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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
The Sacrament "version" (???) of this is truly something wild, throwing everything into question and making me think of this clip from My Cousin Vinny.
Would give this 4.5 stars. C'mon, Goodreads, gimme then half-stars.
come join our book club. our first episode is out now, and our third episode is about this book.
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Would give this 4.5 stars. C'mon, Goodreads, gimme then half-stars.
come join our book club. our first episode is out now, and our third episode is about this book.
learn more: cageclub.me/lottery
I didn't love Eggers's AHWOSG, and I've always found a lot of what I understand to be associated with him to be a little twee, but I also admire what he's done for children's literacy, and I was skeptical but also open-minded about this book.
I liked it quite a lot. It made me think a lot about how we construct narratives and even the narratives about narratives. Some of the digression that starts about halfway through was really great. If the characters are a little juvenile for their ages, there's also a fair amount of waggish charm to some of their escapades. I don't love the book, but I'm glad I read it; I doubt I'll read the whole thing again, but I might flip through to reread some of the more stand-out parts sometime. The book inclines me more toward Eggers than away, so a net positive.
I liked it quite a lot. It made me think a lot about how we construct narratives and even the narratives about narratives. Some of the digression that starts about halfway through was really great. If the characters are a little juvenile for their ages, there's also a fair amount of waggish charm to some of their escapades. I don't love the book, but I'm glad I read it; I doubt I'll read the whole thing again, but I might flip through to reread some of the more stand-out parts sometime. The book inclines me more toward Eggers than away, so a net positive.
2.5. hatable main characters and incoherent rants that turn poignant every once in a while.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
first read in 2008, and it was immediately an all-time. ‘24-‘25 reread confirmed. it’s so beautifully frantic, an incredible exploration of grief, and i have never read writing quite like this. plus, it introduced me to senegal and now i love it there.
we're discussing this at the emory tonight so i'll write a complete review later. i'm still absorbing and thinking and feeling like i missed some things, which my extremely wise friends will fill me in on.
for now, my favorite scene: will tries to jump from a car into a donkey cart, to leave money in it, and misses, landing on the road.
UPDATE! at the emory, i found out that there are two different editions of this book. my friend's edition has a chapter in the middle from hand's point of view which essentially changed my entire perception of the narrator, will. the other edition, mine, doesn't have this chapter. WTF DAVE EGGERS? i feel kind of used and betrayed now. going to do some research.
for now, my favorite scene: will tries to jump from a car into a donkey cart, to leave money in it, and misses, landing on the road.
UPDATE! at the emory, i found out that there are two different editions of this book. my friend's edition has a chapter in the middle from hand's point of view which essentially changed my entire perception of the narrator, will. the other edition, mine, doesn't have this chapter. WTF DAVE EGGERS? i feel kind of used and betrayed now. going to do some research.
I think I’m done reading bro-centric travelogues filled with toxic masculinity. That genre can disappear. Not only was this book boring, it’s unlikeable protagonists just whine the entire time and try to justify their terrible personalities and problematic behavior. I kept hoping these brats would get a comeuppance or have an awakening and become better people. Once the disturbing cow story started in the last quarter of the book, I was done. Not worth finishing.
You Shall Know Our Velocity is about two buddies who decide to fly around the world in one week to give away $32,000 to strangers along the way. The narrator Will is grieving the recent loss of a best friend and dealing with the trauma of an unprovoked beating. The trip provides opportunity for Will to work through some of these issues, but he comes across at times as an anxious and whiney mess-up who will never be able to cope with the losses and pains of life. I enjoyed the humor of the misadventures on the journey, but even some of these screw-ups became tedious at times. Generally I enjoyed the book, especially when there where moments of whimsy and playfulness, like the treasure map they make up for a child to find. However, it won't go down as favorite because I got exasperated with the anxiety attacks and the pitfalls of the two main characters poor planning for the trip.
medium-paced
Jesus, Dave Eggers. This one was just ok for me. You're lucky i gave you a second chance after "heart-twisting work of staggering drunk egotism." Anyway, you didn't redeem youself. Stick to editing, you're good at that.
A rambling, enjoyable attempt by two friends to put things right in the world.
A lot of the reviews here have missed the point entirely; why didn't they just make a charitable donation? Why are they travelling?
Yeah, great guys, why don't more people write books about people taking well planned holidays and giving money to local charities? We never get to read those books.
A lot of the reviews here have missed the point entirely; why didn't they just make a charitable donation? Why are they travelling?
Yeah, great guys, why don't more people write books about people taking well planned holidays and giving money to local charities? We never get to read those books.