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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I read Jennifer Egan’s The Keep and loved every creepy, fantastical minute of it. While I’d place The Keep on the mystery or horror shelf, Egan’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize winning A Visit from the Goon Squad shows that Egan’s distinctive style translates across genres. While this book covers many topics: families, sex, drugs, passion, work and everything in between – it’s primarily about music. Music pulses through this book, whether explicitly in chapters about the music industry or implicitly in the chapters about those tangentially affected by it.
Read the rest of the review at http://hellokatieo.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/review-22-a-visit-from-the-goon-squad-by-jennifer-egan/.
Read the rest of the review at http://hellokatieo.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/review-22-a-visit-from-the-goon-squad-by-jennifer-egan/.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I have a lot of mixed feelings with this book but once I reached the end I was forced to conclude that I really enjoyed it. I want to keep this brief. The first chapter had me interested. I loved Sasha's character and I also loved narration style here. I was hooked. I was excited to keep reading. I then began to get a little frustrated as I kept reading because Sasha doesn't really show up again for a while. After I finally got over this, I was able to start enjoying some of the chapters more. For instance, I loved the chapter on the general. I loved Jules Jones' report. I liked Scotty's chapter. I liked the powerpoint chapter, although, as I read reviews now I think this receives a bit too much credit and I would hate if this chapter became a reason for people recommending this book. That chapter is rather small in the scope of the novel and, while good, is not the best. Egan is a gifted author and I am extremely impressed with the array of solid, great prose that is on display in the novel. Another thing I have noticed from reviews is people being mad because there is "nothing new here." Yes, it is a recycled theme. But yes, all themes are recycled, and Egan did a terrific job of creating something new and great out of the recycled materials. Give it a read. I have a hard time thinking many people could hate this.
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Audiobook
Ugh. I kept waiting for the characters to become united together in some way, but it never really happened. It "kinda" happened, a bit, but it was not a satisfying story to me at all.
Ugh. I kept waiting for the characters to become united together in some way, but it never really happened. It "kinda" happened, a bit, but it was not a satisfying story to me at all.
Some of the stories in here definitely shone more than others, I enjoyed the interwoven characters and themes but don’t really think I’ll pick up another Egan book anytime soon.
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
About 3/4 of the way through this book I had already decided I need to reread this book. The stories were so interconnected, but at the beginning I didn't realize that. I think I missed a lot in the first third of this book. Regardless, I loved Jennifer Egan's writing so much. It is complex and just so enjoyable to read.
I think I will review this on the blog... but I definitely need some time to process the themes of this book.
I think I will review this on the blog... but I definitely need some time to process the themes of this book.
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listened to the short story of the New Yorker fiction podcast first. The book is a novel but also feels like a collection of short stories because it covers so many tangentially related characters. Really loved it.