Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
In this introspective memoir, Eggers, 22 at the beginning of the book, tells the story of the death of his parents and his becoming the guardian for his then-8-year-old brother. Although it's a fictionalized memoir, the book strikes me as honest, primarily because he doesn't portray himself in the most flattering light. The younger Dave Eggers (with the benefit of hindsight) is self-centered, racist, careless, and somewhat schizophrenic-seeming, and the older Dave Eggers is not shy about telling you so. I was able to relate to some of it, which was like shuddering at my reflection in the mirror.
The book is written strangely. On at least three separate occasions the book is self-aware, unsettlingly breaking the fourth wall. Although the book follows a linear timeline, transitions from that timeline into flashback are not always clear. As the book approaches the end, there is less and less chronological clarity, and the author becomes unhinged.
I don't know how I feel about this book, but it dragged in parts and I was glad it was over by the end. I refrained from looking up information about Dave Eggers until after I finished the book, lest I spoil something for myself. I'm glad I did, and I'll refrain from spoiling it for you now, except to say that his Wikipedia page reveals an upsetting event that took place after the book was published.
The book is written strangely. On at least three separate occasions the book is self-aware, unsettlingly breaking the fourth wall. Although the book follows a linear timeline, transitions from that timeline into flashback are not always clear. As the book approaches the end, there is less and less chronological clarity, and the author becomes unhinged.
I don't know how I feel about this book, but it dragged in parts and I was glad it was over by the end. I refrained from looking up information about Dave Eggers until after I finished the book, lest I spoil something for myself. I'm glad I did, and I'll refrain from spoiling it for you now, except to say that his Wikipedia page reveals an upsetting event that took place after the book was published.
[3.5 stars] I am conflicted! The following Times review is fitting: "Eggers has instead pitched his tone at an uncommon sort of irony, using it not as a device to keep us at arm's length but to involve us - to make the story of his life tellable, and thus, somehow, survivable" - but the man certainly skirts a fine line. While he's often dislikable and too clever by half, and the book could certainly use an edit, both his style and talent are undeniable. And you want to begrudge him that! The title is the perfect example. The self-consciousness, perceptiveness, and irony become too much. But is it reason enough to dislike the book? I'm not so sure. One thing I do know is that I'll certainly be taking a break from postmodern (or post-postmodern) lit for a while.
This book was okay, I liked it mostly. The author tells his sad story--both his parents die within six weeks of each other, from cancer. He is in his early twenties, and takes his younger brother (around age nine) moves to San Francisco.
Mr. Eggers is kind of funny and self deprecating, but the way he tells the story is at times annoying. He can't just write the story, there are lists, interviews with himself, long winded analysis of situations, stream of conscious style, footnotes, endnotes, and so on.
But he is kind of aware of it and describes a lot of the self centered antics common to the age. He was a quasi respectable adult, but it is still the bullshit you don't miss from your twenties; moving frequently, temp jobs, bad dates. There is a hilarous segment about Mr. Eggers trying out for MTV's real world. (He is beaten out in the role of smart, funny white guy by the cartoonist named Judd.)
Anyway, it is not nice to complain about orphans, so I won't go too negative. This was a library book, otherwise I would be happy to give you my copy!
Mr. Eggers is kind of funny and self deprecating, but the way he tells the story is at times annoying. He can't just write the story, there are lists, interviews with himself, long winded analysis of situations, stream of conscious style, footnotes, endnotes, and so on.
But he is kind of aware of it and describes a lot of the self centered antics common to the age. He was a quasi respectable adult, but it is still the bullshit you don't miss from your twenties; moving frequently, temp jobs, bad dates. There is a hilarous segment about Mr. Eggers trying out for MTV's real world. (He is beaten out in the role of smart, funny white guy by the cartoonist named Judd.)
Anyway, it is not nice to complain about orphans, so I won't go too negative. This was a library book, otherwise I would be happy to give you my copy!
This book made me want to move to San Francisco. It was real and sad but so is life. I really liked the way Eggers' sentences ran on with his trains of thought that were convoluted but at the same time easy to follow. A great read.
I disliked so very much about this book. The grating self-awareness, the oh-I'm-so-clever stream of consciousness asides, the indescribably tedious discussion of his magazine work. But the heart of the book, the story of Eggers and his young brother trying to be each other's whole family after the death of their parents, is genuinely sad and funny all at once, a difficult feat to accomplish. I wish he'd stuck to telling that story instead of trying so hard to make me think he's a staggering genius. This book made me realize how much I resent authors playing around with style before they've proved to me that they can just tell a sory in an effective way. I just want to say, "You're not too smart for traditional prose if, say, Jane Austen isn't. If you have something to say, say it. Impress me with your grasp of language, not your ability to posture."
Couldn't pick up this book for awhile because of that glaringly pretentious title. However, after reading it, I must admit it is accurate.