Books
Twelve years afterA Visit from the Goon Squad, author Jennifer Egan returns in sci-fi fashion.
Goon Squad never really ended for me, says Egan over Zoom.
It felt weird to know things the reader didnt.
Thats one of these rules I have, that the reader come to know everything I know.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, that makes sense.
In the literary world, new novels tap into these ideas too, likeThe Immortal King Raoby Vauhini Vara.
Egan uses these themes to explore privacy and individual identity.
The Chicago-born author has long been ahead of the zeitgeist.
Will we trade, delete, and add from our individual consciousness by putting unpleasant memories somewhere else?
And we feel it when Lou, with all of his flaws, suffers a stroke.
We root for them and their messy, very human lives.
Ive spent years reading Egans fiction and award-winningarticles on mental illnessforThe New York Times Magazine.
Talking to her in real time, I was struck by how immersed she is in her characters experiences.
(Shes a fourth-generation Irish-American and grew up in San Francisco.)
Lincoln crowdsources the prettiness of his fiance, dissecting every last numerical rating.
Youll closeCandy Housewith a slight shiver, waiting to see what Egan will do next.
In each of her books, she gives herself thrilling challenges.
If this book is any indication, its a fair bet shell succeed.
This article was originally published onMay 5, 2022
