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Brilliant,
Pointless,
Fun

7 reviews

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Vintage)
by Dave Eggers

Published: 2001-02-13
Paperback : 437 pages
9 members reading this now
21 clubs reading this now
8 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 4 of 7 members
"This is a beautifully ragged, laugh-out-loud funny and utterly unforgettable book." —San Francisco Chronicle

National Bestseller 

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

A book that redefines both family and narrative for the twenty-first century. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is the moving ...
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Introduction

"This is a beautifully ragged, laugh-out-loud funny and utterly unforgettable book." —San Francisco Chronicle

National Bestseller 

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

A book that redefines both family and narrative for the twenty-first century. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is the moving memoir of a college senior who, in the space of five weeks, loses both of his parents to cancer and inherits his eight-year-old brother. Here is an exhilarating debut that manages to be simultaneously hilarious and wildly inventive as well as a deeply heartfelt story of the love that holds a family together.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is an instant classic that will be read for decades to come.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

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Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by bridget c. (see profile) 01/06/21

 
  "Depressing "by Karol D. (see profile) 04/24/17

Could not get into this one at all.

 
  "a memoir that challenges our definition of memoir"by Gina W. (see profile) 05/31/12

Dave Eggers set out to satirize the memoir genre, but ended up with something really poignant and hilarious. I love the frenetic pace of his writing, his honesty, and the way he challenges his generation... (read more)

 
  "Sympathetic about the loss but couldn't finish"by Stephanie L. (see profile) 02/08/11

He DOES have a way with language and has the ability to write, but the self-absorbed, ridiculous, pathetic tale just couldn't keep me to finish it. Half way through I was hoping the book was really going... (read more)

 
  "Review"by Linda R. (see profile) 12/09/10

 
  "Humorous and claustrophobic"by Mary A. (see profile) 12/08/10

I enjoyed this book. The author writes in a very moment-to-moment style and he is often painfully self-conscious and overwrought, but that's part of the charm. It's very stream-of-consciousness in its... (read more)

 
  "Life changing"by Brea H. (see profile) 11/04/10

 
  "Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius"by Karen s. (see profile) 12/17/09

If we could give this book less than one star we would.

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