Podcast Summary
Book sales unpredictability: The success of a book, even a critically acclaimed one, is not guaranteed and can take time to build. Persistence in promoting the book and belief in the importance of book tours can lead to eventual success.
Learning from this conversation between Gilbert Cruz and Jennifer Egan on the Book Review Podcast is that the success of a book, even one as critically acclaimed as A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, is not guaranteed and can take time to build. Egan shared her experience of the book's slow start and the marketing challenges it faced, including its idiosyncratic title and lack of genre designation. Despite initial struggles, the book eventually gained traction and critical acclaim, making the New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year list and leading to a surge in sales. Egan's persistence in promoting the book through book tours and her belief in their importance paid off in the long run. The conversation also touched on Egan's follow-up book, The Candy House, which shares the same structure as Goon Squad and has also received positive reception. Overall, the conversation highlights the unpredictability of book sales and the importance of perseverance in promoting and marketing literary works.
Short story collection vs novel: For authors, the distinction between a short story collection and a novel may not be as crucial as it is for readers. They should focus on creating a compelling work of fiction, while clear categorization helps readers understand the scope and structure of the book.
For authors, the distinction between a short story collection and a novel may not matter as much as it does for readers. Jennifer Egan, in her discussion, shared her experience of writing "A Visit from the Goon Squad," which started as a collection of interconnected short stories but eventually grew into a novel. Despite her initial hesitation to label it, she realized that the unique quality of the book was its ability to cohere into something larger while still allowing each piece to stand on its own. However, she acknowledged the importance of clear categorization for readers to understand what they're getting into. Egan also emphasized the importance of providing complete satisfaction with each chapter and allowing readers to make connections at their own pace. Ultimately, the author's focus should be on creating a compelling work of fiction, while labels serve more as marketing tools. The paperback release of "Invisible Monsters," which was initially published as a novel, showcased this tension between artistic freedom and commercial considerations.
Publishing Industry Luck: Winning a Pulitzer Prize can bring unexpected success to a book and its author, but the publishing industry can be unpredictable and opportunities should be seized when they arise.
Jenny Egan's novel "A Visit from the Goon Squad" experienced unexpected success due to a combination of factors, including a cover change, publishing industry luck, and the author's determination to capitalize on opportunities. Egan shared that the book initially underperformed, but after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, she rode the wave of good fortune as long as she could. The title "Goon Squad" was chosen years before the book's publication and was initially thought to be a reference to music, but it later evolved to symbolize the passage of time. Egan's improvisational writing process led her to the realization that "goon" referred to time. The unexpected success of "A Visit from the Goon Squad" serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the publishing industry and the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise.
Time in Fiction: Exploring the concept of time in fiction can lead to character development and engaging storytelling. Inspirations include 'In Search of Lost Time' and 'The Sopranos,' and a contemporary, episodic approach can allow readers to witness character evolution over an extended period.
Time is an essential theme in fiction, and the passage of time is what drives character development and storytelling. The author was inspired by Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" and the HBO series "The Sopranos," which both explore the concept of time in unique ways. The author decided to approach the topic of time in a contemporary, episodic manner, allowing the reader to witness the evolution of characters over an extended period. Ultimately, the goal was to create a fun and engaging story that highlights the importance of time in our lives.
DeWitt's deliberate structure choice: DeWitt prioritized curiosity and satisfaction over chronology to create a more engaging and surprising reading experience in 'The Last Samurai'.
Key takeaway from Helen DeWitt's discussion is that the unconventional structure of her novel, "The Last Samurai," was a deliberate choice aimed at creating a more engaging and surprising reading experience. DeWitt initially planned for a backwards chronology, but realized that holding onto the unique forms and vibes of each piece was more important. By prioritizing curiosity and satisfaction over chronology, she was able to give readers unexpected payoffs and keep them engaged. This approach also reflects DeWitt's belief in the value of change over time, which she has come to appreciate more deeply as she has grown older and written more books. She sees the human experience as a fascinating and complex journey filled with decisions, hardships, and luck that shape people in profound ways.
Fiction and self-discovery: Understanding and connecting with human experiences through fiction is a powerful tool for self-discovery and empathy, despite changes in technology and society. Fiction's unique ability to provide an interior perspective endures, keeping young readers engaged and making it a popular and relevant form of media.
Key takeaway from this conversation between Gilbert Cruz and Jenny Egan is that understanding and connecting with human experiences through literature, specifically fiction, is a powerful tool for self-discovery and empathy, despite the vast changes in technology and society throughout history. Jenny shares her personal experience of feeling a deeper connection to the past and human motivations through fiction, even as she grapples with the challenges of writing a new book. She also emphasizes the unique ability of fiction to provide an interior perspective, unlike other forms of media. Even when faced with the struggle to keep young readers engaged, the enduring power of fiction remains, as evidenced by its continued relevance and popularity. The use of non-traditional structures, such as PowerPoint presentations in literature, can also add depth and intrigue to the reading experience.
PowerPoint in literature: Author Jennifer Egan used PowerPoint in her novel 'A Visit from the Goon Squad' to depict a character's future, adding 70 pages and improving paper quality.
Jennifer Egan, the author of "A Visit from the Goon Squad," used an unconventional approach to tell a story by incorporating a PowerPoint presentation into her novel. Initially, she struggled to make PowerPoint work for her narrative due to its cold corporate vibe and difficulty in portraying action. However, she found a way to use it to depict the future of a character named Allison, who was the daughter of another character in the book. Despite initial skepticism from her publishing team, Egan's bold move added 70 pages to the book and led to higher quality paper in the paperback edition. Even though she was unfamiliar with PowerPoint at the time, she saw it as a tool to present information and was determined to learn how to use it effectively for her storytelling.
Jennifer Egan's writing process: Egan's writing process is driven by her instinctive response to atmosphere, time, place, and voice, leading her to create ambitious and original works with unique characters and themes.
Jennifer Egan's writing process is heavily influenced by her instinctive response to atmosphere, time, place, and voice. This was the case when she wrote "A Visit from the Goon Squad," where she felt a strong connection to the desert setting and the unique voice of a young character narrating in slides. However, she was surprised to learn that children often use PowerPoint for presentations, which made her feel she had taken too much credit for her innovation. Despite her preference for creating different types of books, the open-ended nature of "Goon Squad" and the abundance of unexplored characters drew her back to the world she had created. The failure ratio of her writing attempts and the inviting nature of minor characters also contributed to her decision to write "Candy House," which follows up on some of the minor characters from "Goon Squad" while focusing on new themes and genres. Overall, Egan's commitment to creating ambitious and original works drives her to explore new stories and characters within the worlds she has built.
Homage to concept albums, unconscious influence: Authors can be influenced by their past experiences and loves, even if they're not consciously aware of it, and their work can reflect these influences in unexpected ways.
The author of "Candy House" wrote the sequel to her previous novel, "Goon Squad," not out of pressure or expectation, but because she felt it offered something new and interesting. She discovered later that the episodic structure of the book, which mirrors online activity, was a conscious or unconscious homage to the concept album genre, which she grew up loving. The author, Jenny Egan, has revealed that her most read book throughout her life is "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton, a classic social novel with tragic elements, despite its problematic depiction of certain groups. This shows how writers continue to learn and discover new meanings in their own work even after publication.
Gilded Age societal expectations for women: Limited avenues to power for women during the Gilded Age in New York led many to seek wealth and marriage as means to gain societal acceptance, often sacrificing personal happiness and love.
Learning from my conversation with Jennifer Egan, author of "A Visit from the Goon Squad" and "The House of Mirth," is the profound exploration of societal expectations, particularly for women, during the Gilded Age in New York. Egan's description of the protagonist's addiction to wealth and her inability to marry a man without it, despite her love for a penniless man, highlights the limited avenues to power for women at the time. Beauty was one such avenue, but it wasn't enough for everyone. The novel's exploration of offensive material and its relevance in today's society also emerged as an intriguing topic during our conversation. Egan's recommendation to engage with such material and consider its worth despite potential offense is a valuable perspective in our rapidly changing sensibilities. "The House of Mirth" is a rich and complex novel that offers a profound reading experience, and I highly recommend it.