A Visit from the Goon Squad in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 05, 2011 Jenifer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-fiction

This again seems to be one of those polarizing novels that people either love or hate. I did not read this novel because of the awards it has won (2011 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award). I didn’t even know that it had won these awards. I read it because it was brought to my attention and having grown up on the edges of punk-rock culture and in San Francisco it seemed to beg me to read it.

Aside from the punk rock/San Francisco storyline, I had no information on the book a ...more

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Apr 03, 2016 Jean-Marie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, realistic-fiction

I read the first couple of chapters and thought to myself, "This is not my cup of tea." I pressed on and was completely sucked into this serendipitous tale. Even if the book wasn't exactly the kind of book I thought I would enjoy, the story is so masterfully told that I really enjoyed it. The chapter told in powerpoint slides is genius. This is a story that will stay with me for a while. ...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Tanya rated it did not like it

Shelves: list-1001-btrbyd, list-1-001-btrbyd-2012-additions

I don't recommend this to my friends to read. I feel empty after having read it, without any satisfying conclusions. It is not like it really made me think either and challenge myself in a new way...it just made me glad I had clear principles at a young age and I stayed drug-free. Maybe I should have given it more thought and analysis, but I DIDN'T CARE enough about the many vignettes, the ever-changing writing styles and time leaps, and most especially the characters. ...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Kay Green rated it liked it

Shelves: bookclub

Still need to discuss this book with someone. Read a lot of the reviews and people either loved and praised it or thought it was over hyped. I like the idea of rereading it in chronological order. Did not connect with any of the characters which is usually my main reason for not liking a book. But I am still thinking about it 2 days later.

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