
Dave Eggars memoir is a touching look at loss, duty, and the challenges of growing up, all mixed with humor and sadness.
The story starts with the sudden passing of Eggers' parents due to cancer, leaving him to care for his younger brother, Toph. This unexpected change in roles is the emotional core of the book. Eggers writes honestly about his difficulties in dealing with grief while trying to be a stable support for Toph. The mix of tragedy and absurdity in their lives is portrayed with dark humor and deep reflection.
Eggers' self-aware writing style is something I very much appreciated. He often breaks the fourth wall and comments on his own writing process, allowing readers to connect with him as he shares his thoughts and feelings. His openness about his doubts and mistakes adds a genuine touch to the story, turning it into a deep reflection on growing up and accepting responsibility.
The memoir also includes a critique of culture, especially regarding the media and the pressures of contemporary life. As a co-founder of the well-known literary magazine McSweeney’s Eggers weaves in insights about the ridiculousness of fame and success, particularly during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s.
The story starts with the sudden passing of Eggers' parents due to cancer, leaving him to care for his younger brother, Toph. This unexpected change in roles is the emotional core of the book. Eggers writes honestly about his difficulties in dealing with grief while trying to be a stable support for Toph. The mix of tragedy and absurdity in their lives is portrayed with dark humor and deep reflection.
Eggers' self-aware writing style is something I very much appreciated. He often breaks the fourth wall and comments on his own writing process, allowing readers to connect with him as he shares his thoughts and feelings. His openness about his doubts and mistakes adds a genuine touch to the story, turning it into a deep reflection on growing up and accepting responsibility.
The memoir also includes a critique of culture, especially regarding the media and the pressures of contemporary life. As a co-founder of the well-known literary magazine McSweeney’s Eggers weaves in insights about the ridiculousness of fame and success, particularly during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s.
I remember borrowing this and a stack of other books from a friend. I did that a lot, the last couple of years before I went off to university. Had to have been 2008-2010, so nearly a decade after the book was written and now decade after that I'm writing this. So don't base anything off this review, I guess? Is anyone even still reading it?
I'll admit, I generation-gapped this author hard. I've got brothers who are a little younger than him and were into the same things, but I found him inaccessible. The world he described in his 20's was so alien that I couldn't identify with anything he said. Was it that he was describing a 1990's that I would never see, or was it I was too young and inexperienced to get it? I don't know. But I will tell you, if you try to get me to reread this, it's not happening.
I'll admit, I generation-gapped this author hard. I've got brothers who are a little younger than him and were into the same things, but I found him inaccessible. The world he described in his 20's was so alien that I couldn't identify with anything he said. Was it that he was describing a 1990's that I would never see, or was it I was too young and inexperienced to get it? I don't know. But I will tell you, if you try to get me to reread this, it's not happening.
I tried. I couldn't do it. After two pages I found the preface self-serving and dense. After 40 pages I was so depressed by the writing and annoyed by many of the characters that I decided it wasn't worth it. Sorry Dave. Find solace in the fact that everyone else in the world thinks you're genius.
Funny story: I actually went into this book having no idea what it was about but thought I’d give it a shot, and boy was this a wild ride. Dave Eggers is quite an interesting character. I found the story really intriguing and I couldn’t put the book down once I started. His life was far from being ordinary and uneventful, and he just has a way with words. He comes off as super self-absorbed and narcissistic but it makes you want to read more because of how crazy his life was. I really liked his chaotic style of writing. I’ve seen others describe the book as “manic-depressive” and I honestly think that hits the mark. It’s an interesting memoir but it’s definitely not for someone looking for a light, happy read.
My favorite part of this book was the preface including the "rules and suggestions for enjoying this book" and the clever acknowledgments. What's not to like about a random "here is a picture I drew of a stapler"?
The memoir itself rambled but amongst the ramblings, there were incredibly deep and poignant observations. My favorite was "I have no idea how people function without near constant internal chaos. I'd lose my mind" as I completely relate to that.
The critics are right in that the author came across as a "cocky young man" but I tend to be fond of cocky young men so that didn't bother me. I only rolled my eyes a few times at his self aggrandizing but at least it was entertaining.
Overall, his writing style was incredibly witty but blathering. He does manage to ride the line well of describing the experience of losing his parents and how it affected him and his siblings in a respectful and touching way without going into pity or over sentimentalism.
The memoir itself rambled but amongst the ramblings, there were incredibly deep and poignant observations. My favorite was "I have no idea how people function without near constant internal chaos. I'd lose my mind" as I completely relate to that.
The critics are right in that the author came across as a "cocky young man" but I tend to be fond of cocky young men so that didn't bother me. I only rolled my eyes a few times at his self aggrandizing but at least it was entertaining.
Overall, his writing style was incredibly witty but blathering. He does manage to ride the line well of describing the experience of losing his parents and how it affected him and his siblings in a respectful and touching way without going into pity or over sentimentalism.