A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by David Eggers: ***1/4

Considering the humor in this book (the introduction is considerably wackier than the rest of the book, but there's a good deal of post-modern comedy throughout), it's surprisingly deep. The title is actually appropriate, not because I found the book heartbreaking or genius, but because it's clear from the title that while the book is satirical and humorous (who would seriously call their own life-story "heartbreaking" while terming the manner in which they wrote it "staggering genius"), it also discusses material that is somewhat sad. I found it an enthralling combination.

Apparently based on Eggers' life, the book examines what we think of as fun and necessary, as well as how the gen-Xers can make it in the 1990s. As a gen-Xer in similar straights (though not nearly as severe), it resonated strongly with me.

Despite its autobiographical nature, Eggers' novel mixes in obvious doses of fiction as well, fused with surprisingly appropriate doses of absurdity along the way. Somehow, these situations lend more poignancy to his story, as they highlight the sadness more clearly. While it seems most appropriate for gen-Xers, I could recommend it to anyone [apparently except my mother. She told me that she recommended it to her book club, and they all hated it, with nearly everyone quitting after just the opening chapter or two. Mom didn't simply not like it. She actively disliked it, and decried it as the work of an immature hack. - summer 2001]
(summer 2000)

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