Read More: How We Are Hungry

I didn't love How We Are Hungry like I usually love Dave Eggers' books. I think it was because this was a collection of short stories, rather than a novel. Each chapter is a story about a different character and something they hunger for, primarily relationships and human companionship. With the exception of just a few stories, I would have loved to have had most of these story lines expanded into a book. I would have especially liked the story with Hand, who I bonded with in You Shall Know Our Velocity, to be expanded. When I began reading that chapter (towards the beginning of the book) I was excited, thinking this was a sequel. Alas! There were a few stories that didn't fit in stylistically and I could have lived without them. All in all it was an entertaining read, but it just doesn't get the super rating I am used to giving Eggers' works.

On a bit of a tangential note, the other night Marty and I were discussing A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. He tidbitted that in the first edition it was revealed that his niece and nephew were imaginary. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the first edition because this was quite the surprise. As I tried to think back about it, I realized that I remember nothing about this book, except one scene: He is driving on a winding California cliff highway like in a Hitchcock movie, imagining what would happen if he drove off the side. He formulated a plan where he would stay with the car, then just before it hits the ground he jumps up and off the roof of the car, missing the impact and hopping to safety. I filed this away in my brain because it was the perfect solution, and I figured it could easily come in handy in the future. (I read this book before I developed my California aversion). So anyway, after I read The Wild Things, I will have pretty much read all that I care to at the moment by Eggers, and then it will be time to do some repeats!

- Megan Leigh