Valet Reader

You Shall Know Our Velocity! by Dave Eggers

This is now the fourth of Eggers books that I have read, or at least remember reading, and the second work of fiction. I had and have high regards for the works I’ve already read Zeitoun, Wild Things & What is the What. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when reading this book although it had been recommended to me by many people, including people in the publishing industry and a girl who has a crush on Mr. Eggers (if he weren’t married, I’d tell him he’d be foolish not to get her number).

You Shall Know Our Velocity! is a whirlwind, a veritable tornado of adventure, action and words. I had no idea that that’s what I was getting into, it threw me for a loop to say the least. I know that, or believe that, Eggers is a very intelligent guy. Therefore it’s somewhat impossible for me to just read the story as a story, while the whole time knowing there is depth in the words he chooses to use.

When two characters, Will and Hand, have to confront the death of their close friend, Jack, who has died in a tragic accident, they are besought my misery. It is hard for me to imagine them feeling any other way. Their pain is compounded when the title character, Will, is unable to use a large sum of money he has received to try and save Jack’s life. In lieu of using the money to save their friend Will and Hand decide to travel the world and disperse the money to those who seem deserving.

This book would be a little more typical and stagnant if it weren’t for the fact that Will and Hand aim to travel around the world in only one week. Most of us know that this is next to impossible, but the creative ways in which these two design itineraries is awesome. I only wish I could make something like that happen. While their trip and actions on the trip, doling out money, may be perceived as a statement about the nature of American tourists and their over zealous consumerism and propensity to want to do the right thing, I do not see that as being the mission behind the story or their adventure.

The real purpose of this trip is to escape the grief of the loss of their friend. Despite their intentions, this is not an easy task for either character. Will though is the more troubled of the two. Throughout the story he has conversations in his head between himself and various people and animals, including his deceased friend Jack. (I sometimes have conversations in my head as well but I always forget to write them down, I’m pretty sure that if I did though it would read something like an IKEA instruction manual. In other words there would be no words.) So, what are these voices that Will hears all about? For awhile I really couldn’t figure it out. Then it dawned on me, it’s Will’s inability to truly let himself “travel.” He’s trapped inside his conscientiousness and his pursuit of vengeance. Vengeance for the loss of his friend and for getting his ass handed to him in a fight.

At the end of the day I pretty much came to the conclusion that Will and I have more in common than I thought. Although my ass has never been kicked as hard as his was in the book we are both confused, isolated and somewhat shy (I know it may not seem so, but in person I can be pretty reserved unless I know you, and don’t even think of asking me questions).

I can’t say that this work was my favorite of Eggers to date. For me it suffered in that it lost a lot of steam too early on. It does offer a creative narrative but from what I understand, although I could be completely wrong having not read it but hearing much about it, deals with many of the same ideas as his first novel, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

The more I read Mr. Eggers work and the more I learn about other things which he is associated, 826 Valencia and Mcsweeney’s ,the more I have come to completely and utterly respect the man. It is clear to me that he invests himself wholly to everything he commits himself to even if it wears him down. He is the quintessential 21st century author and it is my good fortune to live in the same area as he does and have the opportunities that I do to hear him speak on occassion and get involved with 826 Valencia.