Episode · The Book Review · 2024-07-18
Books mentioned on Jennifer Egan and the Goon Squad
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan is a critically acclaimed novel exploring time, aging, and the music industry through an interconnected series of narratives.
Discussed“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”
Where to get it
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The Candy House
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan is an imaginative, intricately structured novel that serves as a companion piece to her earlier acclaimed work A Visit from the Goon Squad, following interconnected characters through their lives and technological futures.
Discussed“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”
Where to get it
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Heroes
Heroes by Stephen Fry is an engaging and witty retelling of classical Greek myths focusing on the daring exploits, flaws, and adventures of legendary mortals and demigods.
Recommended“I urge our listeners to listen to stepen fry tell the stories of Heroes but also to pick up the book and Mythos because these are really beautifully produced books with Incredible artwork”
Where to get it
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The trials of Oscar Wilde
Discussed“I saw a book called The Trials of Oscar wild I said oh I'll take that she said well I think you might be a bit young for that”
Where to get it
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Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh is a classic British novel exploring nostalgia, memory, faith, and the aristocratic machinations of the English upper class during the interwar period.
Discussed“and Evelyn War the British novelist a male Evelyn he wrote Brides head Revisited and Decline and fall and many extraordinary satirical novels and again absolute master of pros”
Where to get it
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Decline and Fall
Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh is a sharp, witty satirical novel that mercilessly lampoons British public school systems, high society, and institutional hypocrisy during the interwar period.
Discussed“and Evelyn War the British novelist a male Evelyn he wrote Brides head Revisited and Decline and fall and many extraordinary satirical novels and again absolute master of pros”
Where to get it
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Enemies of promise and other essays
Enemies of Promise and other essays by Cyril Connolly is a classic critical work examining the various traps, distractions, and psychological perils that threaten literary ambition and prose style.
Discussed“sir Conelly who was a great critic founded Horizon magazine and he was a friend of all the writers of the Bloomsbury group and many others in the 20th century he wrote a book called the enemies of Promise in the first half of which he talks about two types of writing”
Where to get it
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Mythos
Mythos by Stephen Fry is a vibrant and accessible retelling of classical Greek creation stories, exploring the gods, titans, and origins of the universe through a comedic and modern lens.
Recommended“I urge our listeners to listen to stepen fry tell the stories of Heroes but also to pick up the book and Mythos because these are really beautifully produced books with Incredible artwork”
Where to get it
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On Writing
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is part memoir and part practical guide detailing Stephen King's journey as an author alongside valuable advice for aspiring writers.
Discussed“and and Stephen King wrote a book didn't he about his style guide as it were yes on writing and again you know no adverbs no this no that”
Where to get it
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The Greek myths
The Greek Myths by Robert Graves is a comprehensive and hugely influential two-volume compilation and interpretation of classical mythology that has shaped numerous writers and scholars.
Discussed“apart from Robert Graves who was hugely influential who wrote a magnificent two volume edition of the Greek myths”
Where to get it
