The County Library discussion

For the next book discussion, we decided to go along with Goodreads and choose A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. It's been a while since I read it, but here's the review I posted at the time:

Very interesting. This really made me think about the notion of circular time, how lives are interrelated and how a single event or situation can affect the course of a person's life. At least I think life is like that- maybe it's just fiction. I usually think of my life as a narrative, so I guess it's all the same to me.
I also really liked the way each chapter in this book could easily stand alone as a very good short story, and yet doesn't. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that she kind of seemed to be channeling Shteyngart at the end, which felt a little corny. Shteyngart himself is really all the Shteyngart I need. However, all in all, a very satisfying read.

What do you think?

I found Sasha fascinating. I loved the first chapter and really looked forward to spending the book with her. (I didn't get to)

I loved the chapter on the General and the P.R. fiasco. This was great suspense and hope. It was dramatic and unexpected. I looked forward to hearing what happened to La Doll and the has-been actress. (Sorry, no such luck)

This is what I really loved:
I loved Sasha's daughter's power-point chapter where so much is said with so few words. I LOVE that her little brother, Lincoln, gets the extended pause in The Four Tops' "Bernadette."

I want to have some more positive things to say about this, but I really disliked the experience of reading this. It was filled with the dirty underbelly of the music industry in all sorts of undisclosed time frames. It reminded me a lot of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close with its unidentified voice changing from chapter to chapter. That book was frustrating, but mostly worth it in the end, but Goon Squad was worse.
Ultimately, I was just left with the feeling that the author had some great ideas, great scenes, but just didn't know how to create something whole out of it all. (from my own review)

I am only on Chapter 8 so far and not sure what to think! I liked the first chapter, but felt a little puzzled by the rest. I also liked Chapter 7 and felt like the characters were more relate-able.
I laughed out loud at the quote on p. 93
"You seem, I don't know. Polite."
"Compared to people in prison?" also the comments about socializing with Republicans on the following page made me smile.
More to come...