i haven’t finished the book. now, before you start throwing eggs, hear me out. this book is so deeply and beautifully tragic and mind-boggling that i can only read a chapter at time. in fact, when i tried to read more than that, i realized that i was uncommonly weepy and short-tempered. it took a moment of introspection to realize that i was angry about sudan and valentino’s mother in her yellow dress, not about joe leaving his socks in the middle of the living room floor.
i’m about halfway in (and i will finish) but i must say that i already think dave eggers an even greater genius than i did previously. the way he chose to write the “autobiography” is masterful. i’m even thinking of writing to him and suggesting that he retitle this doozy “a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.” (i don’t know if he takes suggestions from people like me.)
in any case, this book is unbelievable and you must read it. it’s an education.
those of you who tackled it — any feelings? loved it? hated it? couldn’t stand to read it? tried to get your husband/sister/friend/teacher/pet to read it and tell you what it was about?
and how many of you are now itching to DO something to help? (the mark of any true literature, i think, is the way it makes you want to get up off your duff and participate.)
I, too, am still in the middle of it, so we can feel better in our common failure. And I’m really enjoying it, but feel unfit to comment further until I’ve finished. I think the book deserves that much from me.
Hi Jessie.
It took me weeks and weeks to finish this book and I confess, I had to insert a couple of other things in between. Almost everyone I’ve talked to has had the same problem. The subject matter is difficult, but I’m not sure that’s what makes it a slow read. I don’t remember having the same problem with AHWOSG. Many of the chapters in What is the What are long and difficult emotionally.
On the other hand, yes– it does make me want to be involved and it does underline the horrific crime that has occurred and has mostly been ignored by the world.
My copy didn’t come in at the libarary until my parents arrived for a Labor Day vacation. Needless to say, I haven’t started it and probably won’t when I get back home (on the 24th!). But for October, what about The Magic of Ordinary Days? Have we read that one yet…I don’t think so, but sometimes my brain doesn’t work very well.