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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I’ve been reading You Shall Know Our Velocity (currently re-titled to Sacrament) for over a month. Usually, when school is out, and it is, I average about a week to a week and a half on any given book. I haven’t finished it and I must tell you, the problem isn’t me. For once.
I’m half-way through the book and thus far, aside from traveling to a few countries and trying to tape money on goats (I’m pretty sure it was goats), nothing has happened. I know that the main character’s face is severely messed up and bruised from some fight. His best friend is named Hand. And the main character doesn’t really like his mother or want a shit load of free money. Aside from this, I know nothing else.
Now, I have heard great things about Dave Eggers so it is truly tragic that the first time I give him a chance I am disappointed sorely by his book. (A friend who runs his own site told me to try Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius instead, but we shall see). You Shall Know Our Velocity is going nowhere as far as I can see and I’m having the hardest time talking myself into reading it.
In fact, I’ve started a different book in the meantime that is very engaging and brilliantly written (the review to that will come soon). The incentives to finish You Shall Know Our Velocity simply are not there.
I think I’m going to give up on it.
I’m half-way through the book and thus far, aside from traveling to a few countries and trying to tape money on goats (I’m pretty sure it was goats), nothing has happened. I know that the main character’s face is severely messed up and bruised from some fight. His best friend is named Hand. And the main character doesn’t really like his mother or want a shit load of free money. Aside from this, I know nothing else.
Now, I have heard great things about Dave Eggers so it is truly tragic that the first time I give him a chance I am disappointed sorely by his book. (A friend who runs his own site told me to try Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius instead, but we shall see). You Shall Know Our Velocity is going nowhere as far as I can see and I’m having the hardest time talking myself into reading it.
In fact, I’ve started a different book in the meantime that is very engaging and brilliantly written (the review to that will come soon). The incentives to finish You Shall Know Our Velocity simply are not there.
I think I’m going to give up on it.
I've read a few other Eggers books and liked them a lot, but this one...I just couldn't get into. I was even halfway and still couldn't care enough to finish it.
I enjoy his writing style, that definitely wasn't the problem. I actually didn't care that much for either Will or Hand, or even the exact reason why they were doing this. I was intrigued by their need to travel and give money away - I wanted to see where this very quick adventure would take them, but it was just too slow going for me.
I enjoy his writing style, that definitely wasn't the problem. I actually didn't care that much for either Will or Hand, or even the exact reason why they were doing this. I was intrigued by their need to travel and give money away - I wanted to see where this very quick adventure would take them, but it was just too slow going for me.
Certainly an unusual and captivating read, but not my favorite of Eggers' books. It's a bit self-indulgent and some of the plot devices feel unnecessary. Not where I would start with his works, but not a bad book.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
perfectly captures the desperate hysteria of a slow burn mental breakdown
A very cool idea of traveling (obscure locations with no itinerary) but the story was disorganized and boring.
story of personal growth and adventure, relationships and hardships. all around a good story with some interesting settings.
I was disappointed by this first novel by one of my favorite editors. He breaks a couple of pretty big fiction rules (the few that matter) and it's just not as excellent as I was hoping. My expectations might have been too high, and his ego might have been too large. I saw him at a reading when he was still writing this, and he alluded that it had gone through a few permutations. That might have been one of the problems, though not this novel's only problems.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes