You Shall Know Our Velocity

by Dave Eggers

Hardcover, 2002

Status

Available

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

Vince Matulionis Collection

Publication

McSweeney's, (2002).

Description

You Shall Know Our Velocity is a compelling and thought-provoking novel by award-winning Dave Eggers Will and Hand are burdened by $38,000 and the memory of their friend Jack. Taking a week out of their lives, they decide to travel around the world to give the money away. They can't really say why they're doing it, just that it needs to be done. Perhaps it's something to do with Jack's death - perhaps they'll find the reason later. But as their plans are frustrated, twisted and altered at every step and the natives prove far from grateful to their benefactors, Will and Hand find that the world is an infinitely bigger, more surreal and exhilarating place than they ever realised. In fact, it's somewhere to get lost in . . . 'Dave Eggers has become J. D. Salinger, Ken Kesey and Jack Kerouac rolled into one' The Times 'Endearing, funny . . . the prose is high on energy and Eggers' talents make it worth the trip' Guardian… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member shawnd

My first exposure to Eggers. This is REALLY well written, the pure writing. The novel itself is kind of John Barthes meets Douglas Coupland meets 'The Worlds Most Dangerous Places'. I was disappointed in that the author kept returning to a depressing and morbid event that the main characters had to

emotionally deal with - what could or should have been 10% of the content was like 30% of the content. It became annoying. I suspect either people into emotional work, grieving and resolution and friend memories of high-school will like half this book; the other half will like the main story/travel story. The talent here is amazing. The writing style kind of reminds me also of Vonnegut sans science fiction for some reason - not sure why. I am really looking forward to another Eggers book.

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LibraryThing member fruitnoggin

Highly enjoyable, slightly frantic. "Why is there no teleportation?"

LibraryThing member abirdman

Charming, though insubstantial novel. Entertaining story of a "road trip" by a privileged and thoughtful American Gen-X'er. The hardcover edition is very attractive.

LibraryThing member goldiebear

I absolutely loved this book. I love Eggers period. This book kept me fascinated. I love how Eggers always makes you think that you know what is happening, only to take the story and completely flip it upside down. I loved all the themes in the books. I thought the characters had good depth and

were interesting. I love how crazy Eggers is. His writing always keeps me entertained, even though once in a while I find him a bit arrogant. But maybe that’s part of why I like him so much, he can pull it off.

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LibraryThing member lenoreva

I really wanted to like this book, but I just did not. It is not that the book is badly written or that the concept is boring (it is really quite outrageous and unique to travel around the world giving out your inheritance to those "deserving" poor), it is just that the sense of adventure that I

expected from a journey around the world is missing. Maybe it's just that I expect a lot because I have travelled a lot and I find the exotic locales and peoples of this book can be and must be much more fascinating than presented in these pages.

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LibraryThing member Djupstrom

Very cool travel story meets Brewster's Millions. I love the concept of the journey, the friendship between the main characters, and the layout of the book. Leave it to Dave Eggers to redefine how to publish a book.

LibraryThing member charisse_louw

I laughed, I cried. Well worth the journey.

LibraryThing member sholt2001

This book is mindblowingly brilliant. It manages to go beyond being a book and brings the story into the real world, almost as a piece of performance art. I can't say more about that without giving any spoilers, but I will say the best way to read it is to read the first edition, wait until you

would go back to reread as with any other book, but read the second edition instead.

Regardless of which you read, the episodes are touching, funny and horrifying by turns. The characters are wonderfully rendered and the structure (travel accounts alternating with flashback sequences) will never leave you bored.

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LibraryThing member presto

Will, burdened with a large inheritance, sets off round the world with his friend Hand with the aim of giving it away. Aside from the rather odd plot, the relationship between the two friends and their absurd activities make it a good read.

LibraryThing member adrianburke

Suddenly I found I’d lost the will to finish this.

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