Hologram for the King

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Average customer rating 4.8 (14 comments)

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Eggers does it again, with an inspirational ability to capture the reader and not let go.

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This book begins to clutch you, slowly at first and then quickly. You become totally immersed in what, at first, seems like a simple tale but is actually a profound comment on our world and the powers that influence it.

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I read this in one day, mostly in a tent on a camping trip. a nice mix of delicious readability and thoughtful, provocative writing.

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A fast read, Hologram for the King is clever, funny and sad. It is very easy to relate to the main character Alan Clay, as he's the epitome of the American fighting "first-world problems" but still very much struggling from the US recession. He takes us to Saudi Arabia, where we encounter a much different culture and climate, with its own beautiful idiosyncrasies, contradictions and colorful characters. As we wonder if the King will ever show, are we "Waiting for Godot"? Life is fragile, emotional and complicated no matter the economic or natural climate you're in, and Hologram for the King really illustrates that.

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This is one of those wonderful reads where the "screen" dissolves and you're there. If it were only for this,and the human interest factor,it would be well worth the time. Added,for your drinking and dining delight,is a cogent,and deftly handled, overview (innerview?) of our (USA) recent history. The inner voice of the main character is all too familiar. Worth it,Worth it.

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This is a classic study of how a life that has a lot of promise can fail. This is a study of how someone can misread the situations around him and fail and know he's failing, yet is helpless to change the paradigm.

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I loved this book. Once again, Dave Eggers delivers a powerful story with an important message.

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I love Eggers' "new" style - simple, direct and honest. This book affected me, emotionally. Besides being interesting. It reminds me of Stewart O'Nan in that the impact of the story sneaks up on you. Read it.

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A modern day version of Waiting for Godot and/or Death of a Salesman that has Eggers' typical strong prose.

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one of the best of the year!

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I came late to the "Dave Eggers Bandwagon", now I'm going to have to backtrack because "Hologram" was a gas. This is a fast paced,but not hurried,excursion with Alan,a not still young fellow who tends to spend a lot of time rummaging through his past with no small measure of regret. This could have been just a dismal slog through self-pity,but Eggers insight and deft light touch,keep it interesting,in fact seductive.That word,seductive,is rather a watchword or touchstone throughout Alan's adventure through evaporating business, real beauty and lust, fake beauty and lust,middle-eastern enigma, and the possibility of,if not redemption...a possible"second-act",in an American life. The characters are full and real, I was glad to meet them,at least this way. This way to the mirror.

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I get excited anytime a new Dave Eggers book is published, and once again my anticipation proved worthwhile. I normally do not read book reviews (or movie reviews) prior to my own perusal, but Pico Iyer's (another fantastic writer) review in the Times' Books Review had me antsy to get my hands on a copy. When my own book came in the mail (as I live in far eastern Oregon, so all Powell's business happens online...sigh...), I was positively giddy with excitement. This is a quick read, with broad plot lines about reflection and economy. What always impresses me about Eggers' writing is the ability to be witty, referent and human simultaneously. After reading his books based on real people (Zeitoun and What is the What), I felt that Alan was less a character then another real person--as if this was a sort of narrative non-fictional tale. If you've enjoyed other books by Eggers, you will enjoy this too. Oh, and the binding and cover is really neat, too; looks awesome on my book shelf!

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I love reading this book. I have never written a review before finishing a book, unless of course it was too bad to read. Which is not the case here. I can't read in the car, otherwise i would be finishing it now. Admittedly, every time I read Dave eggers I am almost shocked by his incredible storytelling. I begin each book with an unfair and completely unfounded assumption that it will be all about him, and written with a boring hipster dialect that's been done a thousand times. But I am so far off; he is the real deal. A truly gifted writer, one of the best of our generation. Telling fact through fiction is no easy feat. He is incredibly perceptive. And funny. And totally invisible in each story that you just know he is the only one who could have possibly written it. I love his writing, and feel lucky to be around while he is. Read this if you haven't already, and his other books, too.

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Dave Eggers has a clear, succinct way with prose, a very dry wit, and a superb grasp of detail. All of these combine to make 'A Hologram for the King' and extremely readable novel. Overtones of Kafka's 'The Castle' pervade this story as the protaganist waits (and waits and waits) for the audience that he hopes will solve all of his life problems. There is a disturbing undercurrent, of Americans desperately banking on their rapidly tarnishing reputations as leaders of the business world, only to be outpaced by - well, you read it to find out. A great summer read, and beautifully bound to boot, as an old-fashioned American product should be.