The Perks of A Heartbreaking Work

Contemporary Fiction. Mon, Apr 7th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Themes: Heartbreaking Work, The Perks of Being

Yeah, the classes are blending.

First Hour

We will be discussing the next chapter of Eggers’s book tomorrow (through page 165). We noted several things about the beginning of the book in class today:

The Acknowledgements section is long. Perhaps it is the author clearing his throat, perhaps Eggers is setting the stage (like a chapter-long opening paragraph), perhaps he is using this section as a means to deconstruct his own life. A few of you were distracted by the opener, many loved it, others skipped it (Noo…).
We noted the incredible transitions between the first and second, and second and third chapters. Eggers is definitely taking us on an emotional roller coaster. As you read, though, keep in mind the overall tone of the sections. Does the story ever get somber or depressing? What is he doing when the tone is ecstatic? Where is Toph at these times? Is it ever completely serious?
We discussed the author’s use of humor at length. Some of you mentioned the fact that he is rarely, if ever, serious. It seems that every time he makes a sincere statement, he undercuts it with humor. Why do you think he does this? In what kinds of situations do we do this?

As you read the next chapter, think about Dave and Toph’s relationship. The fact that Dave must balance being a brother and parent wears on him, and he often has a hard time balancing the two positions.

Finally, as you read Dave’s tortured thoughts after he leaves Toph, try to understand why your parents ask you to call them when you’re out late. Eggers paints an accurate portrait (minus the hat smelling thing, maybe. Maybe not.) of the stresses of parenting in this chapter. How does that work out during his first chance to spend time with his friends?

Third Hour

We’re reading through Part One (to page 39) tonight.

Ahh, the Perks. Are there any (perks, I mean) that you’ve seen so far? What kind of boy is Charlie? What kind of girl is his sister? Do you relate?

We discussed the syntax and diction of this book at length today. As you read, take note of how Charlie’s letters become more complex and more clearly written. How does this affect you as a reader? Does it at all?

We also talked about the impact of a good book on how we think. When we finally break away after diving into a book, after turning away from the world around us, the cadences and structure tends to color our vision. Like this:

See you all tomorrow.