The Captain and the Glory: An Entertainment

I first heard about this book while listening to an interview with the author on our local NPR radio station KUER. They talked about the reasons why he wrote the book and it peaked our interests. The source material is none other than our current president, Donald J Trump, his hubris and all the nonsense he did in office.The author does an excellent job in giving you a wider view of President Trump's time and his observations of him can be seen in the main character, the Man with the Yellow Feather. The way he studied DJT and his character in the book with his trademark look, flaws and his "say anything that pops in his head" way will set the mood of the story in a way that will keep you engaged and entertained.The use of The Glory and how the captains before had built, captained and fought for said ship will give you a sense of what the Man with the yellow feather, DJT, has to live up to. Or how he doesn't.The Captain and the Glory is a parody of President Trump's misgivings about politics and it's power in office. The characters that the author has "invented" for the Captain to interact with will highlight some of the funner time of his presidency. This book will definitely be one to read in 2020 and will be one we can relate to even after the Man with the yellow feather is out of office. Enjoy

I'll read anything Eggers writes, and he does classify this one as "an entertainment." Which is to say, don't approach it with the same degree of expectation as his more serious works, in particular, his ongoing series of telling a larger story through a more focussed lens. Here he unleashes his feelings about the current atrocity in the White House, and he doesn't mean for it to be anything but a satire or, as he puts it, an Entertainment about a dangerous, destructive situation. There are other prominent authors who have thrust out books on the subject, so much so that there's practically an entire shelf of them (i.e., Rushdie, McEwan, Coe, Lethem). He had to say something, and this is it.

Eggers speaks truth to idiots and I totally dug this book. So impressed I bought one for a friend even though I am scraping for $$ during the pandemic disaster (yup, everyone in our household lost our jobs) that HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED has not helped one, frickin' iota. (How did that promised "Warp Speed vaccine program" work for y'all?.) As a crit lit major and writing professional, I thought Eggers' writing was clear and ya didn't have to sweat over the subtext; it's pretty evident. It would be nice to think that everyone could learn (in a fun way) what some segments of the population are up in arms about, but I think we're way past that point now.

This was an easy but not light read. It was indeed an entertainment. I believe it’s intent is to put the gross character of a bullying, self serving leader forward in an even more egregious caricature. An appalling portrayal emerges and the reflection gives a chance for the repulsive feelings brought forward to be given an insightful review. I was reminded how I’ve felt someone so brute and crude could be put forward for high office, that his separation of desperate families and their incarceration in camps and that his efforts to assert an omnipotent sovereignty for himself have left me feeling enraged and insulted. I reaffirm, I will resist.A

Our times will generate more literary entertainments, but this pointed to grim implausible outcome. While the attempt to wrap the weirdness of our time satirized much, well; reality out did the story.It might have closer if the Glory sank and the Captain denied it. While a story like this is entertaining, it would have been more satisfying if better realized. Maybe have the Glory taking on water and burning with the survivors using buckets to bail.

This book is delicious and yet not fattening. It is funny and sad that it is funny. It makes you laugh hysterically one moment and then groan the next. Like today's world, you have no idea what is happening next. It does not mention Covid 19 at all and yet it is very contagious. Share it with your like minded friends... that means smart people who think that America was already pretty great and it is improving now that more folks truly believe that Black Lives Matter.

Dave Eggers once again captures a time in recent political history with this brilliant satire. I won't say more as I didn't realize what this satire was really about until I read the first few pages. Then I was entertained when it all unfolded.

Let’s all hope the Old Glory finds a true compass to find home, repairs are in order and Godspeed to all

The 'Glory' is a vast ship, old and venerable, with a permanent citizenship - a floating country. The well respected captain retires, and is replaced by the most ill-qualified, venal, vain and stupid passenger. The new captain sacks all the crew, befriends the murderous pirates who prey on the ship, and instigates a purge of anyone he doesn't like the look of.Naturally, the Glory is in fact a huge floating allegory for Donald Trump's USA. A big, clumsy allegory. I'm generally a fan of Dave Eggers and have enjoyed most of his books. But this novella didn't work for me. It did have some funny moments, particularly in the early parts, but the humour quickly ran thin for me as the body count piled up. It all felt too crude and simplistic. I am no fan of Trump's or his supporters, but his ascent to power shouldn't be dismissed so easily. It's too important to pillory in this way. It doesn't offer any fresh insight into the situation, it doesn't make you think about things in a different way. Part of the problem with satirising Trump and the events of his presidency is that the reality was so extreme and implausible that it didn't really leave anywhere for comedy to go.I ultimately feel this book was a wasted opportunity - Eggers is a very good writer and could have done so much more with this topic. Instead it feels infantile and irrelevant.

Considering what a good writer Dave Eggers normally is, can’t believe he could produce such puerile rubbish.

The troubled captaincy of the Glory tells an all to familiar story... this is a genuinely hilarious tale, a little read with some big ideas.

Had no idea what this was about. Love Eggers so jumped at the new book only to be assailed with what reads rather like a novel for teens as an introduction to tyranny. One giant metaphor for the twat in the White House is an unnecessary addition to my daily diet of relentless propaganda and tears already provided by the news media in spades.

A thinly disguised satire aiming at Mr President I presume. The endless digs at Mr P were funny and a great relief early on as we dealt with the trauma of the 2016 election debacle. Not funny now as we watch a silent, ignorant, mob slowly building momentum.