A book that seemingly is about the music industry from the late 70's Punk Era into the future where society is driven by "handhelds". The book moves back and forth in time focusing on a different character with each chapter. Some reviewers describe it as novel of intersecting short stories. There is no main character but a group of characters whose lives touch each other through the passage of time. Music is the binding ingredient; music is the touchstone of this era. How many of us flash back to an event when a song makes a surprise entry into our day?
The characters both of main importance and not include: Homicidal dictator; publicist jailed for dumping oil on 500 the who’s who of NYC by making a mistake with lighting scheme; a kleptomanic office assistance how ran away from a violent childhood to among other places Naples; a record producer who moves his family to a Westchester like suburb where his dark skin is not fully accepted; and a bipolar journalist who makes a career ending mistake. We move between New York City, San Francisco, Naples and Africa on safari.
These are only some of the characters and only some of the wonderful places Jennifer Egan takes us with language that is poetry. Language that shows the inner lives of characters such as a man's description of his emotionally fearful reduction of desire for his wife and its destructive effect on their marriage.
I highly recommend this novel; it is a celebration of our cultural lifetime.
Yea! This was on my list. Noe it's at the top.
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