Why people recommend it
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan is a sweeping historical fiction novel set in New York City during World War II, following a young woman who breaks barriers to become the first female diver at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. On The Book Review podcast, Gilbert Cruz and Pamela Paul welcomed Jennifer Egan as a guest to discuss her much-anticipated follow-up to A Visit from the Goon Squad. Alexandra Alter highlighted the novel's inclusion on the National Book Award longlist, noting that readers had waited years for this historical departure from her previous work. Jen Szalai brought up the novel during a discussion of Pulitzer finalists, describing it as a fascinating and deliberate throwback. During her interview, Jennifer Egan contrasted Manhattan Beach with her later novel The Candy House, explaining that the historical book possessed a more traditional feel with a self-contained group of characters whose trajectories she closely followed. Gilbert Cruz echoed this observation, noting the book's intentionally conventional narrative structure compared to her more fragmented, experimental works. The podcast conversations celebrated the immense historical research and atmospheric depth of the writing, praising how the author vividly resurrected wartime New York through meticulous detail. Critics and hosts alike viewed the novel as a triumphant demonstration of Egan's immense stylistic range, proving she could conquer historical fiction just as effortlessly as contemporary satire.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
- Pamela Paul Discussed
- Alexander Alter Discussed
- Jen Szalai Discussed
- Jennifer Egan Discussed
Gilbert Cruz — 2 mentions
“the Pulitzer prizewinning author will be here to talk about her new novel Manhattan Beach”
“especially compared to Manhattan Beach which as you suggested had a very traditional feel to it”
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“so we are here to talk about your new novel Manhattan Beach which is just out now”
“tell us about Manhattan Beach”
Alexander Alter — 1 mention
“we also have Jennifer Egan for her new novel Manhattan Beach this was a much anticipated followup to a visit from the Goon Squad and people have been waiting years and years for this novel this is very different it's historical fiction set in New York”
Jen Szalai — 1 mention
“I mean you had Jennifer Egan with her novel Manhattan Beach which was kind of a throwback”
Jennifer Egan — 1 mention
“my last book Manhattan Beach was in some ways more self-contained and that it had a discreet group of characters whose stories I was following”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Jennifer Egan's latest book is Manhattan Beach”
“I am also reading Jennifer Egan and and our listeners probably know that she has a new novel out Manhattan Beach that's not the that I'm reading”
“she is the author of several novels including look at me and Manhattan Beach”