The Story Of 'Manhattan Beach' Lives In Its Details
Jennifer Egan's new novel, set in New York in the 1930s and 1940s, is full of deeply researched period detail and rich, memorable characters — though their motivations don't always add up.
by Tasha Robinson
Oct 05, 2017
3 minutes
By now, fans of Jennifer Egan's writing know not to expect straightforward narratives. Her individual short stories often play with form — like "Black Box," constructed from tweet-length field instructions, or told via PowerPoint slides. Her books are also construction-conscious: Her Pulitzer-winning 2010 novel is designed to read like a collection of loosely related short stories, while 2006's is simultaneously about a fractured relationship, and the prison inmate telling the story in a creative-writing class.
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days