A heart-wrenchingly funny genius. Denis Scheck on 3sat-Kulturzeit. Dave Eggers' debut novel, which made him an international star author, is a stunning work of heart-wrenching brilliance. A wonderful blend of tragedy and comedy. Berliner Zeitung. The cornerstones of the story are autobiographical: Within a few weeks, Dave, 22, and Toph, eight years old, lose not only their mother but also their father - both die of cancer. What is left? The brothers decide to take off: They drive into adventure, heading to California, where they are eager to see wild nudists and Hare Krishna followers. Suddenly, Dave is not only Toph's big brother but also a father and mother. It’s no easy fate, but Dave Eggers knows how to tell this story in a highly comedic way. In his novel, Eggers proves to be a master of disarming storytelling.