A Visit from the Goon Squad

A Visit from the Goon Squad - A review

In this book, Jennifer Egan presents a fresh and engaging literary context, pushing the boundaries of some of our greatest fears. (While in a totally different approach, you can also see some of our most visceral fears explored in My Heart Hemmed In by Marie NDiaye):

Story or stories?

In A Visit From the Goon Squad (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2011), each chapter tells a unique story with its own protagonist and dilemmas. However, as you continue reading, these seemingly random narratives gradually intertwine, culminating in a surprising, nearly overwhelming unity.

Excruciatingly Surprising

It's like traveling through time, observing various small moments with varying importance and significance, which helps us understand the characters. The story is filled with unexpected, almost absurd situations that create an engaging pace.

The surprises go way beyond the story itself, though. From interesting PowerPoint slides to text messages with many abbreviations that make them almost incomprehensible, Egan does everything to make the reader feel the characters' world.

Protagonist?

A Visit from the Goon Squad doesn't feature a traditional protagonist. The originality of this narrative is reflected in how each character takes the spotlight at a particular moment and place. Time continually shifts as that merciless squad passes through, obliterating our perceptions of ourselves.

In this book, time serves as the true protagonist.

A good story with many layers

Touching, shocking, hilarious. Many argue whether A Visit from the Goon Squad is a novel or a collection of short stories. I don't think it matters, really.

This is the perfect story (or stories) for those who like a good, unexpected story. A Visit from the Goon Squad already has a sequel, The Candy House, which was released in 2022. Here's the review.

Comments

Timeless – A Sci-Fi Adventure Cut Short but Ending on a High Note

NBC's Timeless blends history, action, and character-driven storytelling into a thrilling time-travel adventure. Despite its premature cancellation, the show delivers an emotionally satisfying conclusion. It proves that even an unfinished journey can leave a lasting impact. Mystery Through Time The story follows historian Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), soldier Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), and engineer Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett). They chase a mysterious organization, Rittenhouse , through time. Their mission? To prevent history from being rewritten. They add the moral dilemmas of altering the past to an already difficult task. The show brilliantly balances historical events with sci-fi elements. Its fast-paced, high-stakes storytelling keeps viewers engaged. Great Characters make Great Stories One of Timeless ' greatest strengths lies in its characters. Rufus, in particular, stands out as the relatable everyman. His humor, intelligence, and real fear of the dangers ahead...

Raising Voices - Why Alma's Mom Had the Right Reaction

In Netflix’s Raising Voices , there's a raw, emotionally charged moment when Alma confesses to her mom that something happened the night she disappeared — she was drunk, she had sex, and something didn’t feel right. It’s the kind of moment that many parents dread. But Alma’s mom handled it in a way that deserves attention. She didn’t panic. She didn’t judge. She didn’t lose control. Instead, she met her daughter halfway, which made all the difference. What Happened in the Scene? When Alma opened up to her mom, she wasn’t just confessing — she was testing the waters for safety. Could she trust her mom with the truth? Would she still be loved after saying something shameful, scary, or confusing? Her mom’s response wasn’t perfect — but it was real. She was concerned, but didn’t explode. She asked questions. She listened. She let the moment breathe. Why That Reaction Matters Technically, what Alma described can be considered sexual assault , given her level of intoxication. Bu...

Review: Billie Eilish: Unfiltered – A Shallow, Soulless Recap Pretending to Be a Documentary

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) If you're expecting Billie Eilish: Unfiltered to offer an intimate look into the life, artistry, or creative process of one of Gen Z’s most influential pop icons, prepare to be disappointed. This so-called documentary barely scratches the surface, delivering little more than a dry, lifeless rundown of Billie Eilish 's discography, awards, and chart performances. At best, it's a glorified Wikipedia entry with background music. At worst, it’s a wasted hour of potential. Unfiltered? The documentary lacks narrative depth, personal insight, or any meaningful exploration of who Billie Eilish is beyond her resume. Rather than providing behind-the-scenes footage, raw interviews, or critical commentary, Unfiltered relies on a monotonous narrator reeling off her achievements like items on a grocery list. There are occasional quotes from Billie herself, but they’re so brief and context-free they feel like filler material. For a documentary claiming to be “u...

All Forms of Art

Search This Blog