A Visit from the Goon Squad
question
what does the title mean?
Terri R
Apr 23, 2012 09:49AM
I know Scotty makes reference to the goon squad, but I am not sure who the goon squad is or why the author chose this title.
reply
flag
The Goon Squad is not just a gang of thugs, but a special security squad in prisons. The Goon Squad, consisting of four or five or more "elite" guards in special uniforms, engage in cell searches and similar activities separate from the routine security matters of regular guards.
I thought it was about how quirky we all are in our different ways
Goons were those thugs hired by management to beat up on workers fighting for their rights during the First Gilded Age.
Egan uses a visit from the Goon Squad as a metaphor for time coming up on us unannounced and beating up on us too, so Danielle, Liza and Adriana are right.
Egan uses a visit from the Goon Squad as a metaphor for time coming up on us unannounced and beating up on us too, so Danielle, Liza and Adriana are right.
It's from the David Bowie song "Fashion" (from his Scary Monsters album): "We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town - beep beep".
There is also an Elvis Costello song called "Goon Squad".
They pat some good boys on the back and put some to the rod
But I never thought they'd put me in the
Goon squad
They've come to look you over and they're giving you the eye
Goon squad
They pat some good boys on the back and put some to the rod
But I never thought they'd put me in the
Goon squad
They've come to look you over and they're giving you the eye
Goon squad
Within the novel the line “time’s a goon” is the closest we get to an explanation, and of course this is a novel that’s experimenting constantly with the passage of time.
As others have noted, the addition of “squad” is likely a reference to the Elvis Costello song of that name (and apparently the phrase appears in Bowie lyrics as well?). Both of these artists make a lot of sense when we look at the novels focus on a punk record label.
As others have noted, the addition of “squad” is likely a reference to the Elvis Costello song of that name (and apparently the phrase appears in Bowie lyrics as well?). Both of these artists make a lot of sense when we look at the novels focus on a punk record label.
I like what Elaine said about moments in time we’d rather not be reminded of. I call those “cringe moments”
Since I’m 62, do I naturally have More of them than younger folks who commented?
I’ve met people who do not have any regret-filled moments from the past that attack like a Goon Squad. Sociopaths, mostly. One guy told me of his romantic first date with his beloved wife, mother of his children. Use of a date-rape drug featured in the story. He told it smiling the whole time. I knew another guy who practiced smiling in the mirror so he’d look less threatening. He wasn’t a friend, but his bunk was four feet from mine for a year; does that make him an acquaintance?
I should Def stop here—texts and random comments come off sounding like visits from the goon squad or suicide notes depending upon the readers current mood. I’ve posted something seemingly innocuous on FB or somewhere, and friends called me to see if I was alright. Yes, why? My post sounded like a cry for help, to them.
As it would were I to list every memory from the past that might make me cringe if I think of it Oh. So many.
Since I’m 62, do I naturally have More of them than younger folks who commented?
I’ve met people who do not have any regret-filled moments from the past that attack like a Goon Squad. Sociopaths, mostly. One guy told me of his romantic first date with his beloved wife, mother of his children. Use of a date-rape drug featured in the story. He told it smiling the whole time. I knew another guy who practiced smiling in the mirror so he’d look less threatening. He wasn’t a friend, but his bunk was four feet from mine for a year; does that make him an acquaintance?
I should Def stop here—texts and random comments come off sounding like visits from the goon squad or suicide notes depending upon the readers current mood. I’ve posted something seemingly innocuous on FB or somewhere, and friends called me to see if I was alright. Yes, why? My post sounded like a cry for help, to them.
As it would were I to list every memory from the past that might make me cringe if I think of it Oh. So many.
I read this over a year ago, so my memory might be off, but I believe the goon squad refers to the passage of time and the title means we've all gotten older.
I have no idea. I found this a very strange book and didn't really get any of it to be honest.
Yes, the goon squad is a metaphor and it's about time, but it's important to consider what kind of metaphor it is, so we need to know what a goon squad is. Dictionary.com defines it as a gang of hired thugs, so from this we can gather that these moments are not pleasant! Hence my first post on being reminded of mistakes we made in the past.
As I recall, it refers to those moments in the past when we made embarrassing errors, errors we'd rather not be reminded of.
As I recall, it refers to those moments in the past when we made embarrassing errors, errors we'd rather not be reminded of.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
