A Visit from the Goon Squad

My Thoughts

I wanted to love A Visit from the Goon Squad—it won the Pulitzer Prize, after all, and I'm usually drawn to experimental fiction. But despite its critical acclaim, this book left me feeling disconnected and unsatisfied.

The novel's structure, jumping between characters and time periods, is certainly ambitious. Egan tells interconnected stories spanning decades, all loosely connected to the music industry. In theory, this should create a rich tapestry exploring how time changes us all—the "goon squad" of the title being time itself. In practice, I found it disjointed and difficult to care about any single character before we jumped to someone else's story.

Some chapters work better than others. The PowerPoint presentation chapter is certainly innovative, and I appreciated Egan's willingness to experiment with form. But innovation for its own sake doesn't necessarily make for compelling storytelling. I found myself struggling to remember who characters were and how they connected, and by the time I figured it out, we'd moved on to someone new.

The writing itself is skilled—Egan can craft a sentence—but the overall effect felt cold and distant to me. I never emotionally connected with these characters or their stories, and the fragmented structure made it hard to build any momentum or investment.

Why You Might Like It

• Experimental Structure: If you enjoy literary experiments with form and narrative structure
• Music Industry Insights: Interesting glimpses into the music world across different eras
• Prize Winner: Pulitzer Prize winner with critical acclaim
• Time as Theme: Interesting exploration of how time affects people and relationships
• Literary Ambition: Undeniably ambitious in scope and execution

Perfect For

Readers who enjoy experimental literary fiction, those who prioritize innovation over traditional storytelling, and book club members looking for something thought-provoking to discuss. Also for readers who appreciate the technical craft of writing even when the emotional connection isn't there.

Final Verdict

While I can appreciate what Egan was trying to do, A Visit from the Goon Squad ultimately didn't work for me. The fragmented narrative kept me at arm's length, and I never felt emotionally invested in the characters or their stories. Literary ambition is admirable, but for me, it's not enough without that human connection.