A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

I finished A Visit from the Goon Squad a few days ago. However, in between getting my teeth drilled and feeling like I got punched in the mouth, I haven't really had the time to post my thoughts on the book.

But I have thought about this book.

This book was hard to connect with emotionally. No two chapters are told from the same character's point of view and the chapters do not go in chronological order. Some of the characters are marginally connected to the others. I went from one chapter to the next surprised that such a minor character in the life of the previous narrator will be featured so prominently in the next chapter. It got a little difficult keeping track of all these people and why they were important.

There were so many characters and connections in this book that I drew myself a chart after finishing to help me visualize it all:

I know it's difficult to read all the character's names but it's not important - the network itself is important. Sasha and Bernie (at the center of the graph) are kind of the epicenter of the story which is why I highlighted their names. Sasha and Bernie are connected to each other for some time in the story and they are connected to others at various other points in time (but not forever - this chart shows connections without regard for when the connection existed).

The book focuses on these connections over time and how they break apart and new connections form. Time is also a big theme with "time" being the "goon" as referred to in the title: time ravages and destroys and it leaves no person untouched. Sasha and Bernie each undergo radical changes in their circumstances during the course of their lives (as do those connected to them).

The book discussed the music industry, the entertainment industry, and public-relations type things with many characters involved in these spaces in some capacity. I think the author dislikes the entertainment and music industries and uses the characters to communicate a distrust for these industries: they are false. I would have to agree with her on that point. It's all smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned and it's not satisfying in the end.

I did enjoy reading this book even though it was hard to really empathize with any of the characters. I was happy that the author didn't fall into the "Valentine's Day" trap (that movie with a billion high profile movie stars that falls flat). A Visit from the Goon Squad keeps things interesting by shifting time periods, perspectives, and mood and tone. The reader is constantly having to readjust mindsets for each new character. It was done well. It had serious moments without being too heavy. One chapter is told entirely in the form of slides (i.e. Power Point slides) - but it is still done so well and communicates the complexity of the relationships involved in that situation.

Overall, this book did not hit me with the full force of emotion but the characters were complex and interesting. The changing timeline was an adventure. I say: read it!

Until next time,

Laurie