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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
oh, eggers. a damn fine pillow this book'd been were it a paperback.
DNF. Couldn't get into it after about 30% of the way, so moved on to another book on my list.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finally, representation for people who want to do good things but are too f*ckin awkward and incompetent
The author used some interesting literary devices -- such as a book inside a book -- however overall the story did not always flow. There are definitely some interesting ideas but not anything memorable.
I really enjoy Egger's prosaic style. There were moments in this novel that made me laugh in their absurdity and some that made my heart clench in familiar pain. That being said, this was a novel that was trying to do too much at once--much like our protagonist. The narrative resolves around a pair of supremely ineffectual men trying to give away a large amount of money in a small amount of time. The underlying catalyst for this endeavor is the death of a friend, and so presumably part of the contemplation here is on grief. Great. Could be a powerful story. But Eggers decides that he needs to seat this exploration in the middle of a critique of altruism and the narrative that surrounds it in modern culture, in an aimless travel story except that it's only the worst, most agonizing parts of travel. And perhaps that was the point: to create a narrative that simulates grieving, where you are constantly moving but you feel like you are going nowhere, where every day bleeds into the next and the world is moving without you. But the thing is, this metaphor is unnecessary. The most powerful parts of this book were the moments when we see Will and Hand actively engaging with Jack's death, not all the liminal nonsense in between. Also, the explanation about the jumping people to explain *why Will is the way he is* is just completely arbitrary and feels like a cheap deferral of agency in the 11th hour. In short, this novel would have been stronger with some parring, but it was still well-written.
I am still reviewing my notes for this book but here it goes:
I had read this book back in 2014 and apparently I read it and forgot it. Because the second time around, I feel like this book has seared into my brain for many reasons.
The millennial burnout, the loss of a friend, white privilege, everything and anything was so spot on in this book.
I will write more about it probably on my blog but I just wanted to write that I liked it and it should be read.
I had read this book back in 2014 and apparently I read it and forgot it. Because the second time around, I feel like this book has seared into my brain for many reasons.
The millennial burnout, the loss of a friend, white privilege, everything and anything was so spot on in this book.
I will write more about it probably on my blog but I just wanted to write that I liked it and it should be read.
I tried - twice - but I just couldn't get into this one. I think I like Eggers better when he has a word limit. (I'm referring to his intro to the Best American NonRequired Reading of 2002 or 2003.)
Yet another fabulous work by Dave Eggers. It moves a little slow at points, but definitely worth the read in so many ways. Clever story that really gets you thinking about what makes life meaningful both in the present and after you have gone.
I just plain did not like this book. It was very very annoying. It seemed pretty long while I was reading it too, like oh my god am I still reading about this ass and his obnoxious friend as they cut a swath of pointlessness across Africa and Europe?