“A visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan

The March installment of the BBC, The Pulitizer Prize winning “A visit from the Goon Squad” was chosen by Andrew who had discovered the book whilst browsing the Amazon website and was inspired by the reviews. Written by Jennifer Egan, it’s a book that is hard to label- its neither a novel nor a collection of short stories. Rather it is work comprised of a series of networked chapters which connects characters at different points throughout their lives.

The “Goon squad" does not infer a hoodlum. Rather is a name for time- a central theme of the book "Time's a goon, right? You gonna let that goon push you around?" The main protagonists lives are stretched and contorted by the continuous variable of time. In turn, they are further joined and divided by relationships. The book demands concentration with the narrative jumping from 1^st , 2nd and 3^rd person. The narrative immerses itself in the American music scene from the 1980s to the present day as well as the lives of key central characters, who collide, scatter and recombine throughout the chapters. These include:

• Lou, coke snorting music producer of the 1980s, seducer and mentor to Bennie

• Bennie, failed musician turned music producer and employer of Sasha

• Sasha a kleptomaniac, who sleeps with Alex

• Alex, employed by Bennie to orchestrate Scott comeback

• Scott, the teenage music protege, who never quite made it, went off the rails and ended up one day in Bennie's office with a fish he'd caught in the East River where Sasha's best friend  in college had drowned.

• Bennie's wife works for Dolly a publicist whose daughter, Lulu, later works with Alex

• Bennie's brother in law, a journalist ends up in jail after attempting to rape an actress he interviewed, who ends up being hired by Dolly in a PR campaign for a dictator.

Each chapter is a vignette with its own distinct voice and mood. Dennis thought it was a beautiful work about the human condition throughout the ages. The book is also experimental in its use of technology-powerpoint and sms language- which captures the melancholia of Sasha’s 12 year olds suburban existence. Ironically however, the construction of the book lent itself to paperback presentation, rather than an iPhone viewing as Leanne found out. Andrew, thought the characterisation was the sum of the entire books journey and not of the moment. Leanne loved the music motif and the book transported her back to the 1980s. Mark thought the book innovative in its use of powerpoint, but irritating overall. Kevin liked the book more after discussion, and thought it deserving of praise. And Alena loved the atomisation of characters- how they collided and dispersed throughout the passage of time.

Scores on the doors: 81/2 with additional commendation from Dennis as being one of the top 5 books read by the BBC.