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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I’ll read anything Jennifer Egan writes. A couple of the sections were less strong (certainly the spy instructions). Overall I’d recommend!
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a LOT of tangentially interconnected characters to keep track of - despite reading the second half in mostly one day, I still had to occasionally flip backwards to verify 'now who was that again...?'
But Egan totally pulls it off! The shifting eras and perspectives are consistently interesting and thoughtful, and I suspect if you read it twice you would pick up on a lot more.
Update upon re:read for book club: this one was great for discussion; we loved analyzing the tension between what technology gives to us and what it takes away. Intelligently written and thoughtful book.
I loved the hot air balloon scene, and the fragmented spy chapter... I'm a few books behind on Goodreads reviews, so sadly my memory isn't fresher, but we dug it.
But Egan totally pulls it off! The shifting eras and perspectives are consistently interesting and thoughtful, and I suspect if you read it twice you would pick up on a lot more.
Update upon re:read for book club: this one was great for discussion; we loved analyzing the tension between what technology gives to us and what it takes away. Intelligently written and thoughtful book.
I loved the hot air balloon scene, and the fragmented spy chapter... I'm a few books behind on Goodreads reviews, so sadly my memory isn't fresher, but we dug it.
I’m so glad I reread A Visit From The Goon Squad before reading this! It was so fun and satisfying to connect all the stories. I appreciated the futuristic aspect way more this time around. But really loved the parts that went back in time too.
I love this book for the same reason I love A Visit From The Goon Squad, though I appreciate the added complexity of externalizing memories. I love reading about little moments in people’s lives. They are central to understanding who people are. And Jennifer Egan writes them in a way that feels genuine, like the characters are real people I am dying to understand, to have one more interaction with. The concept of externalizing memories and what that would bring up and how it would change society was captured so well and brought up dilemmas in my own mind. I want to watch people’s memories back to understand them better. But in this age, I understand the complexities that would arise and it gives me the willies to think about them. I guess every big invention or idea that changes the world has its ups and downs that aren’t foreseeable to those who come up with them. Lastly, while reading this book I discovered that Jennifer Egan dated Steve Jobs which makes … so much sense. I loved this book it is so full I can’t wait to reread it!!!
I love this book for the same reason I love A Visit From The Goon Squad, though I appreciate the added complexity of externalizing memories. I love reading about little moments in people’s lives. They are central to understanding who people are. And Jennifer Egan writes them in a way that feels genuine, like the characters are real people I am dying to understand, to have one more interaction with. The concept of externalizing memories and what that would bring up and how it would change society was captured so well and brought up dilemmas in my own mind. I want to watch people’s memories back to understand them better. But in this age, I understand the complexities that would arise and it gives me the willies to think about them. I guess every big invention or idea that changes the world has its ups and downs that aren’t foreseeable to those who come up with them. Lastly, while reading this book I discovered that Jennifer Egan dated Steve Jobs which makes … so much sense. I loved this book it is so full I can’t wait to reread it!!!
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
kinda just pmo that this is a short story collection marketed as a novel