In 'Manhattan Beach' by Jennifer Egan, a young woman navigates the complexities of family loyalties and her own aspirations in wartime Brooklyn. As she searches for her missing father, who disappeared during World War II, she becomes immersed in the gritty underworld of divers in the shipyards. The novel beautifully interweaves themes of love, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of a changing America. Egan's masterful storytelling unveils the intricacies of human connections and the secrets that can define or destroy a family. Prepare to be captivated by an evocative tale that explores identity, sacrifice, and the tides of history.
By Jennifer Egan
Published: 2017
""The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence.""
Manhattan Beach opens in Brooklyn during the Great Depression. Anna Kerrigan, nearly twelve years old, accompanies her father to the house of Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. Anna works at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where women are allowed to hold jobs that had always belonged to men. She becomes the first female diver, the most dangerous and exclusive of occupations, repairing the ships that will help America win the war. She is the sole provider for her mother, a farm girl who had a brief and glamorous career with the Ziegfeld Follies, and her lovely, severely disabled sister. At a nightclub, she chances to meet Dexter Styles again, and she begins to understand the complexity of her father's life, the reasons he might have vanished"--
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“"The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence."”
Manhattan Beach
By Jennifer Egan
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Jennifer Egan is an acclaimed American author best known for her innovative narrative techniques and insightful exploration of contemporary themes. She gained prominence with her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Visit from the Goon Squad," which intricately weaves together the stories of interconnected characters across different time periods. Other notable works include "Look at Me," "The Keep," and "Manhattan Beach," which showcase her ability to blend literary fiction with elements of genre storytelling. Egan's writing is characterized by its sharp wit, intricate structures, and a deep engagement with the complexities of modern life and identity.
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