Dave Egger's parents died from cancer within a month of each other when he was 21 and his brother, Christopher, was seven. They left the Chicago suburb where they had grown up and moved to San Francisco. This book tells the story of their life together. 'Dave Eggers has written a superb memoir... The work soars because it is, simply and tremendously, an honest and moving account of one man's life. In the process, he reminds me that while the language and style of literature are always changing, it is forever about coming ...
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Dave Egger's parents died from cancer within a month of each other when he was 21 and his brother, Christopher, was seven. They left the Chicago suburb where they had grown up and moved to San Francisco. This book tells the story of their life together. 'Dave Eggers has written a superb memoir... The work soars because it is, simply and tremendously, an honest and moving account of one man's life. In the process, he reminds me that while the language and style of literature are always changing, it is forever about coming to terms with the timeless conflicts of the human heart...Like all authors, he uses his life and imagination to make sense of the world. Like the very best writers, he does not manufacture cheap answers.' The News & Observer 'The story is at once funny, tender, annoying and, yes, heartbreaking - an epic about family and how families fracture and fragment and somehow, through all the tumult and upset, manage to endure . . . A virtuosic piece of writing, a big, daring, manic-depressive stew of a book that noisily announces the debut of a talented - yes, staggeringly talented new writer' Michiko Kakutani, New York Times 'Eggers is an original new voice, the real thing. When you read his extraordinary memoir you don't laugh, then cry, then laugh again; you somehow experience these emotions all at once - and powerfully' David Remnick 'The force and energy of this book could power a train' David Sedaris
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Fair. Unabridged! Ex-library rental. This is an audio cd collection. All cd's included. Includeds the dust cover and/or artwork, if applicable. May show signs of wear, include library/security labels, stickers and/or markings. Artwork and/or case may have been repackaged for library use.
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Good. Ex-library rental. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May have slight wear, library/security stickers and ink writing. Artwork may have been modified for library case.
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Good. MP3-CD. UNABRIDGED. 2 MP3 CD consisting of 13.5 hours, polished for your satisfaction. This MP3-CD is published by Recorded Books withdrawn from the library collection. Mild shelf wear to the clamshell case. Some library markings. In nice, reliable and presentable condition. Enjoy this audio performance!
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 437 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
(I?m sure other reviewers out there have come up with much more cleverly insulting re-workings of the title, which lends itself to cleverly insulting re-workings, but I just don?t have their flair.)
I hated this book so much I wished it was sentient so I could do it physical harm. This would have been an acceptable substitute for doing Dave Eggars physical harm.
I wish I could give it zero--or negative--stars. But I guess 1 will have to suffice.
I just don't understand how a book with this basic plot--a young man who loses his parents and must care for his young brother--can be so nauseatingly awful. This is truly Eggars' greatest achievement.
I came away from [what I read of] the book with the unshakable feeling that Eggars only did about 99% of what he wrote about having done so that he could write about having done it and have it be true, so he could say it was true.
I think what got me the most, besides the mind-numbing descriptions of Eggars' magazine "work," was his painfully affected attitude of cluelessness about parenting. No matter how little experience you have, I'm pretty sure you could figure out that calling your pre-teen brother a "retard" and using frequent, R-rated swears aren't good tactics. Probably your mom impressed that upon you before she died.
All I have left to say of this book and Eggars' "talent" is, thank God your parents are dead so they were spared the embarrassment of sharing your last name, and I understand why your sister committed suicide.
Ellyb
Mar 17, 2008
A classic.
This memoir sings. I really cannot say enough wonderful things about it. It is angry, and hopeful, and joyful, and hilarious, and touching, and wonderfully alive. I pretty much couldn't put it down. Who cares abut writerly skill and pacing and characterization, even if all these elements are solid and well deserving of the critical acclaim it has received? This book is about a gut response, not an intellectual one. Go read it.
