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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
...so the author, Jennifer Egan, just posted a lengthy note about how you don't have to keep track of all the characters....
...honestly I'm rather inclined to think if that's necessary for the author of all people to make note of, there might be problems....
...honestly I'm rather inclined to think if that's necessary for the author of all people to make note of, there might be problems....
Only Gregory Bouton's machine - this one, fiction - lets us roam with absolute freedom through the human collective.
Liked this a lot - Egan is an amazing study of character and I'm so impressed by her radical, playful grasp of structure and how those forms always feel justified. 'Lulu, 2032' is the clear standout of this book. Whilst I appreciated the themes of memory and what connects humans to each other (ultimately coming down to fiction, art and meaning-making), this book didn't resonate with me as deeply as Goon Squad. Definitely still worth the read though, especially if you loved A Visit from the Goon Squad.
side note, though: What's up with the transphobia in Gregory's story? Absolutely no justified narrative reason - do better Jennifer Egan!
Liked this a lot - Egan is an amazing study of character and I'm so impressed by her radical, playful grasp of structure and how those forms always feel justified. 'Lulu, 2032' is the clear standout of this book. Whilst I appreciated the themes of memory and what connects humans to each other (ultimately coming down to fiction, art and meaning-making), this book didn't resonate with me as deeply as Goon Squad. Definitely still worth the read though, especially if you loved A Visit from the Goon Squad.
side note, though: What's up with the transphobia in Gregory's story? Absolutely no justified narrative reason - do better Jennifer Egan!
Can't believe i'm saying i'm disappointed in a 4 star read... I enjoyed almost every chapter and the various perspectives and seeing how they all tied together and connected in the end but i felt like there were so many unanswered questions and untold stories... like literally every philosophical/ethical question about mandala and mondrian, the entire civilian agent storyline with lulu, questions about surveillance and knowledge and truth and death...
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I really enjoyed this book. It didn’t have the standard lead up and climax in books that I typically read, but kept me entertained throughout. The different perspectives and formats were interesting and I enjoyed the connections I made to normal life as well as throughout the book.
I’m not sure how I’d really explain this to another person but I would definitely recommend reading it. I’ll have to go back and reread and I think I’ll be able to appreciate it even more then.
I’m not sure how I’d really explain this to another person but I would definitely recommend reading it. I’ll have to go back and reread and I think I’ll be able to appreciate it even more then.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
i need a moratorium on books with more than a handful of characters over multiple generations to keep track of! at least without providing a chart to follow along with. i appreciated the overall themes of (self & societal) tech surveillance, & LOVED the first, like, 40% of this book — but got increasingly confused & disinvested. reading others’ reviews validates my experience; i had no idea this was second in a series (perhaps contributed to my confusion) & appreciate the idea of considering each of the chapters standalone short stories.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had so much fun reading this book. I love the way Egan plays with form, and her creativity is unmatched. If you like mosaic fiction and trying to sleuth out how all these people are connected, this book is for you! If you like a book that allows you to see the world from multiple perspectives and begin to challenge your own, pick it up now—but not before reading “A Visit from the Goon Squad”. This is a standalone novel, but reading Goon Squad first made my reading experience all the more wonderful. I cannot recommend this book enough!
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes