TV Spring Flings... Spring is finally here, and with it times TV midseason replacements. check out the Daily's review of Fox's "Boot Camp" and ABC's "The Job." yxichigandaily.com /arts UfteIiwtunJlmrIag WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2001 9 DESCRAMBLED EGGERS Readings, writing and celebrity life: A literary young lion speaks w wow. ern- w wr w. r Post-modern guy condition a la Eggers By Chris Kula Daily Arts Writer 0 You heard it here: Dave Eggers' book eading tonight at the Michigan League is the hottest ticket in town. True, it's not every day that the phrases "book reading" and "hottest ticket in town" are used together in the same :' 7 Dave Eggers Michigan League Ballroom Tonight at 7:30 p.m. statement, but then, it's not every day that the visit- ing author in question is responsible for arguably the liter- ary sensation of the last year. Eggers' debut effort, the inspir- ingly clever "A Heartbreaking Work of Stagger- ing Genius," won rave reviews and book-of-the-year awards from seemingly very publication this side of Popular Mechanic, casting the 30-year-old writer - and his current project, the neo-lit journal McSweeney's - into the spot- light of national recognition. With the Vintage Books release of the perback version of "A.H.W.O.S.G." (which includes a special new appendix 3slyly titled "Mistakes We Knew We Wre Making"), Eggers recently took to the O igh road for a cross-country book tour. omewhere between St. Louis and Kansas City, he took a moment to answer some questions about his approach to writing, the effects of fame and L.A. Lakers superfan Dyan Cannon. The Michigan Daily: Since VH 1 has yet to produce a "Visiting Authors: Behind the Readings" series, what is the average day like during one of these book tours? Is it just total The-Who-ban- Sisled-from-Holiday Inn debauchery? Dave Eggers: Absolutely. It totally lives up to what we all imagine author tours are like. TMD: Giving a reading must be a lot like doing stand-up: Do you enjoy the performance aspect? DE: I do, most of the time. And you're right, it's a lot like standup, especially when you're trying to keep these events kind of fun. Of course, there are writers ho are more confident of their work -- ey can just get up and read from their books. But I'm forced to try to distract everyone. TMD: In terms of the actual reading, do you feel more akin to, say, a Phish or a U2? In other words, do you change things up/improvise every night in order to keep things fun, or are there crowd favorites that you make sure to bring up, night in and night out? DE: Every night is pretty different, ecause my attention span is very poor ith these things. I usually do something - like tonight, when we're having two doctors debate the properties of itching once to try it out, then a second time to get it right. Then we move on. TMD: In working on the book, did you have any set patterns that you fol- lowed, or did the creative process changej a lot? Slow and steady, 9 to 5, or fever- ish, late-night inspiration? DE: Very streaky. I write late at night, usually midnight to five, but sometimes I stay up all night stalling, painting pic- tures of bananas. TMD: Did you ever find yourself holding onto a bit or section that, deep down inside, you knew didn't really fit? How was it resolved? DE: I usually leave things in even if a part of me wonders if it really belongs. I have a hard time cutting sections out - I sort of prefer a looser structure to some- thing more .. ordered and care- ful, maybe because it excus- es me from mak- ing hard decisions. TMD: Did you ever have any moments while writing when you simplyz made yourself laugh out loud, sort of a "Man, this really is ,f some funnyF shit!" realiza- tion DE: That hap- pen~s a lot. I sit there and think I'm hilarious, but the next day I read what I've written and can't : find the humor. I'd say every hundred things I think are funny actually make me laugh the second time around. TMD: During the writing, what type of audience - -if any -- did you visual- ize for the book ? I mean, did you ever begin to feel as if you were writing for a certain group/individual, i.e. "Oh man. so-and-so is just going to love this part." DE: I was writing mostly for people who like, in their literature, liberal usage of the word "motherfucker." TMD: In newspaper or magazine journalism, you get that satisfaction of seeing your work come to life on the page fairly quickly. Was it at all a trying experience putting the book together knowing that the gratification would be so much longer in coming? DE: Absolutely. But there wasn't actu- ally that much delay in this case, because I was revising stuff until about two months before publication. But with most authors, I don't know how they stand it - the lag time between finished manuscript and publication is usually about a year. TMD: Was there a single moment dur- ing the writing process where you took stock of what you'd produced and first realized that you were sitting on some- thing really special? DE: Here and there, I would write something that I knew was kind of good, and when you accumulate a certain num- ber of parts you find very good, you begin to think you've got something. Not that you're counting them as you go, but ; 4 .:.all writers knows their book has.its peaks and its plains, and while you're trudging through the flat- lands ... I'll stop now. Thist metaphor is awful.C TM D: Was name recognition ever a goal for you'? Has it now become one? t DE: Name recognition isc nice when you can help peopler know have been trying to gett books published.t and when I say LI endorse the couresy oVntge BOOS book, or design it, or whatever, for some reason - andi I'm not saying it's always rational -it helps that book get published. TIMD: I recently read an NYC writer's bio, and it included the line. "ce's theI most famous writer on his block, nows that Dave Eggers has moced Honestly.1 what is your first thought/feeling when1 you see your name dropped all over thei place? DE: It's rough, actually. I like seeing McSweeney's mentioned, or authors we publish mentioned, but there are lots of magazines and websites I avoid, for fear of running across my own name. It's just too weird sometimes. Mentality presents... The Road Less Traveled A collection of skits, monologues, and poems relating to mental health Thursday, March 29th 5:30 p.m. @ League Underground Free to all TMD: So what is the weirdest site/item brought up by a web search for "Dave Eggers" ? DE: See, I don't even know. I haven't ever done that. I know there's probably some pretty creepy stuff. TMD: Do you ever feel paranoid about living up to the ultra-witty expecta- tions that the book may have created for some people? Is it harder to have a good conversation with someone who profess- es that they're "such a huge fan"'? DE: The people who say they're fans are usually so unbelievably nice that con- versations are easy. But make no mis- take: I am ultra-witty. TMD: When did you most feel like a celebrity? DE: When I had sex with Dyan Can- non. [ID: What city's been most the most conducive to your style (writing or other- wivi se)? DE: Living-wise. San Francisco. In terms of cities where audiences have been receptive: probably the biggest and warmest crowd ever was in St. Louis last week. TMD: Is it true you sold the movie rights to the book? Will you be a pres- ence during the production'? Who would you like to see direct, star. et cetera? DE: We sold the rights, and they were kind enough to give me a good deal of control over directors and all that. But we haven't done anything yet. My dream, though one I know will never come true, is to have the movie set underwater, with an all-black cast. But I doubt it'll happen - might be hard to market that kind of thing-. Courtesy of Vintage Books By Joanna Steinhardt For the Daily Dave Eggers is hard to pin down. One could go on about all his achieve- ments or rather, all the things he did before he became super famous for his memoir, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," but first there is something that should be pointed out. You can learn a lot from a book by reading its blurbs. I don't mean about the plot; I mean about the author, his influences and allies. On the back of "A.H.W.O.S.G." (hardcover edition) we have blurbs from David Foster Wallace and Rick Moody. (The latter's "this book does not need a blurb" is by far the best blurb.) Eggers is often com- pared to Wallace. They both toy with literary conventions and share a shane- less wordiness and bodacious intelli- gence. They both tackle ambitious projects and somehow pull it off. And the kids love 'em, especially the col- lege-age literary types that enthrone young writers as their heroes (though they'd never admit it) in order to knock them down later on (for "selling out" perhaps'?). They are also both males. While overyone is busy talking about the irony of it all, the post-modern condition, etc., no one notices that the authors are not writing about the host-modern condition but., particularly, the post-modern guy condition. I have no intention of belit- tling the scope or relevancy of their work through this statement, but the fact remains that men and women have dif- ferent experiences in our society and the writing of men cannot stand in for that women. In "A.H.W.O.S.G.," the narrator is often sensitive and thoughtful, but is fre- quently an asshole. He surrounds these episodes with a self-effacing anxiety and a masochistic awareness that soften their effect. But he cannot negate his maleness (which unfortunately comes through in his being an asshole) by exposing his humanity. Because that's impossible. He is a guy. And ladies are not guys. Back to the main point that Eggers is not writing about the post-modern con- dition but the post-modern guy condi- tion. Where are the ambitious novels by unforgiving, shamelessly feminine, end- iessly annoyed young women'? Are they not being written or are we just not hear- ing about them And if'a book came out that really flaunted a woman's true, 100 percent, all-or-nothing thoughts on writ- ing, expression, truth, dry skin, toddlers, modesty, fear, low-fat muffins, globai capitalism and the details of female urges, would it sell? Would nmen read it Dave Eggers probably would. Eggers admits to being an asshole. h, speaks about it openly. That is hi, strength. He has a relentless honesty that gives his work momentzim and tai- gibility. You can feel the story crawl into your lap like a kid fresh from kinder- garten, telling you about how his friend ate a bug during recess. Eggers has the indissoluble literary feel of someone who is telling a story -- relaying infor- mation, all of it, for better or worse to enliven the so-called livin. So here is the life story of this novel. ish memoir: When Eggers was twenty- one, both of his parents died of cancer within a month of each other. Eggets and his sister were then given the responsibility of raising their nine-year- old brother. In or der~ to start anew. they ditched their Chicago suburb and moved to California - rcainsW Punks! Ocean! -- -to play frisbee on the beach and sing Journey songs for the edifica- tion of growing ovs. "A.H. WO.S.G delves into the banality and plain unde- sirability of death. In an amazing feat of stylistic acrobatics, this is done in a way that makes one laugh. In fact, it fecls good to read a book like "A.11.W. .S.G." Eggers creativity is vital and valuable but the whining chorus of critics and interpreters and generally confused cur- mudgeons try to drown out his efforts with their peintiess opinions. You should go see him read. You should read the book he wrote. And you should ignore everything you have ever, will ever, or are reading about him Sales Merck is where I can have the greatest effect on human lif. Attention Campus Groups: Easy Fundraiser Every time someone signs up for a Kaplan course through a link from your web site you .-make $ $ Totally FREE No B.S. Contact randi wilson@kaplan.com Enhancing and preserving the quality of life. This is the commitment that Merck & Co., Inc. stands on - and it's what has distinguished us as the world's leading research-driven health products company. Recently ranked by Fortune among "America's Most Admired Companies," we discover, develop and manufacture a wide range of innovative products. And we continuously live up to our reputation with a truly unique work environment that fosters growth. We are immediately seeking qualified Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives throughout the state of Michigan. These positions involve working with targeted physicians and/or other healthcare professionals to provide pharmaceutical product research updates, innovations, and other key information. These positions require 2 or more years of sales experience or similar experience in a medical field. A Bachelor's degree is also required. Merck & Co., Inc. is committed to providing employees with a stimulating work environment, as well as a competitive salary and benefits package. Please email your resume, indicating job code: OBNPUM032801 to: mercknc@aon-hros.com or fax to: (419) 429-3237. Or send your resume and cover letter (indicating job code) to: Merck Positions, P.O. Box 751, Findlay, OH 45839. You must include Job Code to be considered. Resumes must be sent in Microsoft Word or in m :.