A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

[rath010]

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (AHWSG) was a very interesting spin on the genre of fictionalized nonfiction. I was initially engaged into the book because of the captivating and heartbreaking history that the author experienced with his family. The author wrote with a sense of superiority over all of those (including the reader), which came off as comical initially. However, at about halfway through the book, it was less comical and more of an annoyance.

The author continues to hold a stance of superiority throughout the book while jumping from tangent to tangent. His story became very muddled between what had actually occurred, and what was occurring in his mind. To place this novel into a nonfiction category is difficult - even if fictionalized. I do not agree that this novel is anything more than fictionalized with history held at the basis of the story. However, I remained dedicated to the story for the truth behind it - or the glimpses I could see.

[GKCfan]

Someone I know read this book, and says that the author admits that after a certain named page, the book falls apart (or at least declines in quality). Do you agree? Is that the "halfway" mark you mention?