Book · 2022 · American fiction (fictional works by one author)
The Candy House
- mentions
- 19
- people
- 4
- podcasts
- 3
- episodes
- 6
- critical mentions
- 0
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan is fantastic.
What they say about it
- Connection to Goon Squad7
The best things said about it
This year she published her novel The Candy House, a sort of sequel to A Visit from the Goon Squad. You don't have to read or reread Goon Squad to enjoy The Candy House.
Two years ago you release The Candy House, which picks up with some of the minor characters in Goon Squad and makes them into major characters.
And but you could also call it a prequel because there's actually earlier material chronologically in the candy house than in goons Squad.
The cube, the machine that is the through line in The Candy House.
In The Candy House, there's a guy who is obsessed with authenticity and what he perceives as the artificiality of everyday interaction.
In Dwight Garner's review of The Candy House in the Times, he wrote this is minimalist maximalism.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan is a compelling novel that functions as a structural sequel to A Visit from the Goon Squad, exploring themes of memory, technology, and interconnected lives. The book has earned notable recommendations within literary circles. Gilbert Cruz brought up the novel on The Book Review, prompting Dwight Garner to share enthusiastic praise for it, while Dan Pfeiffer recommended the work on Pod Save America, calling it fantastic. Jennifer Egan herself appeared on Freakonomics Radio to discuss the book, explaining that she dedicated the work to her writer's group and providing examples of characters obsessed with authenticity and the artificiality of everyday interactions. Stephen Dubner also spoke with Egan on the program, discussing her broader bibliography and how her previous works connect. Additionally, Gilbert Cruz revisited the novel across multiple episodes of The Book Review, highlighting its unique structure composed of a series of interconnected stories and explaining how the narrative picks up with minor characters from Goon Squad to make them major figures. Cruz assured listeners that while it serves as a companion piece, readers do not need to reread the earlier book to fully enjoy the complexities and brilliance of The Candy House.
Every mention
Gilbert Cruz this year she published her novel The Candy House a sort of sequel to a visit from the Goon Squad you don't… 11
“14 years ago in 2022 she put out a followup to that book The Candy House both share the same structure a series of stories”
“of course two years ago you release the candy house which picks up with some of the minor characters in goon squad and makes them into major characters”
“Jennifer Eagan the candy house”
“this year she published her novel The Candy House a sort of sequel to a visit from the Goon Squad you don't have to read or reread goon squad to enjoy the candy house”
“Jennifer Egan talks about the candy house her sequel of sorts”
“her new novel The Candy House is related to goon squad”
“and could there have been the candy house if you hadn't come up with the cube”
“in goon squad you very famously wrote a chapter in the form of a PowerPoint presentation in the candy house there is a chapter where a spy is being given instructions”
“and it was funny seeing because in Dwight Garner's review of The Candy House in the times he wrote this is minimalist maximalism”
“back to the cube the machine that is the through line in The Candy House”
“the new novel again is the Candy House a followup of whatever nature you want to describe it as to Jennifer eagan's pulit Sur prise winning novel a visit from the Goon Squad”
Dan Pfeiffer but the candy house by Jennifer Egan is fantastic 1
“but the candy house by Jennifer Egan is fantastic”
Jennifer Egan So, for example, in The Candy House, there's a guy who is obsessed with authenticity and what he perceives… 6
“I dedicated The Candy House to them.”
“So, for example, in The Candy House, there's a guy who is obsessed with authenticity and what he perceives as the artificiality of everyday interaction.”
“the principle of both the candy house and a visit from lagon Squad is really just following my own curiosity into people's lives and Futures”
“with a book like the candy house I would say probably 50% of the first draft material I generated ended up being unusable”
“and but you could also call it a prequel because there's actually earlier material chronologically in the candy house than in goons Squad”
“so I think in order to write another book in this world I would probably have to focus on one area which already would feel a little different from these two book”
Stephen Dubner So, as I understand it, the book that you are sort of returning to now is not The Candy House, not Goon Squ… 1
“So, as I understand it, the book that you are sort of returning to now is not The Candy House, not Goon Squad, but Manhattan Beach, yes?”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Jenny Egan author of a visit from the Goon Squad and the candy house thank you so much for being on the book review podcast”
“well I'm I'm still slowly making my way through the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan after I read the candy house by Jennifer Egan over the Fourth of July six months ago and I I went through the candy house in like three days on vacation”