A. H. W. O. S. G.

[obie]

Just started to read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Have gone through about 100 pages. It's great. Anyone?

[Godot22]

You might not want to admit that in public. Liking Dave Eggers is so six months ago, at least in literary hipster circles.

Personally, I thought the book was great, though his warning in the introduction that it kind of trails off after a strong beginning is basically true. The problem (such as it is) is that he's a hell of a lot better at capturing the feel of a moment than he is at telling a coherent story. That seems to be the criticism of You Shall Know Our Velocity, too, though I haven't read that one.

[capt. america]

maybe it's just me but i got through about 150 pages and thought it sucked. my girlfriend gave it to me and said it was the best book, blah blah.

[jamison]

Originally posted by capt. america
maybe it's just me but i got through about 150 pages and thought it sucked. my girlfriend gave it to me and said it was the best book, blah blah.


I had the same reaction after about 80 pages and put it down, never to pick it up again. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't. Not sure why, it just didn't do it for me.

[Footix]

Originally posted by capt. america
maybe it's just me but i got through about 150 pages and thought it sucked. my girlfriend gave it to me and said it was the best book, blah blah.

Funny you should say that...my wife would laugh out loud reading it, then when she explained what she was laughing about, I didn't think it was so funny.

Granted, I didn't read it myself...my current idea of literary experience is Lemmy's autobiography (which has made me laugh out loud as well).

Thank God Hornby's new (excellent) book is a McSweeney's issue, so I can pretend to be on that bandwagon.

[LeperKhan]

Originally posted by Godot22
You might not want to admit that in public. Liking Dave Eggers is so six months ago, at least in literary hipster circles.

Personally, I thought the book was great, though his warning in the introduction that it kind of trails off after a strong beginning is basically true. The problem (such as it is) is that he's a hell of a lot better at capturing the feel of a moment than he is at telling a coherent story. That seems to be the criticism of You Shall Know Our Velocity, too, though I haven't read that one.

I guess I'm six months behind the times as well, as I just read it a month or so ago. Oh well.

I liked it, and while I agree it trailed off a bit, I didn't have any problem finishing it. I actuallly thought the introduction was probably the funniest part of the whole book, though.

[cj herrera]

Originally posted by Godot22
Personally, I thought the book was great, though his warning in the introduction that it kind of trails off after a strong beginning is basically true..... The problem (such as it is) is that he's a hell of a lot better at capturing the feel of a moment than he is at telling a coherent story. That seems to be the criticism of You Shall Know Our Velocity, too, though I haven't read that one.

What he said, except said in a tweed blazer with patched elbows and stroking my van dyke.

Okay..... just what he said.

[skipshady]

The best book I read in the past 3 months. Agree with everyone - it starts off with bang, REALLY slows down at the Real World interview, then really shifts gears afterwards, which I liked.

Speaking of Eggers, has anyone here read You Shall Know Our Velocity? I assume it's coming out in paperback soon as the hardcover is out of print, it seems.

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by obie
Just started to read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Have gone through about 100 pages. It's great. Anyone? I got through the first 10 pages, but it was so ********ing depressing that I put it down until I got to a point in my life when I was ready to read it. I haven't got there yet.

[Godot22]

Originally posted by cj herrera
What he said, except said in a tweed blazer with patched elbows and stroking my van dyke.

Okay..... just what he said.

I don't look good in tweed.

[LeperKhan]

From Marc Connolly's latest column at mlsnet:

http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/oped0312connolly.html?gamename=03082003_CLBDC&version=recap

"Questions for MetroStars defender Steve Jolley

Last great book I read: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers"



anyone in Metroland want to talk to Jolley and ask if he thought the book tailed off after the first 150 pages?

[3stripe]

it's been sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of months...just can't get around to it yet. by the time i start it, i'll be about 8 months behind the times i guess.

[Barbara]

The first 100 pages or so were hard going for me because my mom had died not too long before and I identified a bit too much with the events in the book.

I liked the book a lot but it's not the best book I've ever read and it failed the all-important re-read test. Generally my favorite books are the ones I read over and over again. The second time I read it I gave up on it less than halfway through.

That said, I think Dave Eggers is hysterical. If any of you have any copies of McSweeney's lying around read the boring editorial stuff - you know, the submission guidelines and suchlike. Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.

[hangthadj]

I was so put off by the title that I refused to read it. Then I was at 3stripes hungover and started reading her copy, i'm through the acknowledgments and first 20 pages and i think i am really gonna like it.

[3stripe]

well you should all give yourselves a round of applause for motivating me to actually begin my book. since hang stole my copy, i stole another friend's copy for myself.

im about 50 pages in - and have spent the last day either laughing out loud while reading, feeling nauseous while reading, or feeling like an emotional basket case while reading.

well, back to reading with the tv on mute in case cbs "breaks in when things break out"

[sdeshw]

I jacked my mom's copy last week and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Will try to get in some reading after tonights U14 practice so that you hippies and I can have something to discuss at the match on Sunday after a few cocktails.

[3stripe]

i've been reading today as well.....basketball certainly isn't on tv....

[skipshady]

I want to go back and read it again, especially the Real World interview which I sort of glossed over, but the girl I loaned the book to decided to loan it to her out of town sister. Damn it.

[3stripe]

so im borrowing a copy of this book from a friend, since Hang took my copy..
and im talking to this friend last night about how much im into the book, and how at times im nauseated/laughing/depressed, etc. ..
she replies, 'i thought the book was absolutely hilarious. i loved it'
'hilarious? the whole thing?'
'yea....the beginning is great.'
'true, but did you get to the story part? you know, that hilarious part where both of his parents die of cancer?'
'oh...um, no...i never got that far'


now she wants her copy back.
too bad.