The consensus was that the story
was compelling but the stream of
consciousness style was so off-putting that it spoiled the narrative. The
highest rating was a 2 and most people gave it a 1.5
Eggers has
authored a number of books and screenplays, he is editor of the literary
magazine McSweeney's, and he and Toph co-author children's books. He gives
a great deal of the proceeds of his work to charity and he also runs a
children's workshop in San Francisco to teach kids from 6-18 yrs. old how
to write. It was interesting to read one of the few interviews he granted
and see behind the grandiose facade that he puts out in the book. His
childhood was overshadowed by his father's alcoholism and his mother
attempted to rigidly control the chaos of the household "where everyone
fought about everything." He remembers needing to internalize
the chaos and feeling responsible for his mother's happiness.
After his parents' deaths he fought against keeping any kind of schedule
for years and the free-for-all lifestyle that he and Toph led in
California was obviously some part inexperience and youth and some part
rebellion.
We
agreed that Eggers really is a talented writer and we were drawn
to the relationship that he had with Toph and wished it had been told more
along the lines of The Glass Castle. It was hard to understand how the
older brother did not take more of a role in raising Toph when he was
obviously the most settled in his life. In my research about the book and
author I was shocked to learn that their sister Beth committed
suicide in 2001 shortly after the book was published. Eggers hasn't
discussed her death in any detail however he did say she was unhappy with
the book and felt that he minimized the impact she had on raising
Toph.
There were some bright spots in the book and he is
clearly able to write some laugh out loud moments but they weren't enough
to sustain the book.
Kellie who loves disfunction (in other people's
lives) declared it was her least favorite book she has read since being in
the book club. Many felt the writing was self-indulgent, but we
also agreed that the majority of 20 somethings are incredibly
selfish.
The beginning was obviously difficult to read given
the real health struggles so many of us are dealing with
now.
The sense was that the non stop dialogue was so
intense it was exhausting to read and created more tension in the reader
than enjoyment. Bonnie Jean said we all have had similar thoughts but have
managed with age to put a filter on what comes out. Obviously at 21
Eggers did not have much of a filter and every thought just poured
out.
The end of the book (spoiler alert but I know if you
haven't read it yet you won't) was incredibly disappointing. Toph and Dave
were throwing the frisbee on a nude beach in California and talking about
a move to New York and it just trailed off after one of Dave's
rants….
The extensive preface was far more enlightening to
read after having finished the book but it was too much more of the
same…
We are beginning to question how we are choosing our
books since so many have been rather disappointing reads despite
receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews and awards….
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