You Shall Know Our Velocity

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It's a hit!

eggers uses words like cooks use spices-- sometimes traditionally, sometimes whimsically, and sometimes he just adds a dash to see what might happ... (show more)

eggers uses words like cooks use spices-- sometimes traditionally, sometimes whimsically, and sometimes he just adds a dash to see what might happen to the mix. (show less)

 

 

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No, it's a flop!

If I may borrow from a friend, "An onanistic tour de force". I wish I were cool enough to empathize with the annoying characters, their circuitous... (show more)

If I may borrow from a friend, "An onanistic tour de force". I wish I were cool enough to empathize with the annoying characters, their circuitous rationale, and juvenile warped ethics. This book strove for the endearing qualities of a Wes Anderson film and instead became an self-indulgent hipster fake-fest. Eggers, "I fart at thee!". (show less)

 

 

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  I read the reviews that compared this book to ON THE ROAD and CATCHER IN THE RYE. I see the connections, but Eggers is doing more and less than these books. I don't think he was really trying to chronicle his generation as Keroauc was, and I think he was reaching for that same survivor guilt I see in Holden's behavior.

  Knowing the tragedies in Eggers's life, I can ache with Will when he finally has to slow down enough for grief to ambush him. He and Hand, his friend, are trying to outrun ... (show more)

  I read the reviews that compared this book to ON THE ROAD and CATCHER IN THE RYE. I see the connections, but Eggers is doing more and less than these books. I don't think he was really trying to chronicle his generation as Keroauc was, and I think he was reaching for that same survivor guilt I see in Holden's behavior.

  Knowing the tragedies in Eggers's life, I can ache with Will when he finally has to slow down enough for grief to ambush him. He and Hand, his friend, are trying to outrun the reality of their new life -- a life that no longer includes their friend Jack. In HEARTBREAKING WORK, Eggers and his siblings DID have to build a new life. He gets it.

  There are funny scenes, touching scenes, frustrating scenes. But at heart, Eggers loves life and he cherishes it, I believe. I wanted more, more epiphany -- more self awareness. I wanted the two to help each other, to talk about their feelings (oh, yeah! Guys don't do that, do they??). I wanted more than that farewell handshake as Will and Hand end their misguided attempt to circle the globe and give away thousands of dollars.

  I wanted Will to figure out how to begin living the rest of his life...but the first page hints that there isn't more time for him. (show less)

   

   

  by Claudia Swisher on Mar 27, 2009 at 02:08AM

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  This was certainly a very different literary experience. One I wanted to read quite slowly because I had the feeling I may never read anything quite like it again. The basis of the plot is original to say the least - two zany guys (who under happier circumstances would probably be halfway up a mountain extreme-ironing or something like that) decide to go round the world, but one of them can only get a week off work so it has to be done in double quick time. And the other has just earned a... (show more)

  This was certainly a very different literary experience. One I wanted to read quite slowly because I had the feeling I may never read anything quite like it again. The basis of the plot is original to say the least - two zany guys (who under happier circumstances would probably be halfway up a mountain extreme-ironing or something like that) decide to go round the world, but one of them can only get a week off work so it has to be done in double quick time. And the other has just earned a staggering amount of money for doing very little work, and wants to give it away to the needy. So off they go in search of poor people.

  The book can be enjoyed on various different levels. It's very funny pretty much all the way through - and doesn't mind poking fun at the US-centric viewpoint displayed by the characters (What? No direct flights from Greenland to Rwanda? What is the world coming to?). Lots of opportunities, too, for laughs on a worldwide scale. I liked the way Qatar's requirement for a visa that took a week to process was described as 'a ludicrous display of hubris for a country the size and shape of a thumb'.

  I'm inclined not to mention where the characters do end up going, though, because another thing I enjoyed about the book is the 'mystery tour' element. Everyone knows it isn't possible to see the world in a week because....well, air travel just doesn't work like that. As is the case throughout the book, reality crowds in on the characters' wacky world, and what actually happens is a very believable and yet quite breathtaking dash through just a few of the countries that literature usually passes by.

  The book has a serious side, of course, and aside from the recent death of their friend which has left them traumatised, the characters experience unexpected difficulties offloading their cash. Thought provoking issues are raised - like the difficulties of being rich when you didn't ask to be, and the way in which charity almost always comes across as condescending. Symbolic parallels with Western economies are easily drawn. This said, some of the scenes involving the giving of cash are comedy classics - the soda bottle incident was worth five stars on its own.

  All in all, a great read. After all, how many people get the chance to go careering headlong around the world attempting to tape money to donkeys? Probably not many, and this book is the next best thing. (show less)

   

   

  by Jayne Charles on Nov 11, 2009 at 10:28PM

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