A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
2 journalers for this copy...
From Booklist
"A memoir," says the book's cover, "based on a true story." Readers are advised in the preface that "many parts have been fictionalized," but it is not really clear how much is "real" here and how much is spoof. What could be funny about the final days of Eggers' mother's battle with stomach cancer, just a month after the loss of his father to another form of cancer? Eggers' seemingly flippant, but piercingly observant style, allows hilarity to lead the way in a very personal and revealing recounting of the loss of his parents. Barely out of college, Eggers is responsible for the care of his eight-year-old brother, Toph. Together they relocate from the Midwest to Berkeley, where their sister Beth is in law school. Young, eager, full of himself, Eggers teams up with like-minded pals in the media-crazed early 90s to create the satirical magazine Might, while also making sure he's there for Toph's Little League games and parent/teacher conferences. Eggers voices the classic youthful assumption that the world belongs (or should belong) to him. From anyone else this might be incredibly annoying, but so much is tongue-in-cheek in this work. Not just for the MTV-fan age group, this is a very entertaining, well-written book.
"A memoir," says the book's cover, "based on a true story." Readers are advised in the preface that "many parts have been fictionalized," but it is not really clear how much is "real" here and how much is spoof. What could be funny about the final days of Eggers' mother's battle with stomach cancer, just a month after the loss of his father to another form of cancer? Eggers' seemingly flippant, but piercingly observant style, allows hilarity to lead the way in a very personal and revealing recounting of the loss of his parents. Barely out of college, Eggers is responsible for the care of his eight-year-old brother, Toph. Together they relocate from the Midwest to Berkeley, where their sister Beth is in law school. Young, eager, full of himself, Eggers teams up with like-minded pals in the media-crazed early 90s to create the satirical magazine Might, while also making sure he's there for Toph's Little League games and parent/teacher conferences. Eggers voices the classic youthful assumption that the world belongs (or should belong) to him. From anyone else this might be incredibly annoying, but so much is tongue-in-cheek in this work. Not just for the MTV-fan age group, this is a very entertaining, well-written book.
Reserved for freelunch for the "International Reverse Wishlist Relay"
I don't know how Dave Eggers managed to describe a life that contained so much sadness into such a hilarious, and well-written book. I know that I was laughing so hard that I even read his take on the copyright page and even read most of the included Mistakes We Knew We Were Making errata. Well I read all but the really really small print because I started feeling sick reading it while I was riding the subway :)
On top of the humor evident throughout the book, I also very much enjoyed Eggers' descriptions of the San Francisco Bay Area. It brought back memories of my childhood there, and it even highlighted areas (like the Black Sand beach) that I have never visited and just might have to visit on my next trip out.
Here's one of Eggers' quotes on world-clearing discussion that had me laughing(pg 145):
'---you'd have to have lots of trucks and trains to haul it away, up to Canada or something---'
On top of the humor evident throughout the book, I also very much enjoyed Eggers' descriptions of the San Francisco Bay Area. It brought back memories of my childhood there, and it even highlighted areas (like the Black Sand beach) that I have never visited and just might have to visit on my next trip out.
Here's one of Eggers' quotes on world-clearing discussion that had me laughing(pg 145):
'---you'd have to have lots of trucks and trains to haul it away, up to Canada or something---'
Sent via surface mail to freelunch in Australia this morning.
Jinkies! That was quick!!
received today, thanks brewski :oD
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reserved for the COT Bookcrossing Zone
received today, thanks brewski :oD
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reserved for the COT Bookcrossing Zone
