Not judging a book by its cover.... | A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Eggers Got Me Hooked | A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius | Dave Eggers

books:


	• A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius Dave Eggers Vintage, 2001 - 496 pages average customer review:based on 916 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

One of the finest works of fiction

As a literature major, avid reader and book club member, I read, and have read, more books. . . well, enough books to fill seven bookshelves in my home. While others in my book club were not as fond of this pathos-filled piece of gripping, witty, sarcastic, reality--I could not put it down. The characters filled my thoughts throughout the day, and I would dream of them once I placed the book on my night stand and went to sleep. For anyone who isn't afraid to delve into the realities of dysfunctional, struggling, richly diverse families. This book is for you!

for more information click here

Not judging a book by its cover....

Okay, so there's nothing particularly heartbreaking about this work. And its not really one of "staggering genius"... for that you'll have to consult Pynchon or Joyce or any number of other postmodern authors. Eggers, however, is likeable and readable because he represents his reader more than most other writers. He is neither lofty nor pretentious (except maybe the title, which we soon realize, duh, is smartassery), and we seem to understand him. He is normal. He has suffered loss. He has failed at aspects of life. He shares in our post-graduate apathy. What makes this book a success is its accessibility. It is funny; it is interesting; and it was, at least for me, a quick and meaningful read.
I highly recommend the paratext too---the preface(s)/acknowledgements/even the copyright page is witty.

for more information click here

Eggers Got Me Hooked

Someone suggested this book to me with the line, "this is so you. You're going to love it." They were right, at least about the loving part. I don't necessarily know whether I write or think or act like Eggers. If I do, then I consider it a compliment.

This instantaneously became one of my favorite books of all-time. Even through the first few pages I was totally hooked to the way Eggers stayed so colloquial with his reader. I can appreciate that, especially as someone who works in the law where a lot of really simple communication has to be terse and formal. Sometimes the warmest, most welcoming type of conversation is the one that's long and nuanced and complicated even when the ideas behind the words might seemingly be simple.

To me, a good book is one that makes me think rather than just follow a plot line and a story. A great book is one that makes me write in the margins, adding my own thoughts to the passages. I transformed whole pages of this book into a notepad. While narrating a really interesting story in its own right, what made the book spectacular was Eggers's musings on the things that were happening around him. Too many writers merely describe what goes on around them without offering any insights into what they think and how they feel about particular situations. These are the types of books most of us are used to, and while the plot might move us along and keep us entertained and engaged, the end product is superficial. I usually walk away from books feeling thrilled at having finished them, but then quickly having that replaced with a sense of dissatisfaction. I never understood why that was happening, how you can complete a seemingly excellent, exciting book, and feel uneasy about it. But after reading Eggers, he reminded me that there's a lot more that an author can offer besides a fun story. Now I think that authors have a responsibility to offer more.

While I don't like gimmicks, and was originally sceptical when I saw all the little random things Eggers tossed into the book (like a weird copyright page in the beginning and a strange autobiographical blurb at the end), the fact that Eggers was totally aware of his gimmicks, and made fun of himself throughout, helped put me at ease. Few things can bring you closer to a writer than their ability to laugh and shake their head at the things they say and do. This book is filled with parts like that. Particularly, Eggers warns us that the book gets kind of boring closer to the end, and he's actually right about that. When you get to that part, and you remember his introductory statement about it, you're still marvelling at how great it all is. Maybe it's because its a memoir, maybe its because Eggers brings you into his life and makes you feel like you've known him for years, maybe it's because you don't want to fall into the trap of agreeing with a statement that should seemingly discourage you from reading his book. Whatever the case, even at is most boring "Heartbreaking Work" is exactly what is claims to be - genius.

for more information click here

Disappointed my very high expectations, but enjoyable

I decided to order this book because the title intrigued me and the few reviews I skimmed seemed to glow. Thus, when the book arrived, I put it on the top of my summer reading list and hurried to finish up the series I had already started, building the book up in my mind to be, as the title suggested, heartbreaking, staggering, and genius. Unfortunately, the book did not quite meet this vaulted expectations, but it was a good read nonetheless. Egger's is very quirky and portrays himself as an almost complete narcissist. He is needy, paranoid, and tragically flawed, but you can't help loving him, even if you occasionally wish you could reach into the space between the period and the Capital and smack the louse upside the head. Even in the throes of the descriptions of his paranoid ramblings on the imagined death of Toph, Eggers is heartbreakingly funny. I found myself throughout the narrative constantly wondering what he was going to do or say next and musing on prospective paper topics on the recreation of the postmodern memoir through the eyes of Eggers or the pseudo-parent-child relationship of Toph and Dave as a vehicle of and for narcissism. Although the prose sometimes seemed quite listless and I had momentary thoughts of quitting the book altogether, these quickly passed in a blaze of humor or compassion toward the heartbreaking story which is his story. Though by no means genius, Egger's work is both heartbreaking and staggering, but he forgot to mention hilarious.

for more information click here