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

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 approach, but also bogged down for me in the overlong middle. All-in-all, it was fun and clever.

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 to finally become enticing, but when two people told me the best part was the first half, I was done. Most of the group did not finish it either.

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 to seize control of their lives. This was published in 2000...if you haven't already, check out what Eggers is up to today. He's founded a successful publishing company (McSweeney's) and a nonprofit that helps inner city kids develop creative writing skills.

Could not get into this one at all.