heartbreakingwork

= Penalties =

1. No food on Friday. 2. A zero for the day.

Not upholding one's responsibilities within the Book Club is a serious infraction upon one's character and overall trustworthiness, which must be corrected through two main measures. First, in the incident that a member so chooses to be irresponsible, she will be refrained from bringing/consuming any food or drink that Friday morning. Finally, she will receive a "zero" for that day. In conclusion, we hope that these set penalties will prevent any problems from occurring within our group.

=** WEEK 1 **=

** TASKS A & B: Group Leader & Quotation Finder (Christina) **
Dave Eggers, the novel's author and the main character of the novel, makes reading a tragic story humorous with his sarcasm and dry humor. Eggers has a slightly immature personality, one that draws the reader in and makes his situation more relatable. Dave Eggers is an interesting character because his part in it makes the story realistic; through him, you see the decisions he makes and doesn't make, and everything that is going through his mind during the story.

1. " It could not be uglier, and yet the wallpaper is a novelty that visitors appreciate, evidence of a family with no pressing interest in addressing obvious problems of decor, and also proof of a happy time, an exuberant, fanciful time in American history that spawned exuberant and fanciful wallpaper " (5).
 * Note:** This quote is a good example of the dry sarcasm Dave Eggers uses throughout the story. It seems that Dave goes on about irrelevant topics to show that he was constantly distracting himself from the tragedies that were occurring around him.

2. "' Happy birthday,' I whisper, smiling, looking down into her. She does not answer. She is not looking at me. She is not awake " (41).
 * Note:** Dave remembers that it's his mother's birthday while they are trying to sleep in the hospital. He sits there, expecting her to die any minute, and wishes her happy birthday. This is arguably the most solemn part of the story.

3. " He grinned his big grin, and, being unable to get up to show the poor man the business side of the door himself, just said, 'No thanks '" (37).
 * Note:** Dave talks about how his dad acted towards a door to door salesmen while he was sick. The passage shows the true nature of his father.

4. "' This is the death room,' Beth says. 'Look, they give you all this space, room for relatives, room to sleep... '" (32).
 * Note:** Beth is distressed about the state of her mom and claims that the hospital put them in a special room for people who are dying. She is reacting very differently than Dave, who is constantly distracting himself from the current events. This line shows the contrast between Beth and Dave; Beth feels the need to talk their family's problems, while Dave just wants to pretend they never happened.

5. " The conversation, if it had followed the standard procedure for such things, would have included warm-up talk, some talk of things generally, and how what he was about to say was very difficult, etcetera, but we were just settling in, kind of well obviously not expecting - 'Your mother's going to die '" (19).
 * Note:** Dave's father flat out tells his children that their mother is going to die in a very blunt, unexpected way. It is ironic because Dave's father dies shortly after this, before his mother passes away.

1. How do you think Toph, the youngest of the Eggers siblings, handles the deaths of his parents? Do you think that he was too young at the time (he was seven) to feel the same emotional burden as the rest of the orphaned siblings? Give some examples to clarify your response. //It is very evident from the text that Toph's reaction to the two deaths is very different than those of his siblings. While his older siblings took turns looking after their mother during her final days, Toph went about his own life, seemingly without any remorse. At one point, he even attended a baseball game in which he was able to meet the players. It is also quite clear that he enjoyed getting days off from school. Furthermore, in the very beginning of the memoir, before the siblings became orphans, the mother calls to her youngest son so that she can comfort him (he was complaining about being hungry). However, Toph more or less ignores her, running up the stairs and into his room. Despite these displays of what seemed to be apathy, we, as a group, concluded that much of the emotional distance between Toph and his parents was indeed, simply due to his young age.//
 * TASK C: Key Questioner (Kim) **

2. Regardless of an obvious age gap between Dave, the author, and his little brother, Toph, it becomes quite evident throughout the text that the relationship between the two is very strong. What do you think allowed for this ability to get along with each other so well? One would generally assume that distance in age equates to increased inability to relate to one another. //Dave and Toph got along very well because the two of them are the closest in age out of all of the siblings. This allows them to understand one another more easily. Additionally, Dave seems to be rather childish. This personal quality allows the author to relate to his youngest sibling more than the other siblings are able to. Several times throughout the first fifth of the memoir, Eggers recounts conversations between him and his brother with a sense of light-heartedness and playful ease with which he does not seem to apply to any other sibling.//

3. Were you surprised by the voice/way with which Eggers recounts the deaths of his parents (and his feelings that accompanied these tragic events)? Were there moments where you felt slightly offended by his descriptions and sarcastic humor? Or, do you believe that this distinct writing style was ultimately more effective in helping readers to understand his experiences? Explain/elaborate. //As a group, we agreed that there were times when Eggers provided some details that were a bit shocking and unorthodox. For example, as he describes the unpleasant task of emptying his mother's "half-moon receptacle," in which she spits blood and bile, he dwells for an uncomfortable period of time on the contents of the container. Eggers wonders briefly after accidentally spilling some of the liquid on his jeans, "Will the fluid burn through my pants?" He follows this question with what we deemed as a most insensitive comment, "I stand still and watch to see if it burns through, like acid, expecting to see smoke, a gradually growing hole- as happens when one spills// alien blood //.////" Frankly, our group members were a bit taken aback by these details especially considering the fact that he is referring with such blatant distaste to his own mother in these lines. We were also a bit offended by the way he was so casually analyzing the liquid in the container, which oh-so-clearly indicated his mother's impending doom. It was particularly strange to see how Eggers was paying more attention to his mother's bodily fluids than to his mother, especially since she was at that very moment, literally wasting away on the couch. However, we did eventually by propose another interpretation of this specific section of our reading: Eggers may just have been trying to ease his worries for his mother by distracting himself through random little thoughts that didn't relate directly with her. By considering this possibility, our group members realized that his strange little bit about his revulsion was actually a sign of his anxiety for his mother. Thus, in the end, we reached a unanimous decision that his distinct writing style, albeit mildly offensive at times, was ultimately more effective in helping readers to understand his experiences.//

4. In what ways did the deaths of the mother and father (occurring in such close proximity of one another) hurt the development of the family? On the other hand, how might they have improved the family? Try to provide key details to prove your point. //The deaths of the mother and father definitely hurt the development of the family. With both of the parental figures gone, the family (or what is left of it) slowly began to lose organization. Eggers describes how the siblings constantly struggled to keep up with the payment of bills, routine checkups with doctors, and other necessary tasks such as maintenance of the house. On the other hand, the bonds between the siblings were strengthened as a result of the deaths. No longer able to seek guidance from their parents, the siblings are forced to depend on each other for survival and emotional support. Thus, their relationships solidified and they became even more committed to one another.//

5. Several times throughout the reading, Eggers employs the usage of dialogue (ex: pages 20 and 21) to convey conversation (in its natural form) between characters. In this way, he //shows// events as he remembers them, rather than //telling// them. How does this particular style enhance the ideas that are being conveyed? In what ways does it weaken them (if any)? //This usage of dialogue strengthens Eggers concepts more than it weakens. By showing events as he remembers them, Eggers is able to maintain more of the original emotion and overall meaning than if he had simply chosen to tell. This technique was also particularly powerful in the way that it really allowed the readers to focus more on the situation on hand rather than all of the extra words that he would have inevitably had to put in had he gone with the more common style of "he said..../she said..." However, the style was a bit distracting at times, especially when the conversation became wordy.//


 * TASK D: Group Summarizer (Joanne) **

 Once the Book Club meeting began, our group immediately started off by expression our opinions towards the book. After a few minutes of discussion, we came to an agreement that this book, or rather the author, Dave Eggers, had a very distinctive style of writing, which made the book very appealing to us. Christina, then, read off some quotes she found interesting, leaving the rest of us analyze them and comment. We went more further into the book, and briefly discussed characteristics and personalities of the main characters, mainly focusing on Dave and Toph. We all displayed some interest in Dave’s sarcastic and humorous nature. Furthermore, we discussed the lack of emotions Toph displayed after his parents’ death, and how it related to his lack of knowledge and young age.  We then moved on to the discussion questions, where we exchanged our views over a few matters, such as the advantages and disadvantages of the parents’ deaths, the short and detailed dialogues Dave Eggers incorporates into the book, along with his very natural and honest style of writing, and character-relationship development. We believed that there were instances where Dave and Toph slightly took advantage of the parents’ deaths, due to the financial aid and sympathy they were receiving. Moreover, they showed what seemed to be a lack of emotion towards the unfortunate incident. However, we realized that this was due to their type of personality, rather than lack of interest, because Dave is depicted as a very close-minded character. Furthermore, we discussed how their parents’ deaths would hurt the family development and growth, but will eventually help Dave and his brother, Toph, become closer. We finished off the meeting by expressing how we felt about Dave Eggers’ particular writing style. All three of us thought his usage of dialogue enhanced the ideas that were being conveyed, because we had a better understanding of the situations that occurred within the memoir.  Overall, Christina, Kim, and I concluded that this book so far, proved to be very interesting. We are curious as to how Dave will develop in character, and the conflicts he will have to face soon.

= WEEK 2 =

In the book //A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius// by Dave Eggers, the language is quite straightforward, due to it being a memoir; it is also very conversational. There seemed to be only a few instances where he would use complex words, but other than that, this book would be a great read for high school students and older. However, one may feel as though this book is too difficult to read, due to how all the events in his life go very fast (one event to another), and his many random dialogues that are incorporated into the text. Eggers is extremely descriptive at some parts of the book, which can sometimes throw off a reader, but this just proves that he has a very unique and distinctive style of writing. It is not highly recommended that anyone below high school level should read this, because some parts of the book may be too inappropriate and mature for them.
 * TASKS A & B: Group Leader & Quotation Finder (Joanne) **

1. " As for my own dating, if I am going out on something like a date, and we go out early, and the date involves an activity that Toph might enjoy, then of course Toph comes along " (95).
 * Note:** Shows Dave's close relationship with Toph, to the point where he would even bring Toph on a date with him.

2. " Toph will never wake up. I should turn around. This is stupid. We don't need this kind of risk. I don't need to do this, don't need to go out. It's silly, juvenile, inconsequential. I need to go back " (126).
 * Note:** Dave's constant concerns over his brother shows how much he cares for him.

3. " ...does not understand why she cannot, does not understand why Toph must not wake up to see random people sleeping in his brother's bed, she is too young and unthoughtful and does not appreciate the importance of creating for Toph as simple a childhood as possible, and so she is not seen again " (109).
 * Note:** Dave's inner thoughts regarding his "ideal" babysitter for Toph. He wants to find someone that is sensible and responsible.

4. " I kiss him on his smooth, tanned forehead. The smell of urine. He has a tan line, a U of pale skin where the fastener of his hat, worn backward, covers his forehead " (120).
 * Note:** A description of Toph.

5. " We walk the halls and the playground, and we are taller, we radiate. We are orphans. As orphans, we are celebrities. We are foreign exchange people, from a place where there are still orphans. Russia? Romania? Somewhere raw and exotic. We are the bright new stars born of a screaming black hole, the nascent suns burst from the darkness, from the grasping void of space that folds and swallows---a darkness that would devour anyone not as strong as we " (96).
 * Note:** Dave Egger's strange, melodramatic, yet humorous inner dialogue. Shows his very distinctive personality.

6. " ...and she's twenty-nine. Was that mentioned, that she's twenty-nine? This I consider fitting, fitting that I, who am bearing the weight of both Toph and the world, I who have been through so much and already feel so old, should be dating a woman seven years my senior. But of course! " (111).
 * Note:** Scene where Dave sees a woman who is twenty-nine years of age that apparently attracts him greatly. Hilarious section of the book.

7. " I am blind. I blink frantically, swatting the sand out of my eyes while wondering if I am blind and if we'll both be dead soon.What a stupid way to go. Is this how people die? Can we outrun them? I refuse to have these people kill us. Do they have weapons? No weapons yet. Toph, Toph. Blinking, tearing madly, I clear one eye out " (150).
 * Note:** After having sand kicked in his eyes, for a moment, Dave stops thinking about what might possibly happen to him, but instead, worries about Toph. Shows a vast brotherly relationship growth, especially compared to the beginning portion of the book.

8. " We're alive, we've won! Powerful us! They were scared. We scared them off. They feared us. We won. We told them to go away and they did. I am the president. I am the Olympics " (151).
 * Note:** Scene where the group of Hispanics that were harassing Dave and Meredith left after apologizing. Dave took this as a sign of victory on his side, and expressed his joy wholeheartedly, with a touch of humor.

1. Why do you think Eggers is so afraid of leaving his little brother alone with someone he doesn't know? //Since Dave has had so much recent tragedy in his life, he just expects more to come. Dave has developed an issue with trusting people around him, and he is deathly afraid of anything that could happen to Toph. Dave is now terrified of any threat of danger, and is constantly anxious about little worries in his life.//
 * TASK C: Key Questioner (Christina) **

2. How would Dave's life have been different if he hadn't taken on Toph? //The chapter starts out with Dave complaining that he could be spending his nights out partying and having a good time. If he didn't have to take care of his little brother, he could have a typical fun, spontaneous young adult life. Because of his situation, Dave is forced to grow and mature a lot, becoming very reserved for his age.//

3. Why does Dave constantly suggest that he will die young? //Since both of Dave's parents died young, he is scared that he will too. He was exposed to two tragic deaths right on top of each other at a young age, and that scarred him for life.//

4. Why does Dave, the youngest of the three older children, take custody of Toph? //Overall, the decision for who would be responsible for taking care of Toph isn't really talked over much. Beth is in law school, and Bill is very distance. Dave has already graduated college, and he is the only one really capable of taking full custody of Toph.//

5. Why is Dave so unorganized when it comes to filling out paperwork and getting Toph to school on time? //At the beginning of the reading, Dave is very immature. He is relaxed, and not ready for parenthood. Dave isn't good at dealing with his issues, and he never addresses his problems directly, always avoiding difficult situations and distracting himself.//

After settling down, our group opened our weekly discussion by answering the questions that Christina, the key questioner of the week, proposed. After answering all of the questions that were brought up, our group was able to recognize several new themes that had arisen in the book. We first focused on the overall development of the author. It was agreed that Dave Eggers is finally starting to display more maturity through a few of his actions and thoughts. We referred to specific quotes from the book (some of which were gathered by Joanne, this week's Quotation Finder, and some of which were gathered by the rest of the group) to support our understanding of this growth. We discussed how Dave had started off the chapter by admitting the fact that because he is young, he wants to be out with friends and going to parties. However, throughout our reading, we realized that his concern for his brother overrides this desire to have fun. Our group also took note of how Dave has also become more and more parental by how he tucks Toph in at night and reads him a bedtime story. Furthermore, after he tucks Toph in, Dave begins to arrange the living room, all the while thinking about how he still needs to trim the hedges. Our group agreed that these behaviors seem to be a bit atypical of the average young adult. Thus, we also came to the conclusion that Dave is starting to grow up and accept his many responsibilities of taking care of his brother and trying to keep a familial environment.
 * TASK D: Group Summarizer (Kim) **

Next, our group talked about how Dave shows extreme concern for his brother. At one point in the text, Dave describes how he is extremely demanding of the traits found in a potential girlfriend, trying to ensure that Toph is happy with who he dates (ex: if she doesn’t treat Toph like an adult/an equal, then she is not a good person; however, if she treats him TOO much like an adult (and is too inappropriate around him), then she is //still// not a good person). The relationship between Dave and his brother is so deep that Eggers even takes Toph along on dates. Moreover, it was brought up within our discussion how Dave is constantly exhibiting anxiety and paranoia. In a specific section in the reading, he worries excessively over Toph’s safety when he leaves him alone with a babysitter at home (he seems convinced that the babysitter is going to torture and kill Toph while he is out). Our group also identified another example of Dave's neurotic behavior: several times throughout the reading, Dave kept insinuating belief in his own young death. As one mind, our group speculated that his anxieties over mortality have much to do with his experience of losing two very dear people (his parents) so early in his life. Finally, our group realized that Dave seems to be getting funnier and funnier as the book progresses. We hypothesized that this, perhaps, is due to the possibility that Dave was adjusting to his voice in the beginning of the book, while readers were getting adjusted to his odd, quirky sense of humor.

= WEEK 3 =

1. " Second, we've got this magazine. //Right what's it called again?// Might. //M-i-t-e?// No, M-i-g-h-t. Everyone spells it M-i-t-e. It's ridiculous. Why would it be named after a bug? Mite is such an obscure word, compared to Might, right? //Well, what **is** it named after?// Well, it's a double entendre, see- you'll love this, this is great, it can mean two things at once, can sit right on the fence between two meanings- with, in this case, "Might" meaning both power and possibility " (177).
 * TASKS A & B: Group Leader & Quotation Finder (Kim) **
 * Note:** Dave's interview with MTV, in which he discusses his magazine, __Mite__, with the interviewer (Dave's lines are indicated by the purple font, while the interviewer's words are indicated with the black, italicized wording). This quote is an excellent example of Eggers' distinct style of sarcastic humor (refer to the blurb on the overall mood of the book on the bottom of this heading).

2. " So let's work this out. First, you'll get a black person, maybe two- they'll be hip-hop singers or rappers or whatever- and then you'll get a couple of really great-looking people, who will be nice to look at but completely ignorant... their presence serving two purposes: they a) look wonderful on screen, and b) also serve as foils to the black person or people, who will be much sharper and savvier... You'll probably throw in a gay guy or a lesbian... and maybe an Asian or Latino, or both. Or wait. A Native American. You should get a Native American!... Then you'll need a really straight professional type, a doctor or something, a lawyer maybe, someone in grad school. And then me. " //The Tragic Person// (178-179).
 * Note:** Again, the use of purple indicates Dave's words in his interview with MTV, and the italicized font indicates the words of the interviewer. This quote is another great example of the biting humor that Eggers typically employs in this particular work. Furthermore, this excerpt is especially funny because it is easy to relate to: within these few lines, Dave manages to show stereotypes that are prevalent in everyday life. Some of the wording appears somewhat ignorant... but in the end, that's what makes it so amusing!

3. " There was a word my mom used to call us sometimes, that I only figured out in high school. I'll try it out on you. Okay, the word was 'mahdda.' //What's a mahdda?// Oh ha ha. You're good... I should have seen that coming. But seriously, that's what I always wondered. When we were sulking about something, or if we had a cold and complained about going to school... my mom would say, Oh don't be such a mahdda! We always assumed it had something to do with being sullen about something we hadn't gotten. Then in high school I figured it out. The word was mangled by her Boston accent. //Martyr.// Right the word was martyr. Of course, my mom was one of the great martyrs of all time " (181-182).
 * Note:** Again, purple indicates Dave while the italicized words indicate the interviewer. This quote is particularly effective in displaying Dave's reverence for his late mother. Just as he and his brothers never got what they wanted, Eggers' mother never wanted to fall victim to cancer and spend the last of her days wasting away in front of her loved ones. Yet, as she struggled with her ailment, she still managed to bring the family closer together (albeit with her death).

4. "// Why do you want to be on The Real World? // Because I want everyone to witness my youth. //Why?// Isn't it gorgeous? //Who's gorgeous?// Not like that. No, I just mean, that it's in bloom. That's what you're all about, right? The showing of raw fruit, correct? " (183).
 * Note:** This quote provides yet another glimpse at Eggers' use of humor. It also displays a frequently appearing quality in the author's voice that has increasingly become more and more noticeable within the text: playful arrogance (refer to the small blurb on the bottom for more on this specific tone of voice).

5. "//So why are you here?// I want you to share my suffering. //You don't seem to be suffering.// I don't? //You seem happy.// Well, sure. But not always. Sometimes it's hard. Yeah " (183).
 * Note:** These few lines show a sense of self-pity within the author. However, he is quickly rebuffed by the interviewer!

The overriding tone/mood of our book thus far is sarcastic bitterness, which is even more exaggerated through the usage of a biting, unusual sense of humor. Although Eggers' tone of voice is sure to have readers laughing uproariously, there are a few occasional moments wherein the tone becomes apparently ridden with anger. This anger is due to Eggers' realization of mortality. Several times throughout the text, Eggers implies his obsessive concern over Toph's safety as well as his own fear of dying young. Furthermore, there are also several instances wherein the tone gets a bit overbearing. An example of such would be quote #4 from the excerpts listed above: "// Why do you want to be on The Real World? // Because I want everyone to witness my youth. //Why?// Isn't it gorgeous? //Who's gorgeous?// Not like that. No, I just mean, that it's in bloom. That's what you're all about, right? The showing of raw fruit, correct? " (183). Even though this line is, no doubt, amusing, it did come across as being a tad arrogant. Also, throughout the book, a tone of self-pity seems to be prevalent as well. This mood can be seen in quote #5: "//So why are you here?// I want you to share my suffering. //You don't seem to be suffering.// I don't? //You seem happy.// Well, sure. But not always. Sometimes it's hard. Yeah " (183). However, this tone can be easily accredited to the trauma that Eggers dealt with following the deaths of his parents. Conclusively speaking, although sarcasm is overall, the overriding tone of this book, there are also significant "sub-tones" of slight hubris, self-pity and anger.

** TASK C: Key Questioner (Joanne) **
1. Throughout the book, Dave Eggers often makes remarks regarding race, religion, and sexual orientation, that may come off as offensive to some readers. What is your standpoint about this? //He’s obviously joking most of the time, but some of the things that he says are very strange. He includes in his book bits that the authors would take out, but that just makes the book more interesting and unique. The generic theme of the book is death, but Dave Eggers throws in unexpected humor like that, which makes the book very humorous.//

2. Eggers is very open when it comes to writing. He writes about his life story, just as it happened, leaving in short dialogues and his thoughts, revealing to the readers his very distinctive type of personality. However, he even leaves in some bits that show his poor judgments, and make him seem like the “bad guy.” Why do you think he does this? //If he left those bits out, the story would be very unbalanced. He is very honest about every other part of the book; therefore, there would be no reason for him to be dishonest about his thoughts.//

3. What do you think are the main causes and factors that led to Dave and Toph’s rapid relationship growth? //Due to their situation that they are in, they are able to understand each other, and become each other’s best friends. Also, they live together, which would obviously help their relationship grow. Furthermore, they had a previous relationship, before the parents’ deaths, to branch off of. Therefore they keep getting closer and closer.//

4. What aspects of Dave make him a decent single parent? What are some aspects that do not? //Dave is able to connect with Toph, and understand what Toph is going through. Dave is not a fully mature adult yet; therefore, he knows exactly how to talk to him. Also, he’s overprotective sometimes, selecting what Toph should be and should not be exposed to. However, Dave is young, and not entirely mature; therefore, not exactly making him a model parent.//

5. This book is called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. However, one may read the book, and say that there isn’t much heartbreak shown throughout the book. An obvious tragic event that occurred was his parents’ deaths, which only consisted of a small portion of the memoir. As discussed previously, due to Dave’s personality, he did not take this tragic event as hard as someone else would (or at least he didn’t show it). Therefore, do you think this title is fit for the book? //There’s not much heartbreak apparent when reading the text, but there is a bitter, sad mood that can be felt by the readers. It’s almost as if Dave is incorporating bitter sarcasm throughout the book. Although he frequently uses humor, he also shows his bitterness about the whole situation. Therefore, this title is fit for the book. //

**TASK D: Group Summarizer (Christina) **
At this week’s book club meeting, after splitting a bagel, opening some bags of chips, and sharing a Goldfish cracker or two, Joanne, Kim and I jumped into a very intriguing discussion about A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Kim, the group leader of the week, shared some quotes to start us off. We all agreed that the author and main character, Dave Eggers, adds subtle humor to the story that makes even a tragedy appealing to the reader. This bitter sarcasm makes the book unique and very interesting to read. Along with the jokes Eggers throws into the text, our group noticed that when the author is describing any sort of situation, dialogue, or event, he includes everything, even if this means adding details that might humiliate him or make him look bad. For example, Eggers describes a situation when he blames a group of kids for stealing his wallet. Eggers makes a few racist comments (picking on the kids because they were Mexican) and calls the police on the kids for something they did not do. Our group came to the conclusion that since Eggers felt shameful of his actions, he incorporated embarrassing events like this into his novel to free himself of the guilt. Another thing that Kim, Joanne, and I noticed was that there is an overshadowing tone of sadness throughout the story. Eggers is never straightforward when talking about or facing his problems; he always finds an indirect way to deal with every dilemma encounters. Eggers focuses more on what was going on around him at the time of his tragedies rather than the tragedies themselves, making the novel overall memorable and distinctive.

= WEEK 4 =

** TASKS A & B: Group Leader & Quotation Finder (Christina) **
The concept of death is very apparent in the story. Dave Eggers has a very linear writing style, yet he uses a lot of symbolism to convey his messages. For example, Eggers has an obvious overshadowing fear of death and loss. When the reader looks past the writer's sarcasm and witty stories, it becomes apparent that Eggers is traumatized by the tragic loss of both of his parents. Eggers is in perpetual fear of the nightmare of losing Toph or dying and abandoning his brother.

1. " Toph and I were alone. All was lost. Left to do everything by myself, I would lose whatever grip I still had on anything, and then would take it out on Toph, who would silently absorb my stress, then my rage and the resulting unhappiness of our household, then would insist on going to military school, where he would excel, and would grow up to collect animal skulls and write letters to prisoners " (251). **Note:** Dave is stressing over trying to find a house for him and Toph. He exaggerates the situation in his mind and thinks of a worst-case scenario where Toph will grow up rotten because of him.

2. “ But I do it, I mention trusts and savings and lawyers in the family and promise this deposit and that guarantee, co-signers, everything knowing that if I do not we will be staying with Beth, and Kristen, on the floor and couch, for a month, and we’ll fight, Toph will feel like a gypsy, will be ostracized at school, and will grow up to kill kittens by putting them in garbage bags and swinging them against brick walls. We get the lease ” (256).
 * Note:** Dave is trying to get the lease for a place for him and Toph to stay and is thinking of the reasons why he needs a separate place away from his sistr.

3. “ Nothing changes. They become louder, in an effort, we assume, to force us out. Exhausted, we adjust and fight back. We keep the stereo on every waking moment, to cover the noise coming from below or next door. We play basketball inside. We leave for hours at a time, and when we do, we turn up everything in the house, positioning speakers against the walls ” (259).
 * Note:** Dave describes the "battle" that goes on between the different inhabitants of the apartment complex and himself and Toph. Dave had complained about the noise level coming from the other rooms, but that proves to only escalate the problem. They result in fighting back by making as much noise as they can.

4. “ I walk to his room. He’s asleep, in a sort of crash position, arms splayed out, mouth wide open. His forehead is hot, like things inside are burning ” (270).
 * Note:** Dave watches his younger brother sleeping and notes that his forehead is very warm, "like things inside are burning." This was an interesting comparison because, in this part of the memoir, Toph's life is changing very quickly as he enters adolescence.

5. “ Adam Rich doesn’t want his death to be a suicide. Doesn’t jibe with his persona. He wants to be murdered ” (283).
 * Note:** This line is a very fiery beginning to a new section in the book. Dave describes one of the actors for a project of his.

** TASK C: Key Questioner (Kim) **
1. The concept of death is an obvious motif of this book. What are some examples found within the text that clearly show the usage of this concept? //The most obvious example is the deaths of his parents. Further, Eggers constantly worries over the safety of Toph (in particular, he speaks of his "certainty" that Toph’s babysitter will turn out to be a psychotic murderer). Moreover, Shilani, a young woman who shares office space with the "Might" Magazine staff plunges four stories when a balcony collapses, and lands on her head, resulting in her stay in the critical condition wing of a hospital for weeks. Next, one of the author's old friends tries to kill himself (or contemplates suicide). Meanwhile, a young actress who represents the magazine in New York City falls victim to a deadly virus. Finally, the author himself suffers when he develops a kidney stone (all the while, he is convinced that he is going to die).// //All of these events constantly remind Eggers (and the reader) that "the end" is highly unpredictable, and that no one is safe from its grasp. These occurrences all contribute to Eggers' obsession over mortality.//

2. The transition between Part VII to the rest of the book (Parts VIII and up) seems to be a bit abrupt. Eggers discusses tragedy within the first portion of the book and then suddenly begins to talk about his gradual rise as a writer (particularly in his magazine //Might//). What do you think Eggers could have done to smooth out this shift in focus? //As a group, we decided that Eggers most likely did this on purpose. We assumed that he decided to cut short his writing on tragedy because he wanted to "get over the past" as quickly as possible. We also decided that although this decision (to cut topics short), may not have worked well had other authors done the same, this technique works well within Eggers' book. His use of language has stayed consistently powerful (and slightly atypical) throughout the reading, so it would make sense for him to continue this pattern throughout the rest of his writing structure as well. However, If he had wanted to smooth it over, he could have gradually introduced his second focus.//

3. How do you think the lifestyle of the Eggers brothers (Dave and Toph) ultimately affects Toph's growth? Do you think it has more of a negative or positive impact on his youth? //We decided that the lifestyle of the Eggers brothers ultimately affected Toph in both ways. It had a positive impact on Toph's growth because it improved his social and emotional stability. Toph benefited socially because his unique lifestyle makes him appealing at school, and thus, he quickly gains popularity among his classmates. On the other hand, Toph benefited emotionally because his relationship with his older brother is constantly deepening and gaining new meaning. Finally, this unusual lifestyle that the Eggers are living is also negative because Toph does not have the opportunity to live a typical/stable family life.//

4. At one point in the reading, Eggers writes about his shock upon hearing the mother of one of Toph's classmates talk about how she allows her oldest son to smoke pot in the house (page 262). The author specifically responds to her declaration by saying, "...I'm too stunned to speak. She should be jailed. And I should raise her children." It's very interesting to see how Eggers, clearly much younger than the mother, displays a greater grasp of parental urgency. What do you think gave rise to Eggers' premature development of parental awareness? //Eggers' premature development of parental awareness is mostly due to his experience/responsibility in raising Toph. In doing so, Eggers has become mature beyond his years, and very overprotective of younger children in general. Furthermore, because he was constantly exposed to death and suffering throughout his young life, Eggers is almost beyond paranoia when dealing with things that could prove even the slightest bit dangerous.//

5. Why do you think the Eggers family (Dave, Bill, Beth, and Toph) decides to make such a huge effort of celebrating Christmas, while "neglecting" (in a sense) all of the other typical holidays? For instance, Eggers specifically states that "Thanksgiving is observed halfheartedly... (page 262)." What is the significance of Christmas to the orphaned Eggers siblings? //Christmas is especially significant to the orphaned Eggers siblings because it is, in a sense, the only time that they can preserve the memories of their life back when their parents were still alive, and back when things were still "normal."//

**TASK D: Group Summarizer (Joanne) **
For this week’s book club, we started off by eating some Chocolate Snaps, which Christina kindly provided for us. Christina, then, shared some of her quotes, as Kim and I discussed and commented. We then moved on to Kim’s discussion questions, which led to an interesting discussion about the overall progression in the book. We came to an agreement that Dave is in fact extremely paranoid about death. Throughout the book, there is this constant concept and motif of death. Some instances of his paranoia come from several events, which occur in the text, such as his parents’ deaths, the suicide of Shalini, and his development of a kidney stone. We felt that Eggers has been developing an unhealthy, almost //obsession// over death, because death is not only inevitable, but all around him. Furthermore, we discussed the progression in the book, and felt that the transitions were very abrupt, but were purposely done in order to quickly move away from certain events which occurred. Kim, then, mentioned how Dave’s maturity level rising, due to him having to take care of Toph as a single parent. Although he is no “model parent,” Dave tries to do what’s best for Toph. However, Christina, Kim, and I all felt that sometimes his “best” may not be good enough to achieve a healthy, stable family lifestyle which both Dave and Toph have been lacking, since the beginning of the book. We concluded the meeting with more brief discussions about imagery, and Dave’s previous family lifestyle.

= WEEK 5 =

** TASKS A & B: Group Leader & Quotation Finder (Joanne) **
//A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius// was simply a good read, because the book itself showed its very unique qualities, especially compared to other books. Dave Eggers made this memoir very enjoyable with his humor and wit. All throughout the book, he was very open about his life, and spoke with a genuine voice. He told the story almost exactly as it was—plain and clearly. This helped our group understand the events through his point of view; it was almost as if we were actually there, witnessing the situations. Therefore, this book would most definitely be recommendable to peers, because of the reasons stated. It’s humorous, sarcastic, witty, honest, very conversational, and creatively written. Although Eggers does not seem like the type to incorporate an actual moral in his novels, we felt as though he gave us the final message of: let go of hardships to become happy. Throughout the book, he constantly dealt with struggles, whether big or small, but once he eventually just let it all go he felt relief and happiness. Due to the very honest nature of this book, our group felt as though this topic is more effectively written in this book than any other books. There’s no extra “fluff” to the text. He’s not trying to impress anyone; he’s just freely telling us about his life. Although there are many great features of this book, it should not, and most likely would not be considered for school’s curriculum. The reason being is that some of the material in the text, may come off as offensive to others. As stated previously, Dave Eggers is a very honest man (or so it seems). However, that’s the problem; he’s //too// honest. There are many controversial statements about race, orientation, etc. Also, there are many recurring sexual themes, along with harsh language. Therefore, this book may be uncomfortable for students, parents, along with teachers to read. However, it would be a great book to read in your spare time. This book may be quite popular, but not close to being a “classic.” Although this book was quite interesting, it has such distinctive qualities that it most likely will not appeal to everyone. The audience this book appeals to is very selective; it reaches out more to teens and young adults. Classics are determined by how effective it is in the society. //A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius// ? Not so much.

1. "He looks perfect. “You look perfect.” He’s grimacing. “It’s too short. It’s brutal.” “No, no. It’s perfect" " (319).

2. " I do not like seeing myself next to him. Next to him I am a monster. The facial hair I am cultivating is ridiculous, grotesque. My sideburns do not meet my hair, and are so sparse that they look less like facial hair, and more like leg hair. Worst of all, the goatee I’m working on is failing miserably, because I can’t even grow hair on the sides of my mouth, giving me a perpetually in-progress, fourteen-year-old’s look " (315).

3. " Why should some dramedy star moron loser be mourned by millions, when other people are not? When the average person, who lives a happy and maybe even in some ways heroic life, can only attract twenty or thirty people to a funeral, when-- I mean, it’s unfair, it’s abominable, right?" (316).

4. " Maybe this was part of their plan. They pick the sad picture so they can take him away. Or else the photographer is some kind of child slave trader. He’s hooked in with the child welfare agency and he gets them to give him the kids and then sells them to white slavery operations in…where are the white slavery operations, anyway? And what kind of cars do they drive? ” (324).

5. " This is so unbelievably bad. They’ll take him away now. They’ll take him away for sure. If ever they needed a reason now they have one good God. It’s proof of everything. The proof they want " (322).

6. " Please sound normal, Toph, you are normal, we are normal, so just sound normal please can’t you? Don’t sound like I’ve been beating you like you’re in the bathroom hiding from me, because I have been there, have hidden from parents before, have been on the other side of a door being struck with all conceivable parental force, have searched the bathroom for places to hide, have found a place in the closet where the bath toys are kept, under the lowest shelf, and I have hidden there, and have seen, darkening the white slit of light under the door to this closet, his shoes, and then the white light everywhere as the door is opened, and have had my shoulder grabbed and...and he's been working on it, especially when I make him do it in front of me, my arms crossed in front of me, watching, coaching, making a chipper smiley face for him, eyebrows shooting swyward... happy! ” (322).

7. " Of course there’s a reason we didn’t tell her about Picture Day, and that reason is spelled P-L-A-I-D. Did everyone wear that much plaid in the early 70s? It’s uncanny, but it seems like every picture we took before fifth grade featured plaid in some way, mostly in the pants category. And we matched, all three of us " (326).

8. " Then again, this is kind of lucky. The timing, that John would be threatening suicide the same day I have been given the box, during the week when I have been looking for gruesome things—What are the odds? Fantastic " (385).

** TASK C: Key Questioner (Christina) **
1. Dave has received yet another call about John threatening to commit suicide. Why do you think Dave handles the situation so well when he knows that his own life is probably a lot harder than John's? //Dave understands the pain of feeling alone and being upset. Even if he thinks his problems are more extreme than John's, Dave can relate to the agony of his situation. Dave feels it is his duty to comfort John and make sure he feels better, even though he has to swallow his anger at John's weakness.//

2. Why does Dave think it's necessary after all those years to throw his mother's ashes into the lake? //Dave finds his mother's ashes and throws them into the lake as a way of finally letting is pain free. Dave had been avoiding his grief for years because he couldn't let go of his mother. In this chapter, he finally takes a step to being happy again.//

3. Dave is finally dealing with the death of his parents and facing the grief that he has bared inside of him for so long. Why do you think it took him so many years to fully acknowledge the tragedy? //Since the beginning of the memoir, it has been apparent that Dave never fully faced his problems. Whether he was facing the death of his mother or getting up to drive Toph to school, he always tried to find a way around them. Dave's constant self-distraction had a negative impact on him because it caused him to "bottle up" his troubles inside of him//. //In the last chapter, Dave ultimately breaks free and let's his emotions out. He finally lets himself grieve for his mother and fully acknowledges that, yeah, some terrible things happened to him, but now he's okay. He proves that nothing is going to hold him back in his life anymore.//

4. Why does Dave suddenly feel confident enough to move away from Beth after years of having her as a safety net for him and Toph? //Dave goes through a sort of internal metamorphosis in the final chapter of the memoir. He finally allows himself to open up about the tragedies of his past. After he does this, Dave is filled with a new-found sense of courage and independence. He is stronger than he used to be, and has the confidence to go on with his life without the constant support of his sister.//

5. Do you think the ending of the story was satisfying? Why or why not? //Yes, the ending was very satisfying. It gives the reader a sense of finality after what could be called a truly "heartbreaking tale of staggering genius," hence the title. The story ends on a happy note after Eggers and his siblings went through so much pain. There is a huge release of tension, and the reader knows that this chapter of Dave's life is complete.//

**TASK D: Group Summarizer (Kim) **
 As usual, our group started off the meeting with a list of discussion questions prepared by the key questioner of the week (this week, Christina completed this task). We mainly discussed how Dave finally starts to address the deaths of his parents. Although Eggers seems curiously apathetic through most of the book, he gradually begins to reveal acknowledgment of his loss as the book progresses. In an effort to understand why it took him so long to finally address his sadness, our group members reached a consensus that the closer someone is to another (or others), the longer it takes for that person to feel grief when tragedy occurs to that loved one(s). Furthermore, our group members noticed that as the book progresses, Dave becomes more and more independent. This can be justified by the fact that Dave learned to be more organized and responsible after he had to take parental control of Toph.

After our discussion over Christina's questions, we shared our final thoughts of the book. We all agreed once more that the book is very unique in that it is very conversational (most of the time, we felt as if Eggers was speaking directly to the reader(us)). Finally, the ending was especially satisfying because, unlike in other books, with typical endings that almost make it a point to “tie things up” and leave a question for readers “to think about," Dave closes his piece with a final moment of casual, quirky humor, further defined by his characteristic biting sarcasm. This technique of ending the book with the same tone that he started off with was especially memorable because it allowed for a particularly bittersweet closure (bitter because the book is finally ending!; sweet because the reader is able to see that Dave and his family members have finally moved past their pain). It also truly reflected his personality, which had become so beloved to the reader. All in all, the members of our group greatly enjoyed Dave's book.