Dave Eggers. That name was the reason why I picked up this book. In 2017, I read another novel of his titled "The Circle," which I rated a 4 out of 5 stars. I found The Circle to be a powerful book, mainly because it was a sort of social commentary on the immense power tech companies today wield. It was also creepy and scary too. In summary, I expected great things from A Hologram For The King.
The novel follows Alan, an American salesman who is sent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to close a deal, a deal that his future likely depends on. The 300 pages of the novel span from his arrival and culminate in his meeting with the King. In between, in a series of flashbacks, Alan reflects on his impending financial doom and his relationship with his divorced wife and daughter. Alan also meets a few characters with whom he spends considerable time. These interactions shed more light on the sort of person Alan is.
This book is different from The Circle. Although, I can say that I'm getting what Dave Eggers's theme is. But before I get into that, A Hologram For The King is character-driven. I have to say I don't find Alan fascinating. He is just an average white American man. What pushes the book is the meeting he is supposed to have with the King. I'll admit that kept me interested in the book. Also, it is well written, and I did not struggle at all to read it.
The book shares its sensuality with The Circle. I think Dave Eggers is that sort of writer. It is not an erotic novel, but Dave Egger's characters( from the two books I have read so far) have sexual encounters, and those are described in the book.
Now, Dave Eggers' theme seems to be stories wrapped among social commentaries. However, it is not as overt and universal here as in The Circle. Here, in A Hologram For The King, several hints are dropped throughout the book, but it becomes evident in the end.
The theme here is world trade, specifically how it relates to the United States.
At the end of the day, I rated A Hologram For The King a 3 out of 5 stars. It is a light and easy read. I do not know what sort of reader might be interested in it, but if it sounds like your cup of tea, go for it. In my opinion, The Circle would be a great fit if you ever want to read anything by Dave Eggers. Both books have movie adaptations (Netflix and Prime Video), both starring Tom Hanks, so you can also check out that instead of spending hours on this (It has a slightly better ending... barely).
