Dave Eggers' AHWOSG at 25

[Anonymous]

I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius when it came out in 2000. At the time, I was a 20-something aspiring writer and I was both impressed by the book and jealous of Eggers' success. For those who care, Dan Kois' piece in Slate marking the 25th anniversary of the book is worth reading. I think it's interesting that Eggers regrets the book, and that he and Toph are estranged. I also did not realize that their sister Beth died by suicide in the years after the book came out. Anyway, if anyone cares to read, here's a link:

https://slate.com/culture/2025/02/dave-eggers-heartbreaking-work-staggering-genius-book-toph.html?src=longreads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius when it came out in 2000. At the time, I was a 20-something aspiring writer and I was both impressed by the book and jealous of Eggers' success. For those who care, Dan Kois' piece in Slate marking the 25th anniversary of the book is worth reading. I think it's interesting that Eggers regrets the book, and that he and Toph are estranged. I also did not realize that their sister Beth died by suicide in the years after the book came out. Anyway, if anyone cares to read, here's a link:

https://slate.com/culture/2025/02/dave-eggers-heartbreaking-work-staggering-genius-book-toph.html?src=longreads

That's sad to hear. I also read it back then -- I'll bet it would be informative to read it again with our middle-aged perspective.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I had like 40 people encouraging me to read this when I first moved to San Francisco around 2023. I wonder why Dave and Christopher are estranged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I had like 40 people encouraging me to read this when I first moved to San Francisco around 2023. I wonder why Dave and Christopher are estranged.

This article helps explain the estrangement. My impression is that for a long time, Dave told Toph's story, and this is Toph's way of reclaiming his own story a bit. (As the youngest sibling in a big family, I get where Toph is coming from.)

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/toph-eggers-rift-brother-dave-1236065886/

[Anonymous]

I read this book shortly after! Wow. That’s so sad about the sister.

[Anonymous]

I HATED that book. It was a self-indulgent load of wannabe-titillating loathsome garbage. If I were the author's brother I wouldn't speak to him either.

[Anonymous]

This whole tale reminds me a little of David Sedaris and his sister Tiffany's problems with what he wrote about their family - their sister also died by suicide after David had gotten famous writing about their family and after experiencing hurt feelings from that portrayal. Before she died, while she was still trying to process her feelings about her brother's writing, she said: "David has his own version of the truth, and it bumps into my version. His makes mine not true, and mine makes his not true. He said he wrote about our pain because we weren't doing anything with it. When I die, you can recycle me. Til then, it's mine." After her death, Sedaris has written about her several times.

Like David Eggers, Sedaris has also talked about using his writing (specifically his diaries) to process emotions like grief, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole tale reminds me a little of David Sedaris and his sister Tiffany's problems with what he wrote about their family - their sister also died by suicide after David had gotten famous writing about their family and after experiencing hurt feelings from that portrayal. Before she died, while she was still trying to process her feelings about her brother's writing, she said: "David has his own version of the truth, and it bumps into my version. His makes mine not true, and mine makes his not true. He said he wrote about our pain because we weren't doing anything with it. When I die, you can recycle me. Til then, it's mine." After her death, Sedaris has written about her several times.

Like David Eggers, Sedaris has also talked about using his writing (specifically his diaries) to process emotions like grief, etc.

Wow. Be careful what you write about I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HATED that book. It was a self-indulgent load of wannabe-titillating loathsome garbage. If I were the author's brother I wouldn't speak to him either.

It was self indulgent. But also beautifully written

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HATED that book. It was a self-indulgent load of wannabe-titillating loathsome garbage. If I were the author's brother I wouldn't speak to him either.

And what authors do you like?

[Anonymous]

I read the book in my 20s and loved it. It'd be interesting to re-read it now in my late 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HATED that book. It was a self-indulgent load of wannabe-titillating loathsome garbage. If I were the author's brother I wouldn't speak to him either.

Agree. I initially liked it but was DNF for me. Also read time if it’s release and was early 20s.

[Anonymous]

What's interesting is that Dave Eggers didn't stop after they destroyed the book - saying he made up parts of it, etc etc His book What is the What is a great read and of course, The Circle is coming true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's interesting is that Dave Eggers didn't stop after they destroyed the book - saying he made up parts of it, etc etc His book What is the What is a great read and of course, The Circle is coming true.

Yep. I read and liked The Circle. It's sick how realistic it turned out to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole tale reminds me a little of David Sedaris and his sister Tiffany's problems with what he wrote about their family - their sister also died by suicide after David had gotten famous writing about their family and after experiencing hurt feelings from that portrayal. Before she died, while she was still trying to process her feelings about her brother's writing, she said: "David has his own version of the truth, and it bumps into my version. His makes mine not true, and mine makes his not true. He said he wrote about our pain because we weren't doing anything with it. When I die, you can recycle me. Til then, it's mine." After her death, Sedaris has written about her several times.

Like David Eggers, Sedaris has also talked about using his writing (specifically his diaries) to process emotions like grief, etc.

Karl Ove Knausgaards ex-wife also tried to commit suicide after his (very very revealing) books came out.