I just read David Eggers’ The Circle and am thoroughly creeped out. I didn’t like it at first and have some issues with it even now that I’m done, but I have to admit I read the damn thing in one (long) sitting.

What's it about?

Here’s the NYT review: [link]

I agree with the reviewer, for the most part; in particular:

[The protagonist Mae’s] motivations are teenage-Internet petty: getting the highest ratings, moving into the center of the Circle, being popular. She presents a plan that will enclose the world within the Circle’s reach, but she exhibits no complex desire for power, only a longing for the approval of the Wise Men. She is more a high school mean girl than an evil opponent. Perhaps this is what Eggers wants to say: that evil in the future will look more like the trivial Mae than it will the hovering dark eye of Big Brother. If so, he should have worked much harder to express this profound thought. The characters need substance; Mae must be more than a cartoon.

If you don’t want any real sense of the story beyond the basics, it’s about the kind of dystopia that could arise from the seeming utopia of perfect open access to all knowledge for all people--like FB on steroids. I’m glad I read it because it was interesting in concept, but Eggers sucks at creating likable female characters.

I never finished A Heartbreaking Work -- I think he's a great writer but he's way too self-indulgent for me.

Sounds like an interesting premise, though.

Here’s my Goodreads review if you’re interested: [link]

I do think it’s worth reading; just be prepared to dislike the protagonist.

I like Eggers in theory but in practice, I kinda want to smack him.

I always thought he was a better book designer than a writer. Still, I loved AHWOSG. More often than not, I can't make it through his other books.

If you are reading Hild, there's a glossary: [link]

Anyone who's interested in British murder mysteries should look up the BBC documentary A Very British Murder, which is on YouTube. It's a 3 part series covering British fascination with murder from the 17th century, and how murder mystery fiction has developed. Lucy Worsley is a great host. Her interview with P.D. James is fascinating, and there's a tape recording of Agatha Christie mulling over plots.

edit: And now she's talking about Dorothy Sayers! And the skull Eric (or Erica).

Thank you! This sounds awesome.