A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

At times the writing style is somewhat interesting, but he really has nothing to say. As he admits toward the end, through the suicidal friend, the characters surrounding him are there only to provide mirrors on whom Eggers thinks he is. We never get to know who they are or why they are--in the end this goes for Eggers as well. This is Seinfeld written by someone who has not lived enough to do so.

Eggers decided to write his biography about the point in life where most people, especially those who have something going on between their ears, feel their lives are oh so important but later in retrospect is probably the least interesting part because not a lot actually happens. And that is what is painstakingly revealed here--he tries to do a lot but nothing happens. He cares about his brother and though he frets over raising him correctly seems to be unwilling to change himself in order to follow his goals and thereby end his panic attacks. Similarly, with regard to this groundbreaking magazine he co-founds, once there is interest and it begins to take off he immediately wants it to end.

I suppose this is typical of the disaffected twenty-somethings of my generation. And I met a good amount of this type at the time. They are very interesting to talk to and they seem to have some big plans, but just scratch the surface and you realize that there is no depth only a bundle of neuroses sewn together with an incomprehensible narcissism. It is at this point that it becomes hard to keep listening to them and in the case of this book, it becomes hard to keep reading.

However, having gone on this rant, I must congratulate the author for not becoming maudlin or a martyr. Given the plot of his life at this point, it is surprisingly light, maybe too light. I think this story may have been better told with a few more years of experience and growth, the sophmoric sheen may have disappeared by then.