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| Plot Summary of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius |
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"This is a memoir, or rather, it is the anti-memoir. I am sick of all the Angela's Ashes, ad nauseam, and didn't think i'd want to read this. This is the funniest book of 2000, and a brilliant story of a life- or ten years of a life. Anyone in the teen- thirtyish age group should love this book. "
Jesse Palek-Zahn, Resident Scholar
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"This book is unlike any memoir I've read. Eggers's story is quite compelling--losing both parents within a month or so of each other, and then Eggers, at about age 20, taking custody of his eight-year-old brother and raising him. This is a remarkable story, and Eggers tells it without whining or complaining; in fact, this is a funny book in many places."
Lisa West, Resident Scholar
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"This is a memior of a few years in the life of Dave Eggers. He loses both of his parents within a month of each other and is left to raise his youngest brother, Toff. He moves with his sister, Beth, to California where they live first in a house on a hill. But at the end of the summer they move to Berkley. Dave struggles to raise Toff since he has never so much as babysat before. Beth does help, but Dave is the primary caregiver. Every now and then Dave gets tired of where him and Toff are living and decide to move. So they live all throughout California. Half way through the book there is an interview with and MTV employee to see if Dave has been given a sopt on The Real World. Dave claims that that part of the book is necessary to the development of the story. After that he seems to be finally gaining control of his life."
Kara Thomas, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- left in charge while parents away
- general coming of age story
- orphan story
Family, love
Yes
Special relationship with
- brother
Ethnic/regional/gender
Yes
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 ()
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Century:
- 1980's-Present
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Is book humorous?
Yes
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
Lot of foul language?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of play on words
- a lot of flashback and forwards
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of set of events during life
How much dialogue in bio?
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Click here for more information about this book
Dave Eggers Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Kara Thomas
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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