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ttodd86's review against another edition
3.0
Coming into this book an Eggers fan, maybe my expectations were too high. The setting and idea are good, but I would have preferred more a little more nuance, maybe?
We get it: the U.S. economy is struggling, our jobs are going overseas and China is a rising economic power. You are showing us that (we are living that) you don't need to have Alan recall conversations with his blue collar father to make sure we understand -- your readers are smarter than that.
The main premise of this book could have made a very strong short story built out of one of the set pieces.
We get it: the U.S. economy is struggling, our jobs are going overseas and China is a rising economic power. You are showing us that (we are living that) you don't need to have Alan recall conversations with his blue collar father to make sure we understand -- your readers are smarter than that.
The main premise of this book could have made a very strong short story built out of one of the set pieces.
kprysmiki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
foonislin's review against another edition
2.0
If you want a book where a 50+ man does nothing but think about his life, this is for you.
i liked the side characters better than the main one.
i liked the side characters better than the main one.
teresaalice's review against another edition
1.0
What the fuck kind of waste of time was that? It's been a long time since I've read a book that made me angry that I spent my precious time on it, but this book was it. The wholly unlikeable protagonist goes through a mid life crisis while in Saudi Arabia. Besides this annoying man, all other characters are one dimensional and terrible, and according to this book, all middle aged women are hungry cougars. I have loved Dave Eggers books in the past - even fantasizes about him as my writer in residence (if you know what I mean), but that was truly horrible.
tonyleachsf's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed it. A bit Phillip Roth-y. Overall a downer but a nice read.
jacksontibet's review against another edition
3.0
Very simple/easy/quick to read. The tone reminds me of the movie Lost in Translation, and the plot and topical matter is similar as well. There's a man who's lost: in work, in life, in love, and in the world at large. He kind of floats through this adventure, wandering into the sea, into empty apartments, into giant holes in the ground, into the Arab wilderness, into dangerous situations, and into romantic liasons. Not much to say. It's a simple, and simply enjoyable, book about a complex world. Sometimes things don't need to be more than that.
alexisrt's review against another edition
2.0
I'm really not sure if I liked this or not. It was well written (an easy read, in fact) but it felt more like the idea of a novel than an actual novel. Eggers seems to want to tell some grand story of American decline, only the plot, characters, and setting are hazy and ill defined. The theme is heavy handed and at points I felt I was being treated to a lecture from someone who had no particular claim to being able to lecture on the subject. Eggers may have mostly pulled it off in Zeitoun--he doesn't manage it here.
bookysue's review against another edition
4.0
I found the book very readable -- I finished it in a couple of days -- and as everything by Eggers is, it's beautifully written and thought-provoking.
The main problem I had with the book was actually a mistake -- When purchasing the book on Amazon, I accidentally read a review that revealed that the main character died early on in the book. So, I began reading it, waiting for him to die, but he didn't. Halfway through the book, and the dude was still alive. I started to get annoyed. "That person lied -- He doesn't die at the beginning. He probably dies at the very end, and they just totally gave away the whole book." But no. I finally hit the last page today, and he was still very much alive.
So, that sucked -- half-waiting for him to die, wondering when and how death would come for him. If it hadn't been for that (false!) review, I probably would have relaxed and enjoyed myself a bit more while reading the thing.
But, despite that and the book's lack of direction or forward motion, I really enjoyed it.
Plus, the cover is awesome.
The main problem I had with the book was actually a mistake -- When purchasing the book on Amazon, I accidentally read a review that revealed that the main character died early on in the book. So, I began reading it, waiting for him to die, but he didn't. Halfway through the book, and the dude was still alive. I started to get annoyed. "That person lied -- He doesn't die at the beginning. He probably dies at the very end, and they just totally gave away the whole book." But no. I finally hit the last page today, and he was still very much alive.
So, that sucked -- half-waiting for him to die, wondering when and how death would come for him. If it hadn't been for that (false!) review, I probably would have relaxed and enjoyed myself a bit more while reading the thing.
But, despite that and the book's lack of direction or forward motion, I really enjoyed it.
Plus, the cover is awesome.
courtz531's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25