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As if collaborating with Spike Jonze to create one adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are wasn’t enough, Dave Eggers recently released yet another version of the beloved children’s story entitled The Wild Things. As Eggers explains, after co-writing the screenplay with Jonze for the movie, Sendak approached him and suggested that he write a novel that included details that did not make the final cut. But Eggers was not content with that — he put his own spin on the classic and made it a book for all ages.
The Wild Things certainly has its ups and downs. Unlike the movie, this story did not have to be child friendly, and Eggers takes advantage of that. His writing rests on a tenuous balance, treating Max like a precocious boy who cannot help acting like the inexperienced kid he truly is. It brings a smile to your face as you imagine adorable Max, sailing on a boat all on his own and declaring that “by his rough calculations, he had to be at least seven million miles from where he left off.” Eggers also creates a richer plot by filling in some of the gaps of the film, such as the whereabouts of Max’s dad. However, by introducing “grown-up” ideas, the novel — at times — starts sounding out of character for its young protagonist.
Despite a few serious moments, The Wild Things is an enjoyable read. Eggers uses the same self-contemplating voice that he developed in his famous A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius to bring us into Max’s world — a world full of personal woes like a parent’s divorce, imaginary troubles like ruling a monster kingdom and angry little boy problems that can be solved by dinnertime.
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