It's a story about Hurricane Katrina, on the one hand, and 9/11 on the other--specifically about the experience of Muslim Americans in its aftermath. I confess that I tend to read nonfiction with a mixture of engaged righteousness (Look at me! I'm the kind of person who reads nonfiction!) and falling asleep, but this book I simply couldn't put down. I loved it and I am recommending it to you with a full heart. The title A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius has always made me a little exhausted, but now that I'm a Dave Eggers convert, maybe I'll pick that up too.
Thanks for continuing to vote for ChopChop. And if you're not on facebook, for keeping us in your thoughts!
Have a lovely weekend.
xo
I can't do the Chop Chop voting since I'm one of the last 3 people in the universe who aren't on Facebook, but I do want to say Eggers' Heartbreaking Work is really pretty darn good. It's self-conciously and unnecessarily post-modern and ironic at times, but he's still a great storyteller, and he has a compelling story about his own life to tell. It truly is heartbreaking, but also lovely, and at times so funny you'd can't control yourself. Says me, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI loved that book and, like you, I like this Dave Eggers better than the Heartbreaking Dave Eggers. Have you read What is the What? You should.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gina - What is the What? is an excellent book, even if the title is a bit bizarre. It's the only one of Eggers' books I've read so far, but your post has motivated me to hunt down some of his other titles.
ReplyDeleteI want to read Eggers, but I want to find it on the shelf of the Goodwill or my sister in law's bookcase. I've been voting early and often on the Birds Eye thing.
ReplyDeleteOne more for What is the What? -- read it! I think you'll love it. And it'll kill you. But in a good way. You Shall Know Our Velocity is another lovely one of Eggers', and a good primer for whether or not you'll like The Work Staggering Genius Heartbreaking Whatever.
ReplyDeleteHow do I love thee? What a perfect, perfect book to read and share on the anniversary of 9/11. It took me a long time to read because of its odd name, I confess. And then I loved it and wanted to be a better person because of it. I read Heartbreaking years ago and remember it as being quite marvelous. As are you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you recommended Zeitoun -- I heard an interview with Dave Eggers when it came out and made a mental note to put it on my "to read list." As someone from Louisiana with many, many family and friends in New Orleans at the time of Katrina (and as someone who was living on the Mississippi coast at the time), I haven't yet been able to read much about it -- it still seems too fresh. I started Tom Piazza's City of Refuge when it came out but couldn't get passed the first few chapters -- it was just. too. hard. Maybe now that it's been six years, I'll try again with Zeitoun.
ReplyDeleteI so wanted to love Heartbreaking Staggering, and the story itself is truly heartbreaking and staggering, but halfway through the book you sort of feel like you took acid and decided to sit down and read but you can't quite grasp what he's talking about or why.
ReplyDeleteI recently read "Zeitoun," too, and am embarrassed to say I had no idea some of that stuff actually went on in the aftermath of Katrina. I need to check out Eggers' other books.
ReplyDelete"You Shall Know Our Velocity" is my favorite Eggers. I liked it more than "A Heartbreaking Work..." but then again it was timely for me. I (unintentionally) read it after losing a friend, and I cried every five pages throughout the book. I highly recommend "YSKOV."
ReplyDeleteOops - it kind of sounds like I'm saying "I highly recommend crying every five pages" which is not exactly what I meant. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is a off-topic from Eggers, but on-topic re books: THANK YOU for recommending State of Wonder by Ann Patchett! Oh my goodness, I'm loving individual sentences and the whole thing all put together. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHmm, this is on my list now. And I'd like to add my voice to that of the commenter who suggested you read What is the What. It's kind of some fiction/nonfiction hybrid, about the lost boys of the Sudan, so you think it will be depressing, but it's mostly inspiring. Oh, and I loved State of Wonder, too. I'm making everyone read it with evangelical insistence.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Zeitoun, and Heartbreaking Work... I feel like I may have recommended Zeitoun to you awhile back?? That may just be me tooting my own literary horn. If you're looking for another great read check out 'Room' by Emma Donoghue. The beginning is so unsettling that I almost couldn't read it, but it is a GREAT book.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Catherine, are you on goodreads.com? If so, can I friend you so I can check out your book list?
Oh, I read that book. It overwhelmed me, embarrassed me, angered me to no end. I hope and pray that he has found happiness.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteYou are the umpteenth person to tell me about this book. I lived in New Orleans way back when in
"1986" and Katrina broke my heart. I am ordering this book today. PLEASE read 'What is the What by Dave Eggers! It is a story about the amazing journey of the lost boys of Sudan...I finished it in 2 days,enough said! I too had hard time with blah,blah,...staggering genious...though that came highly recommended and even Urban Outfitters was selling it for a time!
namaste,
Sheila
Thank you for the book recommendation. Read it in one sitting. I love your blog and have followed you since your days at Babycenter. Keep writing.
ReplyDelete