AHWOSG

Just finished "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by the great Dave Eggers. I know everyone read it about 5 years ago. SORRY. I've spent many years attached to the classics, convinced that it would be very hard to find something that would move me in modern literature. But at the urging of my roommate, I decided to put Austen and friends aside for a moment.

Anyhow, I loved this book, and not in a "I am so touched" kind of way. Eggers has a way of making you feel like you're in it, in the middle of the mess he's going through. You're not just a bystander, reading along--you're involved. He's your honest young friend who's having a bad go of it, and you are providing a listening ear, perplexed by his sheer honesty, because he's verbalizing things in a way that you'd never have the balls to do.

Throughout the course of Eggers' rant, I was annoyed, embarrassed, disgusted--it was awesome. Much to my dismay, I laughed out loud several times while reading in public places. People thought I was weird. When I had reached the last 20 pages, I milked them for all they were worth, reading 2, 3 pages at a time and then putting the book down, trying to make it last because I didn't feel like it could be over.

And now, days later, I find myself wondering how my old friend Dave and his nice family are doing. He's back on the bookshelf, and I am trying out my first Didion. She's pretty good I hear, but it's just not gonna be the same. =)