A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers
Two Stars
I picked up this book because I remembered that it created a lot of buzz when it was published in 2000, but I was more than halfway through before I figured out that it was a memoir, not a novel. Although Dave Eggers’ title is definitely over the top, his story begins in a true heartbreak: the deaths of both parents from cancer less than two months apart, orphaning four children aged eight to twenty-seven. Eggers was a senior in college and ended up the sibling chosen to make a home for his little brother. I enjoyed the first third of this book, which dealt with the parents’ deaths, the childrens’ move to California, and the challenges faced by the two brothers as they make a home together. But Eggers drops that story as the book reaches the midpoint and shifts focus to the experiences he and his semi-slacker friends had in starting a 1990s ‘zine for which they had avowed great ambition — remaking the world! — but in practice actually wasted their time and talent by focusing on puerile topics such as streaking, has-been child stars of forgotten TV shows, etc. Along with the ludicrous and boring details of their publishing scam, Eggers provides a panorama of 20-something romantic angst, heavy on getting laid and light on actual human connection. By the time he got back to the brothers, I’d long since run out of interest and patience. Reading the preface and front matter heaped insult atop injury because Eggers advises his readers up front to skip all the dreck, exhibiting a bit of post-modern yucks and a lot of contempt for readers. My bad for falling for the hype and not performing my literary due diligence, the reason for which Eggers’ work provides a useful reminder: won’t get fooled again.
The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs
Three Stars
Kate Jacobs’ novel put a bit of a spin on the formula for contemporary women’s fiction, with a group of gals who range in age from pre-teen to 70-something and offer a narrow rainbow of ethnic/racial diversity. The women are all knitters of various ability and gather most Friday nights at Manhattan yarn shop to fuss over their sweater patterns, share fattening sweets, and swap problems/commiseration. The life challenges faced run the usual gamut from first dates to divorce decrees and infertility to bossy adult children. There’s nothing truly memorable about this novel, but apart from being 50 to 75 pages too long, there’s also nothing truly wrong with it. Readers who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction will find plenty to enjoy in this story.