A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius Study Guide

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is a 2000 memoir by Dave Eggers about his life as a young adult shortly after his parents' deaths from cancer. The main story follows Dave's relationship with his younger brother Christopher ("Toph") after they move to California and Dave begins to raise him. The book also follows Dave's involvement with Might magazine and his journey home to extract significance from his past misfortunes. The novel deals with themes of family, obligation and freedom painting a complex self-portrait that is both humorous and sobering.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius Characters

Table of Contents
  • Heidi McSweeney Eggers – Dave's mother, a woman who has to deal with raising her children while suffering from stomach cancer. She dies in January 1992, relatively early in the book.
  • John K. Eggers – Dave's father was a heavy smoker and drinker. When he was a child, Dave remembers his father as an angry drunk, often chasing after his children, trying to catch them so that he can spank them. Like Dave's mother, Dave's father has a minor role in the book, as he died November 1991, prior to Dave's mother.
  • William D. Eggers – Dave's oldest brother. He isn't mentioned much throughout the book, although we know he lives in Los Angeles.
  • Elizabeth Anne "Beth" Eggers – Dave's sister. Beth took care of her dying mother and helped Dave raise Toph, their younger brother, after their parents died.
  • Christopher M. "Toph" Eggers – Dave's younger brother, whom he must finish rearing after his parents' deaths and his older siblings are unable.
  • Shalini – In one part of the book Shalini falls from a building patio and must stay in the hospital until she has recovered from her coma. Dave visits her often in the hospital. When not visiting her, Dave goes to the pub to drink and 'check out' girls.
  • Sari Locker – A sexologist, with whom Dave fantasizes about having sex.
  • Marny Requa – After Dave creates a magazine titled Might, Dave becomes good friends with Marny, a girl with whom he works. He sometimes imagines having sex with her, but Marny always gets Dave's mind off sex and back on focus with the magazine.
  • Kirsten – Dave's ex-girlfriend also has a similar background. Both her parents are deceased. Dave and Kirsten remain friends after their relationship is over. Kirsten and Beth help Dave rear Toph, even after Kirsten and Beth move two hours away from Dave and Toph.

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