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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Hard to put this one down --finished it in only a couple of days and I work full time!
A mother "kidnaps" her two young children and takes them from Ohio to Alaska where she rents a decrepit motorhome and drives them across the wilderness searching for meaning, forgiveness and love. The details of the journey are startling, shocking and wonderful by turns. Eggers has done it again! Another heartbreaking work of staggering genius! Read it! You'll be glad you did.
A mother "kidnaps" her two young children and takes them from Ohio to Alaska where she rents a decrepit motorhome and drives them across the wilderness searching for meaning, forgiveness and love. The details of the journey are startling, shocking and wonderful by turns. Eggers has done it again! Another heartbreaking work of staggering genius! Read it! You'll be glad you did.
I've read a lot of Dave Eggers books by now and Heroes of the Frontier is not up to his highest standard. But, that's a lot to ask every time of someone who cranks out books one after another. In this one, very much cast in the shadow of Into The Wild, Josie is a washed-up dentist and an unreliable narrator. She yanks her two weird kids out to Alaska and then drives this way and that in a Chateau RV that tops out at 45. Along the way, she finds meaning in what's left of her life and she makes possibly not the best mothering choices. Still, it's Eggers so it is entertaining.
I’m sad to give this 3 stars because I really liked the characters and background for this story. It just needed a bigger plot and purpose behind it. This book got me started with high expectations. I wanted so much more out of it and I’m sad to only give it three stars. It could have been so much better!
No closure, I hated being inside her mind, ridiculously irresponsible.
Ik begrijp niks van de hype rond Eggers. Zeitoun vond ik ok maar niet meer dan dat en dit boek vind ik ronduit ongeloofwaardig. De hoofdpersonen zijn eendimensionaal, ontberen diepgang en hoofdpersoon Josie zeurt maar door zonder dat ik ook maar een moment begrijp waarom. Ik had t gevoel de Libelle te lezen. Haar kinderen zijn kartonnen personages die in een mal zijn gegoten waar ze niet uitkomen. Het is een zeurboek waar ik als lezer ook van ga zeuren dus tijd voor een beter boek.
"Heroes of the Frontier" by Dave Eggers is a brilliant exploration of the American frontier. Bursting with humor, insight, and a sense of the unexpected, the novel proves to be a captivating journey across the wild stretches of Alaska, a backdrop that in itself acts as a poignant metaphor for the complexities, instabilities, and occasional absurdities of modern life.
Eggers beautifully fuses humor and introspection, weaving them into an adventure-survival narrative. The way he depicts Josie, our recently divorced protagonist skirting the blurry edges of conventional parenthood, is refreshingly daring and unique. Her bold, reckless decision to leave their life in Ohio behind and journey into the unknown is not just a geographical transition, but an emotional, psychological, and philosophical one as well.
Humor is sprinkled at both unexpected and necessary moments, often providing a much-needed relief from tension. Characters they meet on their journey provide comedic interludes, and even the antiquated RV becomes a source of laughter. It's the perfect balance - a narrative that makes you chuckle in one moment and ponder the deeper aspects of life in the next.
Eggers maintains a thoughtful undertone, a delicate thread that ties together all their adventures. The optimistic resilience of Paul and Ana, the cruel harshness of the Alaskan wilderness, and Josie's struggle to find meaning and direction, all reflect larger, universal themes of identity, survival, and the ceaseless search for happiness.
"Heroes of the Frontier" is a beautifully penned, contemplative comedy of errors. Its raw, unfiltered portrayal of life on the edge, adorned with elements of whimsical humor and introspective thoughtfulness, make it an unforgettable read. It is without a doubt, a testament to Eggers' literary prowess, and a must-read for those who seek unconventional narratives replete with laughter, depth, and panoramic landscapes.
Eggers beautifully fuses humor and introspection, weaving them into an adventure-survival narrative. The way he depicts Josie, our recently divorced protagonist skirting the blurry edges of conventional parenthood, is refreshingly daring and unique. Her bold, reckless decision to leave their life in Ohio behind and journey into the unknown is not just a geographical transition, but an emotional, psychological, and philosophical one as well.
Humor is sprinkled at both unexpected and necessary moments, often providing a much-needed relief from tension. Characters they meet on their journey provide comedic interludes, and even the antiquated RV becomes a source of laughter. It's the perfect balance - a narrative that makes you chuckle in one moment and ponder the deeper aspects of life in the next.
Eggers maintains a thoughtful undertone, a delicate thread that ties together all their adventures. The optimistic resilience of Paul and Ana, the cruel harshness of the Alaskan wilderness, and Josie's struggle to find meaning and direction, all reflect larger, universal themes of identity, survival, and the ceaseless search for happiness.
"Heroes of the Frontier" is a beautifully penned, contemplative comedy of errors. Its raw, unfiltered portrayal of life on the edge, adorned with elements of whimsical humor and introspective thoughtfulness, make it an unforgettable read. It is without a doubt, a testament to Eggers' literary prowess, and a must-read for those who seek unconventional narratives replete with laughter, depth, and panoramic landscapes.
I wanted to love this book, but it was just too stressful all the time. I kept having to skip ahead to make sure whatever terrible choices the protagonist was making didn't result in her kids being maimed or injured or kidnapped. Only after that could I read certain passages. If I weren't reading it with my own baggage and parental perspective, I would have probably given it a 4-star rating.
Josie is a confused soul. Her partner, Carl, has finally found work, but instead of somewhere near their Ohio home it's in Florida, where he also finds a new and separate life. Her dental practice has been ceded to a vengeful patient who blames Josie for her cancer. Another patient died fighting in Afghanistan, an enlistment she'd encouraged. Josie would come completely unmoored but for her grounding children, the wise Paul and instinctive Ana. Together, they flee to Alaska for a fresh start in a rented RV. But the Alaska they find isn't quite what Josie had imagined, especially with summer wildfires raging all around them.
I struggled getting into Heroes of the Frontier. Eggers often seems to write 50 word descriptions when 10 would suffice. But the characters and story are well-told, and I finally hit a stride once they leave Josie's sister in Homer. The conclusion is powerful and unresolved, befitting Josie's stormy nature.
I struggled getting into Heroes of the Frontier. Eggers often seems to write 50 word descriptions when 10 would suffice. But the characters and story are well-told, and I finally hit a stride once they leave Josie's sister in Homer. The conclusion is powerful and unresolved, befitting Josie's stormy nature.
Interessant maatschappelijk boek over verantwoordelijkheden, schuldgevoel, vluchten en weer tot inzicht komen. Het is goed geschreven, mooie thematiek en het is sluitend. Het laat je niet achter met een leeg gevoel omdat je nog dingen mist, maar het wist mij niet helemaal mee te slepen. Waarschijnlijk omdat het niet helemaal aansluit bij mijn belevingswereld.