Who wrote What is the What?

Dave Eggers wrote What is the What? That's who! With much recommendation from knowledgeable booksellers and customers, alike, I have chosen What is the What? for this week's adult reading. When I first looked at it, I did not count the number of pages. I picked it up off of the shelves, took it to the cashwrap, blogged about reading it and then opened the cover. The book is over 500 pages. I think this is going to be ambitious, especially since I have a children's book following immediately after. But, I will continue to read on. I find it fascinating when so many people recommend an author that does not publish a ton of books a year. Usually, you hear stuff like Patterson or Horowitz or Evanovich or the like; these authors write books faster than I can pee. So, after hearing so many wonderful things about Eggers, I decided it would be a good idea to read one of his books. The only downside is that I am floating in the fiction genre once again. For the next three weeks, actually, all of my books will be found in the Fiction/Literature section (of Barnes and Noble).


Tonight, I am going to have to keep this blog shorter than I would like. My computer is downloading new anti-virus and firewall software and is going crazy. So, I will not be able to report my readings from the day, but I will be able to give a brief background on Eggers.

When someone thinks of a humble person, I bet they think of Eggers. After reading about his life, I am sure he is very humble. I could imagine he is probably the type of person that might blush a little when one comments or compliments his style of writing, his books, publications and life accomplishments. Eggers lost both of his parents when he was 21. Left in his possession was his 8 year-old brother. Eggers' older brother and sister both had jobs and one attended law school. This left Dave with the responsibility of raising his younger brother. At the time of his parents' death, Eggers was enrolled in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne for a degree in journalism. As a result of their death and his new-found "fatherhood," Eggers was forced to drop out of school and moved to Berkeley using money left to him from the death of his parents. There his brother was able to attend public school while he tried to find jobs and worked as a temp.


Eggers was born March 12, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts. His family moved to Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Eggers has written several books and even began a magazine titled Might. He founded McSweeney's which is an independent publishing house that comes out with a quarterly review titled Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern. As a result of the death of his parents, Eggers wrote an autobiography titled A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The book focuses on his struggles with raising his brother and coping with the loss of his parents; it takes place in the San Francisco Bay area.
Eggers has also edited many books and publications. He has contributed to the world of music and has worked with many celebrities. Other works of fiction include You Shall Know Our Velocity which was re-released as Sacrament, How We Are Hungry and The Wild Things based on Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are.

Currently, Eggers lives in the San Francisco area with his wife, an author, and their two kids.

I hope you enjoy this reading journey with me this week.


What is the What? is a fictional real life story about a Sudanese refugee named Valentino Achak Deng who lives in Atlanta. The book was published in 2006. A couple of years ago, I read Ishmael Baeh's A Long Way Gone about his life as a refugee and boy of war in Sierra Leone. I think Baeh's book has prepared me for beginning this book.

Deng and Eggers

As I said, sorry this blog is so short. I hope I will be able to do more tomorrow night! Have a wonderful night and sleep well!

Happy Birthday to my follower, John! :)