Rating: 
Summary: Too Cute
Review: This book is about the author being cute. Through thick and thin, the author's dedication to the dear and the really quite precious shines through. Sometimes a kind of goofy charm sneaks in.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much of a good thing.
Review: Though I enjoyed and appreciated his unorthodox prose style, I gradually found myself bored and then annoyed by it. I found that the book had veered from being fresh and merely self-referential, to being long-winded, self-indulgent and self-congratulatory. Every line seemed to scream "Hey, look at me...ain't I just too cool for words?" That said, this book did have its heart in the right place and it was an overall a story that was worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Compelling
Review: Even though the author indicates in the preface that the middle section could be skipped, I couldn't do it. Although I was about 30 years older than the author when my parents died within 10 months of each other I found myself drawn to and identifying with his reactions. And recognized the additional complexity of his coming of age at the same time as having become his brother's parent. This book was well worth the time of reading--you don't often see a memoir or autobiography by someone so young who has such insight.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Genius
Review: It started out as the most brilliant and hilarious book I've ever read. I couldn't understand why it was getting so many mixed reviews, but then I got to the halfway point. AHWOSG, Dave Eggers memoirish first novel is quirky, funny, touching and exhilarting at times, morose, trite and annoying at others. It is almost as if two books were thrown into one. The first half dealing with him and his little brother, Toph is wonderful. Eggers reminded me of when I was 20 and taking my 12 year old brother places in my car and to the movies. It is a true and honest relationship. The caring, the kidding, the teasing, Eggers creates realistic characters in these two brothers. His stream-of-conciousness storytelling is NOT all over the place as you would think that type of writing tends to be. It is merely the true processing of his thoughts. It has focus. His mind races with indecision and worry each time he comes upon a situation, like leaving his brother with a babysitter, going to bed with a sexologist, etc. And I personally love his moments of braggadoccio: like when he and Toph are throwing the Frisbee or how he believes they are the best example of a parent/child relationship.I love how his characters are used as dramatic representations of his memory, how they step out of character to take the form of his dueling conscience (ie: Toph suddenly begins talking way to scholastically for a little boy), and I love Eggers' unconventional style (as with his Monty Python-like acknowledgements page, his reenactment of a scene as a stage play, or his simple drawing of a stapler). Around page 150 or so is when the bottom drops. When Eggers auditions for MTV's The Real World. What I didn't like about the second half is it becomes more of a straightforward story that is basically boring. I know that at some point there has to be an actual story, but maybe the problem is that it's not a very interesting one. Yes it's sad and tragic, but there are way too many "poor me" stories out there -- and though Eggers acknowledges that and his right to express it because it is his story and he wants the world to know it (which is part of his character's "look-at-me" persona) -- for me, this part of his book reads like one of those "poor me" tales. Like one of your run-of-the-mill gen-x cliches. But that doesn't mean it's a bad book. It really is good. It's just a better book -- a GREAT book -- when Eggers takes chances. I believe he is a true talent, and I highly recommend reading AHWOSG.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, Heartbreaking, but also Very Funny
Review: Dave Eggers has done something wonderful with this work. AHWOSG is brilliant and well written. Eggers' story really is tragic, yet he makes us laugh all the way through. His parents die within a few weeks of each other and at 21, Eggers must care for his young brother Toph. Eggers' writing shows exceptional talent and promise. I know that he has been troubled by the idea of profitting off of the loss of his parents, but frankly I don't see it that way. He is profitting off the strenghts of his talents. The book definitely is a little rough around the edges. He sometimes uses extremely awkward devices to get things he wants to say in the novel (such as a fake interview with MTV, which goes on for pages and pages). Eggers is at his best when he is just telling his story about raising his brothers and dealing with the obstacles which naturally come with his situation. One of the things I loved about the book was his honesty. He openly admits that he went to open house at his brother's grade school hoping to meet an attractive single mother. Eggers also is honest with his yearnings to be on his own and his deep love for his brother. I also found it interesting that Eggers seemingly does not realized that so much of what he experienced as a parent is universal. What parent hasn't been nagged by a terrible, and totally paranoid fear that the wonderful babysitter he or she has just entrusted his children to will turn out to be an ax murderer. What parent hasn't chastised their children for not dressing themselves and being late. Eggers take on all of the mundane aspects of parenting is completely refreshing. This book, for all the sadness, will keep you laughing, out loud.
Rating:
Summary: STAGGERING WORK OF HEARTBREAKING BOREDOM
Review: I like a good true story and have read many memoirs written in the past three years. While every person in the world really does "have a story" to tell, publishers and readers must be discriminating and ask "what exactly makes a person's life worthy of a whole book"? The title sure as heck drew me in: A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS practically guarantees a fresh look at this worn-out, over-published genre. Especially the witty "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book" made me feel like I was going to be treated to something really special---different from the usual "then-this-happened-to-me" type of memoir. Alas, the author doesn't sustain this creative energy. In fact, all the fresh and interesting writing happens before the "real" story begins. The real story starts out in an amazing and tragic way. The author's parents both die and he has to care for his younger brother alone. A double whammy of crisis and conflict, promising to be a roller coaster ride, but the author runs out of dramatic steam long before the end. I found myself hurrying to finish it, not because I was riveted but because I was bored. I wanted so much to love this book...to be staggered by the genius of the prose. Instead I came to the realization that it was "just another boring memoir." That's the heartbreaking part.
Rating:
Summary: inside the (mixed-up) mind of Dave Eggers
Review: I have to say straight out, I loved this book. I was hooked before I finished the acknowledgements, preface, instructions, etc., etc. Yes, it's sometimes meandering and self-indulgent and all but incoherent, but it's meant to be -- it's a look into a mind and psyche in complete turmoil. Eggers probably would not have been capable (before age 70) of writing dispassionately about these things, as other reviewers have said he should, because the experiences were/are so raw and immediate. Part of what makes this book highly readable (aside from the fact that the writing itself is fluid and vivid) is that it's often contradictory and inconsistent -- because the situations in which he finds himself really do evoke contradictory and inconsistent feelings and actions. His saving grace is his wry ability to keep a sense of humor about his situation, even as he's scamming the world (and sometimes himself).
Rating: 
Summary: What's all the fuss about
Review: With so much hype, I clearly had higher expectations for this book than warranted. It was a boring account of an insultingly self-centered, immature cast of not-so-original characters. This was a bookclub book selection for me, so I suffered through it -- much to my chagrin, however, none of the other 8 members of the club persevered. I was the only one who made it through cover to cover.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: Quirky? I'll say! But an outstanding book brimming with truth, lies, humor, sadness, self-absorption and selflessness. If that's not enough for you, it's just a great story. I'd really recommend this book for literary groups as it would be a great discussion starter. Dave Eggers exposes his foibles unabashedly while still displaying his excellence as a writer (and as a brother). Self-indulgent? Maybe. But it is a beautiful read. Dave has a real knack for writing dialogue, and most of it is hilarious. Well crafted.
Rating:
Summary: Oh how clever!
Review: Self-indulgent manipulative unedited clever hatefully diving headfirst into victim culture how funny how not particularly well done. Train wrecks come to mind. So do "The Beach" and "House of Leaves". A classic book for people who think the Real World is an entertaining and realistic portrayal of life. Apparently the paperback will be even longer and more self-indulgent than the hardcover. I'd be willing to bet a lot of people are actually going to go buy the paperback just to see what wisdom they missed the first time. Eggers will be laughing all the way to the bank.
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