Gautam Patel Patel itibaren Skyros
What I love most about HWOSG is Dave Egger's total transparency when it comes to writing about his thought processes; he makes me feel a little less abnormal for some of the crap that runs through my mind on a daily basis. Plus it's freakin' HILARIOUS. While this is ultimately a really touching story about having to raise his much-younger brother after his parents die, I really love the parts where Dave is trying to decide what to do with his life, and how the optimism of the early twenties doesn't last.
** spoiler alert ** I started this MONTHS ago -- actually almost a year ago -- and I had trouble getting out of the early 20's, when Emma was a cook and Dexter was starting to become famous, mainly because I couldn't understand why someone like Em would ever consider being friends with such a jerk like Dex. It also reminded me of a past friendship I had (and lost) and it was kind of painful to read. But I got over it. And I was severely bothered by the letter that Dex forgot to send Em that remained in that book "Howard's End" that remained on Heidi Schindler's shelf. I thought that was extremely sad and it bothered me for a while. The book was so real though, and that's what I liked so much. Now, with the commercials on TV about the movie with Ann Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, while I don't plan on seeing the movie, I want to finish this book...I've made it into their 30's so I'm hopeful. The book takes place on July 15 every year from 1988 until 2007, one day in the lives of Dex and Em. _________________________________________________________________________________ Update: I'm shocked. Before finishing I KNEW Emma's fate, but I wasn't aware of HOW Emma arrived at that fate until I got to that part in the book. It made me so mad. Yes it was completely out of left field, and cold-hearted and callous of David Nicholls. I've read conflicting reviews, saying it's realistic, that he doesn't shy away from the terrible hand fate deals us in relationships, etc. I'm not sure how I feel about all this. It's a love story, it's realistic, but so sad. For the entire book I was on Emma's side, wishing she'd dump Ian, succeed at her book, and be happy with herself -- not "settle" as I felt she'd been doing the entire story (and god, stop sleeping with the headmaster! he sounds terrible!). As for Dex, I got his mindset. He was young, he was handsome, he was somewhat famous, he was enjoying life. He thought he had the world at his fingertips and could do anything he wanted. A bit shallow for most of his life, drug-addict, definite alcoholic. But there was good somewhere in his lost soul, every now and then you got a glimpse of what Dex could be, which was much better than he was. Was I pleased when Em and Dex became "Em and Dex"? Sorta. I knew it was coming, and I'd seen the promos for the movie on TV. However, I wasn't that pleased. Em could have gone out with Jeane-Claude. Dex was so used to getting his way and Emma just like gave in. Dex said it was time for them to get together and she said ok. Maybe it was time for them, but Emma, don't just give in because Dex says it's time! Still, Dex always knew he was a better person with Emma, she drove him to try harder. Maybe the moral of the story is that you have 1 great love, and sometimes fate is nice to you and you actually get to experience it (but it may take 15 years), and even if you do, fate can be cruel and snatch it away right. I thought the ending of the book would have been stronger if it was more of Dex looking through the boxes of Emma 1 and Emma 2, and the flashbacks to July 15, 1988, instead of talking about Dex getting wasted off his ass and having to be driven to his father's house, and Dex and Maddy. Who cares about Dex and Maddy? But the last part of the book, the last hours of their first meeting, were probably the most wonderful of the entire book. Whose story was this? Em's or Dex's? I felt so robbed of Em's story! But not every story has a romantic ending.