Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH

by Jennifer Egan

 

Award: Carnegie Winner 2018

 

Nomination: Dublin Longlist 2019, National Book Longlist 2017, Women's Prize Longlist 2018

 

Date Read: October 13, 2020

 

Since I was completely blown away by A Visit From The Goon Squad, I think my expectations exceeded what was presented here. While Manhattan Beach is a fun story, that’s all I can really say about this novel. I know Egan’s talent is better than this.

 

Manhattan Beach is a noir thriller, centered around Anna, who is trying to find her way on her own in New York during WWII. She becomes one of the first female divers to repair battleships, which I found interesting. During her childhood, her father went missing and in a strange twist of events, Anna dates her father’s killer, Dexter Styles. 

 

Dexter Styles is a typical New York mobster, with a finger in everything from union fixing to gambling to nightclubs. Although not the actual head of this empire, he is a top boss with all the power that bequeaths. After Anna and Dexter enjoy one night of steamy passion, Dexter meets his end and Anna winds up pregnant. None of these plot twists were unique or unforeseen.

 

I continue to marvel how much better the world has become for women, particularly as it comes to pregnancy out of wedlock. Whereas in the 1940’s it was a relative death sentence, today women are afforded much more tolerance, yet continued strides need to be made.

 

I am hoping that with my next Egan encounter, I will be as blown away as I was with my first introduction to her work. Unfortunately, this one misses the mark.

 

Looking Forward: Look At Me

 

Looking Back: A Visit From The Goon Squad

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