Welcome to Litsy!

A little Franz Kafka, a little Willy Loman, this novel explores the experience of a man at midlife realizing that he's at the middle (or actually past the middle) of his life. Alternately fatalistically self-destructive and motivated to a point of near-mania, he's starting to understand that he's in the "reap what you've sown" stage in life, and he's not set himself up for the harvest he'd hoped for.

ā€žWeißt du, was der Schlüssel zu deinem jetzigen Umgang mit deinen Eltern ist? Gnade. Wenn Kindern [ā€¦] heranreifen, werden sie unversöhnlich. Alles außer Perfektion ist Pathos. Kinder verurteilen in alttestamentarischer Manier. Alle Fehler sind unverzeihlich, als ob ein Perfektionsvertrag gebrochen ist. Aber wie wäre es, wenn Eltern dieselbe Gnade gewährt wird, dasselbe Mitgefühl wie anderen Menschen? Kinder brauchen etwas mehr Jesus in sich.ā€œ

ā€žYou know what the key to your current relationship with your parents is? Mercy. When children become teenagers and then young adults, they become unforgiving. All mistakes are unforgivable, as if a contract of perfection was broken. But how about giving the same mercy to parents, the same compassion, that is granted to other people? Kids need a little more of Jesus in them.ā€

ā¬†ļøā¬†ļøā¬†ļø So unbelievably trueā€¼ļøSaid as a daughter, not as a parent.

I liked this way more than I expected. The combination of the described culture that is so different from our Western one and the protagonist Alan who often is clumsy in more than one way made me grin frequently. Even though I often didn‘t know if it was out of a humouring situation, out of the description of reality or out of shame.

The book is very ā€œAmericanā€ (fear of Chinese economic ability) in some way but may in general be true worldwide.

Trying to find some rest while listening to my current audiobook with a sleep-timer set. It‘s 2 o‘clock in the morning here.

I completely understand that it‘s not supposed to be funny but I really think it is. Alan is waiting in the Saudi Arabian desert for his business partners, the Prince and his assistant and both until now, about hour 2,5, constantly dumping him.

As far as I know, ā€œI get there, when I get there.ā€ is common in Saudi Arabia.

Still unsure if Alan for me is a likeable protagonist. He is not evil or disgusting but he just has some level of being unorganised that I can‘t relate to. For me, this feels like a lack of discipline and earnestness.

But I really like where he reveals writing letters to his daughter in order to help her cope with the arguments she has with her mother/his ex-wife. I don‘t know any father who does this and also can‘t imagine many (would) do so.

ā€œA Hologram for the Kingā€œ is a novel about what the globalized economy does to man. With great empathy and wonderfully absurd comedy, Eggers aims right into the heart of today‘s times; complex, sad, touching.ā€œ

Started this audiobook yesterday and I‘m not yet familiar with the story and sometimes I have little issues with the one who reads it aloud.

My life is still an emotional disaster. That might be why I can‘t concentrate.

Dave Eggers seems like the kind of guy you want to share some beers with.

Well, it just sort of.....ended. I liked the writing but this really is a story where very little happens. It‘s about a desperate man trying to redeem himself. Hmmm. So many threads that just, well, are dangling. Quick read.

Next up.

A nice book. Odd, but I liked it.

Eggers never disappoints. I really enjoyed this one, a fascinating glimpse into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I spent some time there as a child and I think he's really captured the atmosphere of the place. Really authentic, interesting characters. A largely inconsequential plot but that's life sometimes.

An aging man‘s hopes and dreams come up against his more realistic failures and disappointments, and mostly lose.

Read April 9-12
Book 14/50

I can't get over how beautiful this cover is. Stacking this purely based on how gorgeous it is. ā¤ļø #LibraryWishlist

Have any of my fellow Littens read this book? Would you recommend? Please let me know. ā¤ļø

Good to be back Litsy! Haven't posted in a long time.This is my first book I have read in a while.So far it's pretty good.

#currentlyreading

I can't bear to listen to one more story, even if it is written by Dave Eggers, about a middle aged dude who blames everyone else for his mistakes. Gave up after one disc.

Good morning, Littens! #bookandcoffee

A couple of books from yesterday's library haul #greencovers Why do some books insist on leapfrogging over my very long TBR list šŸ¤”#marchintoreading

SNOW DAY!!! First one of the year. Looking forward to reading all day!

Woo-hoo!

Oh man. This one. Dave Eggers is clearly a good writer and went into detail with his main character that made me want to continue on with the book even though my gut was telling me it could be a let down. I felt like this book was a Waiting for Godot of sorts, and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and I'm not sure that I'm glad that I hung on, though I had high hopes

Put all of the books on hold at the library...picked this up to read while I'm waiting for those titles to get in. Always wanted to read something by Eggers

I always enjoy dave eggers style and stories about when
In a rut ; Run !!! And experience other with all its wonders and pit falls , its not his best one but i think it worth a read .

Worst eggers i've read !

All those post-it notes? A testimony to how much I loved this novel.

How many people does it take to put together a two year-old's trampoline? Three. But I'm sitting in reading this.

I'm a fan of Dave Eggers. Big fan. And A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING was just as good as I hoped. Actually... that's not true: it was better.
Dave Eggers is the best - you must read this novel. And the others.