Reviews - A Visit from the Goon Squad

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6.31k reviews for:

A Visit from the Goon Squad

Jennifer Egan

3.71 AVERAGE

oldturtle1's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

theresaclare's review against another edition

3.0

I personally don't get the hype around this book. It never felt like I was spending long enough with a character to feel invested in them - a lot of them are unpleasant people, which doesn't necessarily bother me in a book, but I never reached a point where I was able to empathise with someone despite their actions. I did enjoy the non linear storytelling and how minor characters in one person's chapter would then come back as the focus in another.

msmartha's review against another edition

3.0

Recommended as a plane read, which I felt was about the level of attention this book deserved.

Like many other readers, I found the Pulitzer win a head scratcher. Maybe it’s an ambitious book? Egan jumps back and forth in time and hops to a new narrator for each chapter. The overarching narrative is about how time changes us (or doesn’t). It felt grandiose and common at the same time.

missberlyreads's review against another edition

4.0

I already want to read this book again, which is funny because while reading chapter three I wanted to smash this book against the wall. However, once I knew to think of each chapter as a short story and to expect shifts in the narrator and grand shifts in time, it became thrilling to read. I really enjoyed trying to fit all the pieces together. It is a very well written book and she used some extremely creative ways to move the story forward - most of which which worked surprisingly well (see Chapter 12.) I did not find it overcrowded with characters, in fact there were some with whom I wanted to spend more time. I didn't give it a 5-star rating because the things i did not like were really jarring, and despite all the greatness that surrounds those pieces I still remember. I look forward to reading it again, looking at it with new (more forgiving/understanding) eyes, and catching things I missed after this first pass - and perhaps I will give it a 5-star rating.

jcirello's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous 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

izzywayout's review against another edition

3.0

i read it in chunks and maybe this is not the way to go with this one, because it ended up feeling too disconected and falling a little flat. i did enjoy the narrator and jennifer egan's writing a lot tho!