The most modern book I've ever read, even newer fiction feels old compared to this.

Jennifer Egan really nailed the thoughts and motivations of her characters well. I could identify with every character, male and female alike, young and old, as though I had already been involved in similar conversations and situations and would have come up with the same outcomes. This felt comfortable and yet the stories were imaginatively fresh.

The multiple characters and perspectives did manage to relate loosely to one another in a way that felt natural and real, not forced or classic like a band of adventurers on a quest to destroy a ring or a group stuck together on one side against a group on the other side who are led by the smiling man. The good versus evil or black and whiteness or us and them is not present in the story as there is no sides.

It's a story about people, like all great stories are about people, and this one seems to focus more on humanity without clouding it with extraordinary circumstances that might make a great adventure movie. Instead, it makes a great book for people to read.

A great book to read telling a story about people. You couldn't ask for more.