Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

A Visit From the Goon Squad: Hachette Essentials by Jennifer Egan

27 reviews

rebeccadiv's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was very interesting to me because when I was reading it, I was engaged. But when I would put it down, I didn't feel particularly drawn to pick it up again. I'm not sure I would have finished it if I didn't have the second one on my TBR to read. I did enjoy following how all of the characters connected though.
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marsmcel's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective

4.5

This really was unlike anything I've read before in a lot of ways, and I can absolutely see why people rave about it. I was on track to give it 5 stars all the way until the last chapter, where the details about technological advancement felt very different from the rest of the book and pulled me out a bit. I think I would've been more open to that dystopian/tech discourse element had it been more present in other parts, but it just felt like a distinct shift that I didn't necessarily get/love. Still really enjoyed it though and left me with a lot to think about. 
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annaki_laila's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Weird. Good and bad. Once I realised each chapter was the first and last time we'd get each character's perspective, I enjoyed it more - it felt more valuable. Overall interesting. One major thing I didn't like was the last chapter - maybe could've done entirely without it, and made the PowerPoint chapter the last one (I enjoyed that one) - because the cynical take on the future really overshadowed the actual narrative and full-circle-ness, for me.
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shayofawe's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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mylargirl's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

2.0

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thyme2sage's review against another edition

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3.75

I usually like flash forwards, spoilers,  but here when Egan does it, it hurts

I like this messy way of looking at time though. It feels more true to reality, how we experience time and life
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yaelaed's review against another edition

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Had to DNF after reading the article where a man details why he attempted to rape someone, said writer being a character we are made to sympathize with in an earlier story. I don't think every story needs morally upstanding characters but I just don't get how I'm supposed to be experiencing this story? Either way, it has not been a pleasant experience. 
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jadatrack's review against another edition

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I should’ve paid attention to the content warnings. There were a few stories that I liked but the majority have such awful people doing awful things that I had to stop in order to maintain any hope in humanity. 
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traa's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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phantomgecko's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not a novel exactly but not just a collection of short stories. Densely interconnected snippets of different lives. Each chapter is written in a unique style that tempts me to call it some sort of long form poetry. Styles that stuck out being the one with all (the parentheses), the one in second person, and the one that was a powerpoint.

I didn't really care for the people and what they were doing, but I enjoyed the circles and knots that wove them all together. Like, wow, all these terrible people really couldn't have done it by themselves. I need a bulletin board covered in pins and string to illustrate how wildly connected these stories all are. Especially the ones that seem out of place, like where the PR lady does business with a war criminal.

Again, not just short stories. Though some of the chapters could be interesting stand-alones, the effect of all of them together is just top notch.

Also, the peeking into the future was fascinating. A new baby boom. The devolution of language. Wild stuff.

So, in conclusion, I really really liked this book's structure and premise and details and styles. But I didn't care about the characters and what they did nor about the music/punk/art/drug scene prominent in most of the characters' lives.
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