Book Reviews of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Reading the back cover is like reading the label of a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap. If that appeals, cross it with trying to read Joyce's Ulysses. Still interested (even if only because you've been told that it's groundbreaking and important but no one makes it through)? Mix in a bit of David Sedaris and Augustin Burroughs (think current versions of The Hotel New Hampshire or things just as disturbing and vaguely autobiographical) and take as necessary. Don't forget, the Washington Post used the word "frothing" in their review. How often does that happen?

The book as a whole is much better than some of the parts. Dave Eggers has written a raw, emotional memoir of the years immediately following the death of both parents. He becomes the guardian of a younger brother and is also trying to begin his own career as a writer. Eggers is witty, sarcastic, pretenious and possibly genius, but this book was not easy for me to read. There were parts that I felt I would never get through and it wasn't until I was finished that I really appreciated what Eggers had accomplished. Several times in telling his story, Eggers goes off on narrative tangents that don't really move the story. These border on stream of conscienciousness, but are just hard to follow, as are some sections of dialogue.

So why does this book have such high praise? Eggers is funny and honest. This memoir succeeds in giving an clear picture of one young adult's life and thoughts as he strives to deal with his grief, become a parent to his much younger brother and carve out a successful career as writer and publisher. Eggers was idealistic enough to think he could do just that.

If you pick up this book make it through the preface and first chapter (it may not be easy) go ahead and finish. i think you will be glad you did.

Loved this book from the first page. Laughed out loud at times. Young man (23) trying to care for his younger brother (9) and atone for family tragedies. It journals the screwups, the successes and how he learns along the way. I loved it, and realized this is all a learning process for him and did not take it all too seriously.

Very diffrent, realistic look at the world of 20-somethings, out of college, without the traditional moorings of family. The main character takes custody of his pre-teen brother after the deaths of both parents and tries to give both their lives some normalcy. While doing this, he tries vainly to accomplish something (anything) that could be called noteworthy or meaningful.

A pulitzer prize finalist. This book was like watching a train wreck in slow motion! It was moving, real, sad and hilarious. I couldn't stop reading it and I should probably read it again!

Written in sort of a "stream of consciousness" style... Alternatingly sad and laugh out loud funny!

Amazing. I couldn't resist the title, and when I started reading it, I couldn't put it donw.

One of the best books I've read in the past few years...

I'm sorry I missed this book when it first came out. I loved it. Dave Eggers writes with a voice that feels slightly younger than mine, but I identified so much with the feeling that we are so alone with no support system, feeling old, getting older, trying to love, sometimes feeling you are using friends and family for your own needs, feeling used yourself, and underneath, not sure what else you can do. The ending was hard, but felt so true.

funny, raw, and somewhat tragic story of a man in his 20s who, after losing his parents, raises his younger brother. Very entertaining, and at times agonizing, story of surviving hardships and the love of family.

This was not a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

Hated it...

Not interesting or insightful. Poorly written, rambling memoir by a self-absorbed 22 year old. I felt sorry for his little brother.

I guess you will either love or hate this one. Dave Eggers's title pretty much gives you a clue to him. This is apparently a memoir. It got wonderful reviews from some very prestigious groups, people, papers, etc. if what he wrote about is true, then I guess I can understand more about this book. Pain, heartbreak, family ties, and ultimately love and triumph. I liked it. Two friends I lent it to didn't. Decide for yourself.

crazy book. well written and funny.

I just couldn't get into it. It had me bored when I had hardly begun.

Dense but well written story. And strangely enough, a true story.

A funny book about everything and nothing. hard to explain but a funny twentysomthing book.Made me lol!

I could not get through this book....too depressing.

I just don't get it.

Interesting story, i loved the title. Honestly didn't finish the book.

Funny book

I thought it was pretty self absorbed and boring.

A heartbreaking work in staggering need of some editing. Apparently, Eggers thinks that just because he self-reflexively points out his shortcomings, it covers up for them. It doesn't. There is a compelling story here, but it's covered up by self-affacing gobbledegook.

One of the funniest, yet most touching, books I've read in a long time. Sort of in the vein of "Running with Scissors", only better.

This Chicago-born writer's work is very moving, sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating. This book was an adventure in learning, family and personal growth of the author, it is like having a bird's-eye view into his world - if only for the awkward early-adult years.

I did not get this at all.

A whirlwind of a read - brings back memories of youth's arrogance and confusion

Brilliant first book! David Eggers is destined to be a gret writer.

Wonderful, therapeutic, funny, mostly non-fiction story of parenting (brother to brother), living the SF Bay Area in the 90's and families who buck the odds and make it.

Some people love this book; I found this to be a dull and redundant read.

I had to read this book for English class. Some parts are funny and others are depressing.

I LOVE books that make me bawl, and this therefore is one of the tops on my list. Also, being a Real World fan, I must note the brief appearance of Puck (it's memoir-ish). LOL

unique, great reading.

This was an interesting story, but I seem to remember that it was a little sad.

Very funny and touching, at the same time.

Laugh-out-loud funny. Anything by Eggers is always worth a look.

An enjoyable read, and I've never been one for memoirs, this is a book worth reading.

Loved this book!

Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Based on a True Story? For starters, there's a good bit of staggering genius before you even get to the true story, including a preface, a list of "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book," and a 20-page acknowledgements section complete with special mail-in offer, flow chart of the book's themes, and a lovely pen-and-ink drawing of a stapler (helpfully labeled "Here is a drawing of a stapler:").

But on to the true story. At the age of 22, Eggers became both an orphan and a "single mother" when his parents died within five months of one another of unrelated cancers. In the ensuing sibling division of labor, Dave is appointed unofficial guardian of his 8-year-old brother, Christopher. The two live together in semi-squalor, decaying food and sports equipment scattered about, while Eggers worries obsessively about child-welfare authorities, molesting babysitters, and his own health. His child-rearing strategy swings between making his brother's upbringing manically fun and performing bizarre developmental experiments on him. (Case in point: his idea of suitable bedtime reading is John Hersey's Hiroshima.)

The book is also, perhaps less successfully, about being young and hip and out to conquer the world (in an ironic, media-savvy, Gen-X way, naturally). In the early '90s, Eggers was one of the founders of the very funny Might Magazine, and he spends a fair amount of time here on Might, the hipster culture of San Francisco's South Park, and his own efforts to get on to MTV's Real World. This sort of thing doesn't age very well--but then, Eggers knows that. There's no criticism you can come up with that he hasn't put into A.H.W.O.S.G. already. "The book thereafter is kind of uneven," he tells us regarding the contents after page 109, and while that's true, it's still uneven in a way that is funny and heartfelt and interesting.

All this self-consciousness could have become unbearably arch. It's a testament to Eggers's skill as a writer--and to the heartbreaking particulars of his story--that it doesn't. Currently the editor of the footnote-and-marginalia-intensive journal McSweeney's (the last issue featured an entire story by David Foster Wallace printed tinily on its spine), Eggers comes from the most media-saturated generation in history--so much so that he can't feel an emotion without the sense that it's already been felt for him. What may seem like postmodern noodling is really just Eggers writing about pain in the only honest way available to him. Oddly enough, the effect is one of complete sincerity, and--especially in its concluding pages--this memoir as metafiction is affecting beyond all rational explanation. --Mary Park

I never got all the way through but the beginning is funny

Very sad story, but very funny writing style

Funny and sad at the same time.

Well received, though I just couldn't get through it.

Dave Eggers' incredible memoir that begins with the sad tale of his parents' battle with cancer when he's young, and follows him into early adulthood in which he relies on his wacky sense of humor and incredible creativity to help him get by. Moments of complete irreverence that are tons of fun, and don't throw off the structure or story of the novel at all.

as much of a book about nothing as i’ve ever read, but pretty good either way. it was interesting enough to keep me reading, but just borderline boring enough to leave me feeling a little ripped off. some really fantastic principles of life, youth and circumstance are presented, but eggers tendencies to ramble and write in an almost nonsensical sort of way can distract from these fundamental beauties. its a little surprising to me that this is a national bestseller and pulitzer prize finalist. thats not to say that i was disappointed. i just wasn't fantastically impressed.

Good book but I just couldn't get into it after trying serveral times unsuccessfully.

This book was very thought-provoking. I enjoyed it. However, it's not for the extremely modest. It's a little crude.

This is one of the strangest books I have ever read. It is very different and interesting. Was a national bestseller.

enjoyable read - painful growing up phases, beauty in little moments.

I liked Might magazine and I like McSweeney's, but I just didn't like You Shall Know Our Velocity! or this book, either.

As an early Gen-Xer, I had waves of miserable nostalgia for the bad ol\' 90\'s when reading this book. Funny and moving stuff.

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