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johnbradley2's review against another edition
4.0
Surprising depth in an otherwise ephemeral story. Might want to explore more Eggers after this one.
dodgson's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy his thoughtful descriptive style, but it's becoming clear that I get a little restless when Eggers's stream-of-consciousness narrative approach isn't attached to a more plot-driven story.
lauraxbakker's review against another edition
2.0
What can I say... I had quite high expectations because the periphrasis on the back of the book sounded very interesting. But our main character was very unlikeable and irresponsible which for me made it very hard to enjoy the story or feel understanding towards her.
dreamgalaxies's review against another edition
5.0
This book probably merits more like 4 stars, but I enjoy Eggers' brand of all-over-the-place emotional rambling so much that for me, it's a 5. I've been a big fan since I was a teenager--especially of HWOSG--and have in recent years been so disappointed that I was starting to think I was past my Eggers phase. This is a wonderful return to form, and convinces me that Eggers is probably best at stories that revolve around family dynamics. This is a novel that relies heavily on the mid-life crisis road trip formula. I was surprised how well it kept my attention, especially being one of those quintessential picaresque novels where interesting things happen one after another, to no real end. We get really into Josie's head, which felt pretty intense as someone with anxiety. Sometimes she seemed crazy, sometimes perfectly reasonable--I loved the flawed nature of the main character, and how relatable she stayed despite her spiraling. It did make it somewhat of an uncomfortable read (a little too close to home, or what we could become?) but I think that's a hallmark of good literature, personally.
terranovanz's review against another edition
4.0
5 stars for writing, 3 for the story which just makes no sense. Worth reading for the writing alone though.
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time deciding if I loved this book or was meh. It was definitely funny, sometimes to the point of being absurd and I seesawed from loving the protagonist to being really concerned with her life choices. Josie has fled to Alaska with her two children (ages 5 and 8). Why may you ask? Her children's father is somehow getting married and she doesn't want to be even remotely close to it or let her children attend. Her dental practice was sued and she lost the whole place. One of her favorite patients was killed in Afghanistan. But mostly she has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She's wandering around the beautiful Alaskan frontier with an old RV and two kids who should be in school. She's content to idle away the time while trying to find purpose in her life. The further north they journey, the more reckless choices she makes as she wonders how many misdemeanors they'll have under their belt by the time this "trip" of theirs is over with. It's the most non-traditional adventure I've ever read and although I adored the two kids (laugh out loud funny) I'm not sure why this novel fell a little flat for me.
firsteditions's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I hated the main character so much that I actually stopped reading the book. She’s a selfish alcoholic and it just made me hate how whiny she is. CPS should have been called on her in the first chapter.
kyledhebert's review against another edition
2.0
A rambling, strange book devoid of anything that feels remotely true.
kkolstad1's review against another edition
4.0
Dave Eggers captures social alienation in a vivid, often disturbing, way. This stream of consciousness narrative builds tension and a sense of foreboding. The ending, however, dropped so quickly and completely that I wasn't sure if the conclusion was a victory for the characters or just another in a long line of poor decisions.
cjhcjh's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars I'd say. Not my fave Eggers but a good page-turner.