Each chapter of the new novel by Jennifer Egan is really its own short story. Â Each story is told from the point of view of a different character but each character is connected in some way (sometimes tenuously) to Bennie Salazar, a teenage bass player in a mediocre punk rock band who matures into a rich and successful music producer.
Time is the goon squad and the central theme is what time does to our youthful hopes and fears. Â Through all the stories runs a desperate need for belonging. Â They jump back and forth in time, covering a period of at least forty years and winding up in the future. Â There is a variety of styles, including one chapter done entirely as a power-point presentation. (I would be wary of getting an e-book edition).
This is the season for reflecting on time, and this book will certainly get you thinking. Â It would also make for some good book club discussions.
Now available at Gordon Community Library.