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asodl123's review against another edition
mysterious
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
5.0
I've been a fan of Egan since being assigned A Visit from the Goon Squad in my college American Lit course for reasons beyond my comprehension. Her way with language and plays with time and genre fascinate me immensely, and The Candy House is no exception.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Cursing, Grief, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
cwerber's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An interesting book. I picked it up because I wanted something to read while sitting with my dad in his hospital room. I didn't know it was a sequel but from what reviews I read, I didn't need to.
But I think I miss out on something about some of the characters in the book and will, most likely, read the first book.
Anyway, there is a loose plot to the book with the stories jumping perspectives and timelines but always somehow tangentially related. It was an interesting read and I will be thinking about it for a while.
But I think I miss out on something about some of the characters in the book and will, most likely, read the first book.
Anyway, there is a loose plot to the book with the stories jumping perspectives and timelines but always somehow tangentially related. It was an interesting read and I will be thinking about it for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, and Terminal illness
minkkmuse's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this book is so outstanding. obsessed with the intricate worlds egan weaves and the meandering paths between characters she traces. sharp, smart, incredibly funny, and deeply profound. the full cast audiobook is particularly immersive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Death
rachaelwho's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good. Would have liked a little more story from a little fewer characters. Lulu's excellent passage felt a little lifted from Carmen Maria Machado, which feels like an odd thing to say about Jennifer Egan so maybe I'm mistaken but...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.25
Really enjoyed this book and reminded me why I love literary fiction. The whole premise of downloading and externalizing your consciousness was so intriguing, and felt realistic in a jarring way. The switching of the narration and overall tone of the book was difficult to follow at times, but allowed deeper exploration into the ethical consequences of such technological advancement. Had me thinking for a long time after and may reread.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide
literarylion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Pros:
- Well-constructed -- Egan clearly planned carefully
- Just the right amount of callback to Goon Squad without feeling like a straight sequel
- The style variation between chapters/characters was well executed and compelling
Cons:
- Relationships between the characters were complex/opaque to the point of confusion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Infidelity
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, and Death of parent
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.5
Despite having the subtitle "A Novel," this book is actually a collection of short stories...they are all set in the same world and some of the characters have cameos in multiple stories, but other than that, each story could be read on its own, or out of order. It was confusing to me at first, because I kept expecting to return to the first story, and then the second, etc., but once I understood that they were short stories, I actually enjoyed the book more.
Maybe I would've understood it more if I'd read the Goon Squad book first? Not sure, but I loved some of the stories, found others boring, didn't like some of them. I think my favorite was the one written entirely via letters. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters that are presented, though most of them make questionable decisions and aren't very likable.
I did really appreciate the commentary on memories and social media and just how much of yourself you're willing to share with strangers. A lot of food for thought. I mean, if you could upload all your memories online and be able to access them at any time, and actually watch them as you experienced them, like a movie, but they would also be available for anyone in the world to watch them, would you do it?
Thanks as always to Libro.fm, Simon and Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Maybe I would've understood it more if I'd read the Goon Squad book first? Not sure, but I loved some of the stories, found others boring, didn't like some of them. I think my favorite was the one written entirely via letters. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters that are presented, though most of them make questionable decisions and aren't very likable.
I did really appreciate the commentary on memories and social media and just how much of yourself you're willing to share with strangers. A lot of food for thought. I mean, if you could upload all your memories online and be able to access them at any time, and actually watch them as you experienced them, like a movie, but they would also be available for anyone in the world to watch them, would you do it?
Thanks as always to Libro.fm, Simon and Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cursing, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Gun violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
alisonannk's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Violence, Addiction, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Infidelity
whatellisreadnext's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If I knew this was a sequel, I could have read A Visit From the Goon Squad and maybe enjoyed this a bit more. This book just did too much. It had way too many characters, which worked in To Paradise and How High We Go In The Dark, but in The Candy House I was just left confused the majority of the time. I preferred certain parts to others, and I do think this did some interesting things, but just as I was getting to know a character, they were gone and I was forced to start from square one with somebody new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, and Suicide
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