January’s book selection is A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
The novel won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 2011.
Mustich writes: “What kind of novel would Marcel Proust have written if he’d listened to the Rolling Stones instead of Beethoven’s late quartets? The answer might well be something very much like A Visit from the Goon Squad.”
This topic will open for discussion on February 1, 2026.
Hi 1000 Books Before You Die readers! The discussion of our January 2026 book, A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, is now officially open.
There’s no set format for this discussion. Please post your comments and questions about the book below and we’ll go from there.
I’ll be back soon with my comments, but I thought you might want to take a look at a couple of helpful links I found. First, someone on Goodreads posted the year in which each chapter was set, as well as perspective and tense.
Chapter 1: 2008, third, past tense
Chapter 2: 2006, third, past tense
Chapter 3: 1979, first (Rhea), present tense
Chapter 4: 1973, omniscient, present tense
Chapter 5: 2005, first, present tense (originally I said 1999–see message 19)
Chapter 6: 1997, first (Scotty), past tense
Chapter 7 (in five parts): 2002-2004, third, past tense
Chapter 8: 2008, third, past tense
Chapter 9: 1999. first (Jules), past
Chapter 10: 1993, second (Rob), present
Chapter 11: 1991, third, past
Chapter 12: 2025, first (Alison), graphic design
Chapter 13: 2023, third, past
Interestingly, some enterprising folks created a chronological order and actually read the chapters in that order (so not in the order in which they appear in the book) - 4/3/11/10/9/6/7/8/5/2/1/12/13.
Second, this site breaks down each character’s timeline. So you click on a character and it explains what happened to them, when (and in which chapter).
My helpful Google AI says the author chose this technique “to mimic the non-linear way memory works, emphasize the thematic, “circular” movement of time, and create a “concept album” feel rather than a traditional narrative. The fragmented structure allows characters and themes to be explored from different perspectives without relying on a linear plot.”
What are your thoughts about this?
This book was scripted like none I’ve read, and yet, I wasn’t confused as it became apparent the chapters and characters were linked in some way. I read that discussion occurred whether to publish this as a book or as a series of short stories. Hopping from past to present and back again was okay as well. Strange, huh? This speaks to the author’s skills. Also, I was reminded of the game, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Was the author intentionally mimicking this?
Ping ponging among characters, settings, and time periods reminded me of my life in some respects. This is 2026. One week ago I learned my last aunt died in 2024. My mind traveled back to the last time I saw her, which was 2007. Lots of life happened in between the years and the physical distances. Luckily, I discovered the address of her daughter, my first cousin, and sent her an old fashioned letter along with photos of her dad, my biological uncle, and her very young son of nearly 20 years ago. Will she respond? She might and might not.
Thinking about this one example from my life reflects a real web of life linking people, time periods, settings; even the old lighthouse near San Francisco bay, the place where our great grandfather was born while his dad tended the lights.
My hunch is that all of us can find threads and connections much like Egan developed among her characters. While the individual chapters and character stories were interesting, the greater impact of the book was internal. I’m living in a web of people, places, and experiences that affected who I am now. I have a world map on my office wall pinning places I’ve visited over five decades. I chose the caption (which was printed on the map), “Wherever You Go Becomes A Part of You.” Add to this “Whomever You Meet And Whatever You Do” becomes a part of me.
I love your response, @NanK. Like you, it led me to ponder how interconnected our lives are, and the long-lasting effect such relationships can have on one.
I’m really glad I knew what I was getting into, though. I think had it picked it up cold, I would have been confused and wouldn’t have liked it as much. It ended up being one of my favorite reads in a very long time, and I was glad I gave it a chance.
For me, it’s not so much that it touched me or caused me to think differently (although there was definitely some of that). It was more about the reading experience itself. I’m certain that twenty years ago I would have hated this book because of its format. In the past few years, though, I’ve found myself craving novels that are outside the ordinary, that surprise me in some fashion, and this one definitely fit the bill.
I don’t think the book would have been nearly as impactful if the chapters had been placed chronologically. I really enjoyed those moments when I connected some of the dots.
Mustich compares the book to a music record - a concept album where all the songs are inserted precisely to create a whole. I think he’s right about that…and now that I Google it, I see that that was exactly Egan’s intent, to create a work similar to The Who’s Tommy or Pink Floyd’s The Wall, only using words instead of music.
Here’s a question: Would you put it on your list of books someone should read before they die?
@kim.kovacs and @NanK I love the thought you put into your comments. By contrast, mine will be brief. This book was not “my cup of tea.” Whereas the flow didn’t bother me (and I applaud the author for her creative thought process), I disliked the characters immensely and found them totally unrelatable. About 50% into the book, I set it aside - DNF. Years ago I would have trudged through it to the end so setting it aside is a win for me. The older wiser me realizes life is too short and that not all books will fit all people.
Like you, if a book doesn’t suit me I shut it down! There wasn’t a long, steady plot, but a few characters life stories were written near the end. The author did answer a few of my wonderings - “I wonder what happened to…”
I might recommend the book to specific friends; however, I’d suggest they pre-read summaries, notes, the sites you suggested, Kim, as well as download one of the character maps. Then - approach the book by thinking about the theme of interconnections. Finally, apply the theme to your life.
Interestingly, my reading journal has a “Recommend: Y/N” line for each book, and I didn’t feel like I could actually make a call on that. I think the book would have limited appeal. There’s this one young gal I met several years ago who was looking for experimental fiction (I handed her Lincoln in the Bardo). She’s the type of audience I think I’d recommend the book to.
Wouldn’t you love to know Mustich’s thought process behind why he chose specific books? He’s got a writeup for this one, but no real info on why he chose this one over another one.
I’m sorry it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea - not a great way to get this side read off the ground - but I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it, so thanks to y’all for selecting it! I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten around to it on my own.
It’s always good to read a book that is different from my norm. This one made me reflect a lot about my life’s connections. Sometimes a face passes into my mind; someone I met once upon a time, long long ago. I don’t understand this phenomena but am sure others have this happen. I wonder if I pass into someone’s mind for a brief moment - like the lady in Hungary with whom I shared a “chocolate” experience. 
No reason to be sorry. I, for one, am glad I tried the book. Now I know.
I am part of a “book friends” WhatsApp group (we splintered off from another reading group) and I asked them about the book. Six of us had read/tried to read it - we were evenly split between those who were intrigued by the book and those who didn’t finish it.
The idea of connections is fascinating. On several occasions there have been people, actually strangers, who very briefly touched my life at critical times but made a huge difference. They remain in my heart and my thoughts to this day. I can only hope I have been that kind stranger to someone else.
That’s very interesting, @Gabi_J! Although I can’t say that surprises me. It does seem to be one of those polarizing books.
I agree that our thoughts and memories come to us in “bubbles”, but despite that we receive outside new experiences in a chronological linear fashion. I can handle multiple characters, multiple timelines, and jumping back and forth, but A Visit from the Goon Squad was almost too much for me. I somewhat wish I would have found the Goodreads information Kim mentioned when I started the book. But, I’m also someone who wants to learn things on my own.
I purposely didn’t look at anyone else’s response to this question before entering my response. Immediately after I finished A Visit…, I was saying to myself there’s no way it would be on my list of 1,000 books to read before I die. But thinking about it more and the list more, I actually would include it, but not because I would personally recommend it. I see Mustich’s list as being for the serious reader who wants to expose herself to not only the classics or prize winners, but to all types of literature. The book is definitely innovative and deserves a place in the 1,000 books.
I thought about shutting it down, but hung on since I’m trying to make a small dent in Mustich’s list “before I die.” I’m 73 y/o and have read 128 on the list and hope get quite a few more read! If it hadn’t been on the list I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
My gut feeling, with no real basis other than that, is Mustich selected it for the list because he felt it was innovative and reflected the current lifestyle of many Americans of having no real connections to place or people.
I was just looking at Mustich’s page. There’s no new info about this book in particular, but it does have voting buttons. 29 voters agree it belongs on the list, while 11 say “Life’s too short” - which I guess means they didn’t finish it.
A list of 30-must reads appeared on a Chrome scroll. The author was Matt Diddy; name means nothing to me. He included Goon, also. No explanation. It won the Pulitzer in 2011. I ought to look at runner-ups in that year. Still one person’s opinion is just that.
My apologies! I did not realize the discussion had started, so I’m late the party. Here are my initial thoughts:
About a year ago, I realized that all the Pulitzer Prize-winning books I have read are without exception excellent. So even though I was wary about this one—a goon squad?—I trusted that Pulitzer Prize gold medal (it won in 2011) and dove in. I am so glad I did!
It’s compelling, character-driven book with no discernible plot. But I couldn’t stop reading once I started. And that weird goon squad? Well, that is a brilliant metaphor for the inevitable process of aging—of growing old whether you like it or not, whether you fight it or give in and age gracefully.
Structuring the novel around the characters is so creative, as we learn how each one experiences the ravages of time, some of whom handle it better than others.
You know how each chapter focuses on one of those characters, bouncing back and forth in time from the 1970s to the 2000s? Author Jennifer Egan has said that the chapters can be read in any order!! Huh? A friend told me that in interviews she has suggested different chapter orders for brave readers. This same friend read it once as it was published and then reread it in chronological order.
Who writes like that? The brilliant Jennifer Egan.