Time's a Goon

I'm really on a roll with the books these days—not only reading one after another but also enjoying them all. I most recently finished A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. This novel (or, some might say, collection of interlinked stories, but I disagree) was unlike anything else I can recall. The writing is terrific—zingy, precise, fun, and inventive. The characters are introduced gradually, and we meet them in the past, present, and future. Each chapter is devoted to a particular character; some narrate in the first person, while other stories are told in the third or even second person. One is even told in the form of a teenage girl's PowerPoint "diary." Someone who is mentioned in passing in an early chapter later gets a solo chapter, which might tell of his adolescence or a defining moment from his future. Another seemingly minor character eventually shows up with her own chapter that goes off in a completely different direction. The characters are all flawed in one way or another, but many of them are likable—and all of them are intriguing.

The theme of music runs through the whole book. The characters are record producers, failed musicians, aspiring technicians, and music aficionados. Some make big mistakes but bounce back or catch a lucky break; others can't seem to get past that one dumb move. The other major theme is time, from which no one can escape, regardless of how lucky or smart they are. Some characters are given enough time to make up for their pasts; others ... not so much.

My only complaint was that I didn't love the futuristic final chapter, although parts of it were genius; in any event, it did not detract from the overall work. Another two thumbs up!

Comments

[Lori Paximadis]

I took this one out from the library but didn't get to it before it was called back. I'll definitely put a reserve on it again. I, too, am a sucker for stories told from intersecting viewpoints.