Chapter 3: "Ask Me If I Care"

[Patrick]

I love this chapter! Rhea is the one character in the book that I wish we'd seen more of. And there's just something great about that era -- the whole punk scene and how these kids were trying to fit into it. I like this line especially: "When does a fake Mohawk become a real Mohawk? Who decides? How do you know if it's happened?"

I did think that some aspects of Rhea's voice felt forced -- all the teenage dialect stuff. Did anybody else have a problem with that?

[ShannLeigh]

I agree that Rhea's conversations were very weird, and it was the constant "he goes/she goes" when she was telling us about a conversation. It kind of drove me crazy.

I thought that the dynamic of the group felt very real though. They all seemed to be real people and their actions made sense for their character. It was a really interesting chapter!

[Blair]

I liked this chapter, though I wasn't expecting the shift in perspective to a first-person narrative. I agree that the he goes/she goes thing was a bit distracting, but I thought the interactions of the group were captured very well. I often find it really cringey when authors try to portray 'alternative' teenage subcultures, but this worked and felt believable. I haven't looked at the next chapter yet, but I'm very interested to see where and when the story will go next after this unexpected turn.

[Wendy]

This chapter was interesting. A little background of Bennie and his music roots. Rhea is a great strong female character compared to the other girls in this chapter.

The "he goes/she goes" lends well to the era. I would rather that then "like" being used all the time.

[Terri M.]

I was not a fan of this chapter. I found the switch for 3rd person narrative to 1st person quite jolting. The lack of quotation marks coupled with the he goes/she goes language was difficult to follow especially if the characters were moving from one location to the other.

[Jane(Janelba)]

I was not convinced by this chapter. I didn't like the he goes/she goes language. Rhea comes across as a really strong character. Good sense of a group though and their interactions.

On to chapter 4.

[Mxshining]

Hmm. This is not really the chapter for me. I'm not really into this kind of scene. And it was quite annoying that there were no quotation marks.

Furthermore, I hope that I'll be able to make some more connections soon, because everything seems to be a bit chaotic to me right now...

[Kristin]

Apparently there is no limit to self-absorbed characters for this author. I do not know people like this. I do not want to know people like this.

[Trysha]

I am having a hard time finishing this chapter. Usually if I'm really into a book I find a way to sneak in 5 minutes of reading here and there throughout the day and I'm finding myself looking at the book, willing myself to get through it so I can move on to the next book on my list. I liked the first chapter, but it's losing me quickly.

[Adhityani]

The shift into first person narrative and lack of quotations marks were irritating at start. But once the story got into the whole group dynamics and the punk scene, I found it hard to put down! I hink the author weaved in many details of the era seamlessly, the teenage dialect of the era was convincing to me. I really liked how Rhea is strong, intelligent qnd confident, yet she grapples with self esteem issues with her freckles and unrequited love to Bennie. It made her relatale as a character. Also loved the passage on the Mohawk and stuffed frogs in the end of the chapter, both contemplating on what makes people, things and experiences real. Great chapter.

[Katie]

I agree with Terri, I also do not like the abscense of quotation markes and the constant shift in voice.

[Katya]

I enjoy the use of seemingly insignificant details like Rhea's freckles issue, which have a deep meaning if you care to dig... Many of us, and teenagers in particular due to lack of life experience, stick with the fallacy that fixing one "major" problem will open the gate to the "happily ever after". In a way, Rhea is using her problem as a universal excuse: if things don't happen as they should - blame it on the freckles... Yet she comes up with a genius solution,which shows that giving up is not in her nature: "I have my dog collar and green rinse, because how can anyone call me "the girl with freckles" when my hair is green?"

And as we learn later on in Chapter 5 (You (Plural)), she kept the freckles...

[Kristin]

Along with everyone else, I feel the lack of quotation marks is distracting, I hope that I can become immune to it soon, because clearly that is a technique that is staying around throughout the rest of the novel.

I loved the characterization of Rhea - it was perfect - a girl trying to be strong in the punk culture she wants to be a part of, but really and honestly struggling with self-esteem, the sexuality of her best friend and feeling a part of her group. I thought Egan exemplified this when Rhea was describing the dynamic of lust between the friends and how Rhea is the only one not being chased after -- and blames it on her freckles. I really related to that sense of abandonment you can even feel around friends - especially in your adolescent years when you don't exactly see how friendship can be shown in different ways.

so far I've really enjoyed how each chapter has related to the next person, giving us a glimpse into how others perceive the other characters, but I'm really interested in how this book will become a cohesive story. Who is it really about?

[Emma]

I was not impressed by this chapter in the slightest. The writing was mediocre and I felt that the characters were extremely vapid. Maybe chapter 4 will bring in more of what I liked about chapter 1.

[Prudence]

So far, I find this chapter to be the most confusing.

[Julie]

I like the shift in style. Each chapter feels like a snap shot of someones life. I liked the use of "goes". I used to talk like that. I remember my 5th grade teacher always correcting my class mates and me: "then he goes"..."then he says".

[Bucket]

I read this chapter about a year ago in the New Yorker and the moment I started reading it again yesterday it was so familiar. It has been fun analyzing the element's that I remembered most clearly - such as the punks wanting to see Alice's little sisters while they're sleeping. That was extremely clear in my memory as I read it for the second time, though it doesn't seem key in any way to the novel. (Safari - chapter 4 - was also published in The New Yorker in 2010)

I love that each chapter can stand alone without certain details becoming repetitive. Remember those series you read when you were a kid and you could skip the first chapter because it was always the same - laying out the character detail essentials. Not so in Egan's book! And the best part of this is that it allows each chapter to mean something different by itself than it does as part of the novel as a whole.

[Bex]

I actually really liked the conversational style of the chapter. And the whole 'he goes/she goes' thing just made it feel more genuine to me, it's how almost every teenager I ever met talks when they're telling you about things that have happened to them. The thing i'm still not sure about, though, is the fact that at the moment, the book feels more like a collection of related short stories rather than a novel. The writing style is brilliant and they're hugely enjoyable, it just makes the reading experience feel a bit jolty for me....

[Diane S ☔]

This is my least favorite chapter of the three I have read so far. Did like Rhea and hope she is in the book again but could not stand all the stuff with Joel at all.

[Wendy]

This is by far my favorite chapter of the 3 1/2 I've read so far. Rhea totally reminds me of myself, growing up in the 1980s. I guess the need to appear "authentic" amid all their insecurities and self-doubt is what actually makes teenagers authentic. I think Jennifer Egan really nailed the teenage voice in this chapter. I never said the word "said" while quoting someone until the mid-1990s, when I was well into my 20s.

I loved the shift in voice and perspective: I think it's innovative and interesting to be "jolted" as I read. I didn't even notice the lack of quotation marks until it was pointed out. I read "Plainsong" a few years ago, where the whole book is done in a very pared down style--hardly any punctuation, so I guess it just slipped by me.

[Lindsay]

I liked this chapter. I liked the "He goes/she goes/I go" parts for the dialogue, b/c truly that is how teens speak. I felt like, if you met this girl in person, you would think "Wow, this girl is a mess, just another drugged-out puck rocker" but really what we got to see from the inside of Rhea was another typical teenager, trying to create an image for herself, worried about what other people thought of her. I liked it.

[Wendy]

I agree, Lindsay. It really changed my perception of how I look at teenagers--the tattooed, pierced ones who act like they don't care at all probably care way more than I think. It's not very often I find an author who alters my own point of view on a stereotype. And I'm raising a teenager myself right now (thankfully no green hair or quaaludes), but I think the author did a great job of humanizing the type of teenager that we all kind of fear.

[Amy]

The fact that this is written in first person makes Rhea more likeable and more real. The fact that she hates her freckles may be seemingly insignificant, but is a huge source of insecurity for her. Even things that seem small are magnified in the eyes of a teenager.

[Shawn]

I was surprised that it took a couple of pages before we are even given Rhea's name. I loved this chapter with the era it represented. My only drawback was the time goes by so quick for one story that there is so much more detail that could be provided between the time the rehearse to actually ended up on the 35th floor.

[Sally]

I knew to expect a change in the character and voice from Bennie to someone else. I had a hard time at first, after I reread the first few sentences, it clicked. The voice was a 16 year old girl who is insecure. Yes, it may be slightly hard to read, but this is why I am enjoying this book and want to read more. As a writer myself, I admire the differenct voices and characters being used.

[Mimi]

Julie wrote: "I like the shift in style. Each chapter feels like a snap shot of someones life. I liked the use of "goes". I used to talk like that. I remember my 5th grade teacher always correcting my class ..."

Julie - I like the use of the language for the same reason as you...as a teenager in the '80s, I often used "he goes/she goes" lingo and I remember my Mom, who was a high school English teacher constantly correcting me ;)

Although I was not part of the punk rock culture, I certainly feel a connection with the 1980s young adult angst seen here amongst the characters. Although I got a little confused as to who-liked-who, I don't think it really mattered. The slice of life this chapter describes is engrossing.

I found Lou appallingly interesting and I am still on the fence about his developing relationship with Rhea as it stands at the end of the chapter...

[Sara]

I like Rhea-finally a character that I like!- and I agree with Shawn. I liked that it took several pages before she had a name. Still reading. (-:

[Sarah]

Very interesting. I like how each character has been introduced and connected to each other in different ways. It's making me wonder how everything will collide in the end.

[Violet]

You know. At first I had issues with this chapter. I wanted to know who the narrator was within this chapter. It was pages into the chapter to realize it is Rhea. I do love the punk rock scene and the feel for Bernie as a youth.

This chapter grew on me. Very creative style.

[Catherine]

I liked this chapter as well and the snapshot into the "group's" history. I had to shuffle back into the second chapter to clarify "who" was narrating, but liked the change in perspective and point of time. I am finding that I look forward to each chapter because they are so unique in of themselves. I like the character Rhea, am hopeful we see more of her!!

[Kerilotion]

Have to agree with most. Had to let this one grow on me. Didnt like the flow of the chapter

[RedSycamore]

Kristin wrote: "Apparently there is no limit to self-absorbed characters for..."

Couldn't agree more! At least Rhea's egocentricity is the typical adolescent type instead of the completely repulsive adult variety that feeds Lou's and Bennie's narcissistic vitality/immortality obsessions and Sasha's kleptomania.

Definitely still enjoying the writing itself, though, and Egan's ability to change voice between characters is impressive. I didn't mind the he goes/she goes (as it felt authentic coming from a 16 year old narrator) but the lack of quotation marks hurt the rhythm of the dialogue portions of the chapter pretty badly.

[Patrice]

While this chapter felt a bit out of place with the other two, I liked the glimpse of Bennie as a youngster. It felt like we were getting to know him in a different way, through Rhea's eyes. Rhea was likeable, though I didn't really believe that was her name for a bit. The conversational style felt natural, but perhaps more suited to a script than a novel.

[Christie]

I agree with Patrice. I was just going to write how I felt that the chapter did not seem to fit because of the lack of present. The whole chapter is in the past and it is the first time Egan has written that way in the book. However I liked the punk rock scene and I do think we get to see some insight into Bennie. I like Rhea's character and can't wait to see how she fits in.

On the quotation mark topic: I do feel that not having quotation marks does make reading a little confusing but I was able to adapt as a read more

[Sam Still Reading]

The 'goes' were annoying for me too. The punk rock was interesting, but I felt the least engaged with this chapter, possibly because Rhea herself isn't described very much. It seemed a bit stilted at times.

[Alexandra]

I agree with Sara -- finally a character that is likable in Rhea. I hope we see more of her and learn more about her as I read on. I also liked learning more about the young Bennie and hope he is developed more so we can see how he progressed to his adult self.

[Shell]

I liked seeing Bennie as a younger self, and got a bit of insight into how he became so enamoured of the music business into the first place. I struggled with the shift in narrator and point of view. For half the chapter I kept wondering who the heck is telling the story. It was very confusing to me. I'm having a hard time finding a connection with this novel so far.

[Anna]

It took me a while to figure out who this narrator was, but other than that I liked it. I think she captured the teenage angst effectively. I can't wait to get further on so I can understand how this all ties together.

[Amy]

I echo that it was tricky to figure out who was speaking initially and was relieved when we finally were given Rhea's name. This was by far the most challenging chapter for me to read so far from a stylistic standpoint. Right now I feel like I am reading short stories rather than a novel, but can appreciate the author's talent.

[Victoria]

The dialogue structure in this chapter was really interesting with the "he goes/she goes." I mean, it's a bit disconcerting to read, but lots of people actually speak this way, and recount stories this way. It drove me mad to not have Rhea's name until the (almost) end of the chapter. It was interesting to delve further into Bennie's history.

I actually enjoyed the descriptions after she took the coke. A thousand eyes--that definitely jumped out at me.

[Yaremis]

The chapter was definitely something to get used to. Lack of quotation marks along with the structure made it challenging at first but a couple of pages into it and I didn't seem to mind it as much. Rhea was insightful and interesting, thus far, it seems I'll be taking a liking to the female characters a great deal more than the male characters. I'm intrigued to find out how all these characters will somehow relate as we move forward.

[Samantha]

I thought Rhea sounded very authentic in her teenage jargon and blatant self-loathing and insecurities. Since I am still young and enamored with my own music scene, this was a very relatable chapter for me.

[Paige]

I was also thrown by the first person of this chapter. But I got used to it- and found Rhea the most likable character so far. Hope there is more of her as the rest of the characters are so self-absorbed and strange

[Jamie]

Trysha wrote: "I am having a hard time finishing this chapter. Usually if I'm really into a book I find a way to sneak in 5 minutes of reading here and there throughout the day and I'm finding myself looking at t..."

I feel the exact same way about this book! Rhea's character has held my interest the most so far, but I am contemplating putting the book down anyway. The characters are not particularly likeable, and while they are somewhat interesting, I don't really care much about the story. I am commenting on these posts as I read each chapter, and right now, I am not loving the book.

[Rachel]

I am up to chapter 9, and this is still my favorite chapter. For those who were a little disoriented at first, just relax into the chapters. You have a few more like this in the book. I enjoy reading for clues of who is in each chapter and how they relate to each other.

I loved this chapter because Rhea could have been me as a teenager. I remember trying to fit in with a group of my friends that I felt were so much cooler than me. I had a friend who was very much like Jocelyn. I loved the line "I realize that I'm beginning my adult life right now, on this night". I remember being so eager to grow up and be an adult, when I should have been enjoying my youth. I think Egan has grasped the adolescent voice perfectly in this chapter.

[Zeni]

I definatly did not have a problem with the he/she goes. I feel as if this is how most people I talk to speak. Then again I am still fairly young at 22, so the teenage feel is still with me. As far as no quotation marks I was really happy about. As I read it I didn't really notice it, but then became aware of it from the posts on here. I feel sometimes that we are too constricted with grammar and it makes some books boring. I probably feel this way because of my love for E. E. Cummings, but even when I read books like The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison a break from structure entices me and makes me want to read more.


Rhea is by far my favorite character due to the fact that she is the one that I can truly relate to. I'm still in the stages of feeling self-conscious. I also saw an underlying feeling of always being the odd one out which is how I feel all the time no matter where I am. These may only be two things, but I feel they are major points to her personatlity that make her do the things she does and I know how that feels.

As for Lou I think he is disgusting. That is how I feel about older men with young women. I don't understand why Jocelyn's mom didn't demand he take her home now either. His whole character just makes me want to vomit. Even when he was tell Rhea those things on the balcony I still hated him just as much if not more than she did. I'm very glad she told him the honest truth.

I have to say for those that keep talking about the characters being self absorb, that we all are self absorbed on some level. It's human nature to think of yourself before others. I'll never deny that I am self absorb, because even when I'm being nice to one person, I'm doing it so I feel good about myself. It's a strange way to think of it, but that's how I feel.

[Suzanne]

I thought I would be dealing with Sasha & Bennie's limited points of view, but now that I have Rhea and a massive dive back in time as well, I can see how experimental and challenging this narrative structure is likely to be.

I always find a lack of helpful punctuation from writers, a la Cormac McCarthy, to feel vaguely impolite from an author and somehow like literary showboating, but that doesn't keep me from being a bit nostalgic for the late punk scene of early 80s Atlanta and Athens, GA.

The round robin of she like him but he likes the other one who doesn't know he exists seems spot-on for the age group. I found myself looking mostly at Bennie's formative years, but Rhea's self-deprecation and Jocelyn's motives for sleeping with Lou are also interesting.

As the chapters roll on, I feel as if I am playing a card game in which the hand I was dealt of characters and settings gets bigger, maybe overwhelming. I need to be able to lay some down or group them better, or I'll be left with an ugly case of 52 card pick up, and that's when I am most likely to put the book down.

[Katie]

Bucket wrote: "I read this chapter about a year ago in the New Yorker and the moment I started reading it again yesterday it was so familiar. It has been fun analyzing the element's that I remembered most clearly..."

I am wondering what is going to happen with the sisters! They have been mentioned all mysteriously a few times throughout the book and it feels like something ominous is going to happen to them...

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Whether it's the punk era or any other, young people generally are like this. They understand what is going on, but don't want to spoil any relationships or they assume they got something wrong and keep quiet or both. The downside of their insecurities and silence is they make really really rotten choices. Rhea only speaks truth to Lou but says nothing to Jocelyn, who obviously has been seduced by Lou's money and stuff. All Rhea is as a person and knows is crippled by her self hatred because of freckles. Insecurity is a monster.

[Chieko]

Julie wrote: "I like the shift in style. Each chapter feels like a snap shot of someones life. ..."

The "he/she said" and even the lack of quotation marks made the "voice" of this chapter perfect for an 80's teen in the punk scene. Loved it.

Rhea is also the first character I didn't want to slap/shake. Maybe because her insecurities are because she is a teen and we've all been there and I have hope that she will grow out of it. I also loved how she blamed everything on her freckles.