I get what she's saying, but she didn't really cover my main reason for hating Eggers. When your first work is a memoir, we have a chance to get to know your personality. I admit I should reread the book (I've changed a lot in a decade), but at the time, I couldn't stand how arrogant and manipulative he seemed. In a non-memoir, I can dislike the protagonist without changing my perception of the author, but not in a memoir.
That said, I'm (hopefully) a more gracious person than I was a decade ago. Maybe I'd feel differently about the book now. I should reserve it at my local library.
I read a fair amount of David Eggers - the stuff comes pouring into my house like Hogwarts invitations until I read it. I don't hate him, but he can be myopically San Franciscan, too earnest and chipper and pleased with himself. I like the periodicals he's begun, I don't love him.
@7, David Sedaris, who came in second with 774 hits on the hate? Well, on the love, he came in with 219,000 hits. So, when it comes to ratios, Eggers doesn't look very good at all.
The "I Hate Dave Eggers" crowd is only so large because he is still alive, and they are largely affleuent (intellectually or financially so) white people (few others know who he is) and have envious fantasies of their parents succumbing to tradgedy so they could achieve fame, despite their lack of creativity and talent.
Sadly, "I hate Fnarf" only garners one measly hit, and even that one follows on with "and he's right on every single one if his posts". I would have thought Slog commenting would be a sure route to infamy.
That said, I'm (hopefully) a more gracious person than I was a decade ago. Maybe I'd feel differently about the book now. I should reserve it at my local library.
2 mediums on special?
IT STILL SUCK!
"I hate David Foster Wallace" 314
"I hate Arthur Conan Doyle" 5
This is kind of fun. But yeah, Eggers sucks.
Nicely played, Mr Alexie...nicely played.
That was the first name that came to mind for me. Chuck Palahniuk was a good call.