The Candy House

This book is made up of chapters that explore different characters and different themes, and are often written in different styles. Each one is its own little jewel, and they tie together in a slightly loose but still satisfying way.

This linked story collection is in the same inimitable vein as Egan’s bestselling A Visit from the Goon Squad—and every bit as good. Egan is such a gifted storyteller. She knows how to get and keep the narrative ball rolling and is extremely good at creating vivid characters you have no choice but to root for.

One of the things I love about this book of linked stories is its through-line, a fascinating science fiction conceit revolving around the idea of a mass-downloadable consciousness. In addition to capturing a reader’s imagination, this device allows Egan to display her virtuosity… show more.

I found the premise of The Candy House very intriguing – the novel is built around a new technology that allows you to download your consciousness.

The science is a little far-fetched (I certainly hope it is, anyway) and yet the reverberations of this fictional technology are easy to imagine in real life. The unique way in which the book is written, each chapter a window into a different life, shows how technology affects us all in small and large ways, whether we subscribe to it or not.

What I love most about this book, though, is the contrast between… show more.