I read both of these books in the last week. Both of them I liked quite a bit, but did not love. Both are a collection of related short stories more than a singular story. In Vida, all of them about Sabina, or from her point of view. In A Visit from the Goon Squad, all related in some way, with intersecting characters. Both books are also non-linear, flipping around in these peoples lives, forward and back in time. These stylistic choices seem very common these days, as I have read several other books in the past year that do the same (e.g., The Perfectionists). Sometimes this works, but often this just seems to be a gimmick and I never really get a full sense of the story the author is trying to tell. I find most of the time, I find each of the stories interesting, I liked the first in Vida the best I think, and the writing well done, but I am left wanting for the story. Please let my next book just have a singular story!
