Chronology of ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’

July 28, 2011 12:05 PM

Straightening out nonlinear literature. C.B. James offers a chronology of Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad (previously), rendered in org-chart-like family trees and tables. (Via)
posted by joeclark (14 comments total)

Interesting. I just listened to this interview with Egan on To the Best of our Knowledge.
posted by BrashTech at 12:28 PM on July 28, 2011

This book. HBO deal. Is everywhere. She signed.
posted by stbalbach at 12:54 PM on July 28, 2011

I like his basset hound Dakota.
posted by blucevalo at 1:14 PM on July 28, 2011

Nice, and I had missed that previous post, too, so thanks!
posted by chinston at 1:36 PM on July 28, 2011

I've only read the first chapter of Goon. Scared that I'll need a chart.
posted by Obscure Reference at 2:28 PM on July 28, 2011

By coincidence I just finished reading it. I give it a B. Solid Sharp writing, good characters meeting mostly depressing ends. But what's the point of all the nonlinearity? I mean really, why do this, exceptfor the author to call attention to her astounding skill? Took away from the experience, imo.
posted by jasper411 at 2:33 PM on July 28, 2011

I enjoyed this book. But I thought the critical raving about the nonlinearity was way overdone. It works, it's easy to follow, it's clever, it shores up what otherwise be standard-issue angsty franzenation, but in the mechanics of it, it's no Tristam Shandy.
posted by chavenet at 3:41 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I read this. I thought it was her best novel, and her others were pretty good. I was completely oblivious to the non-linearity. By which I mean it was never and issue, was well done, and I certainly didn't think I needed a chart to figure it all out. But I like this post.
posted by OmieWise at 3:45 PM on July 28, 2011

Also, the chart-mania here probably intentionally echoes the "Great Rock and Roll Pauses" chapter of Egan's book.
posted by chavenet at 4:04 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Unbelieveably, I just finished this book this morning. Am working my way through The New York Review's classics, hoping to get my mind of the trashy detective fiction that's my usual brain fodder.
posted by puddinghead at 4:57 PM on July 28, 2011

I am in the middle of this book. I like the non-linearity. I like how it kind of takes me out in each chapter - "oh, wait - whose head are we in now and in what time period?" I haven't read the link yet (though I will) but I don't think I will need a chart, because I have to stop and think each new chapter and remind myself who everyone is and how they connect.
posted by mkim at 6:01 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Ahhh. OK I read the link now. I don't like it, even though I am usually a very visual person, generally, and need to make maps of things to understand them. Somehow not so much for fiction? That doesn't make any sense I know, but stories work differently in my mind. Somehow, this book (and many other stories)exist happily in my brain making sense without a map. In fact it made me more confused. Or more likely - I have my own map in my head and this other rendition is confusing to me even if it probably says pretty much the same thing. .Anyway. I admire the work that went into this.
posted by mkim at 6:15 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

For even MORE nonlinearity, check out Jennifer Egan's website and click on any of the places/dates. She explains the circumstances of how she came to write each of the chapters. Plus: powerpoint chapter, set to music!
posted by acidic at 11:55 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Just finished the book; I'd been avoiding this post until done.

I liked it, and didn't mind the powerpoint or the nonlinearity. But I do have to say that I hated the David Foster Wallace parody chapter; I don't see what that accomplished, stylistically, other than a chance at a quick cheap shot at a dead man.
posted by COBRA! at 11:52 AM on August 8, 2011