I think a lot of people enjoy stand up comics because they have a way of expressing the humorous sides of every day situations in ways most people can't. Dave Eggers, author of the phenomenal novel, You Shall Know Our Velocity!, has a similar talent though his leans more toward the accessing of every day thoughts and ponderings.
The story follows two life-long friends, Will and Hand as they aim to travel once around the globe, distributing money (about $32,000 worth) along the way. Their journey begins in Chicago and then proceeds to Senegal, Morocco, Estonia, Latvia, and a few other brief stops along the way. The giving of the money is sometimes arbitrary and sometimes purposeful and judging, opening the characters to some humanizing debate about charity and what exactly they are doing.
Eggers has an almost supernatural way for descriptions. Often times I thought that, in any one else's hands these words would come off as trying too hard to be creative. One of my favorite descriptions came when the main characters were in Heathrow Airport in London. While talking to a booking agent, Eggers describes her "tired happy face" as that "of a third grade teacher in her last year."
I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that explore the human nature, any guy approaching or recently having past his 10 year high school reunion, or anyone who has traveled outside of the United States. This book is identifiable on so many levels and makes for a fast, enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
Sergio del Limónar
No comments:
Post a Comment