The Candy House

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From a Pulitzer Prize-winning author comes an electrifying novel exploring the quest for authenticity, privacy, and meaning in a world where memories are no longer personal. Set in 2010, Bix Bouton, a successful tech entrepreneur, seeks a groundbreaking idea and encounters a professor experimenting with memory externalization. This leads to the creation of Own Your Unconscious, a technology that allows people to access and share their memories in exchange for others'. The narrative unfolds through interconnected stories spanning decades, revealing the impact of this technology on various characters. Egan employs diverse styles—from omniscient narration to first-person plural, epistolary chapters, and tweets—creating a rich tapestry of experiences. In this imaginative world, “counters” exploit desires while “eluders” recognize the cost of indulging in the allure of the Candy House. The novel is both intellectually stimulating and deeply moving, presenting a bold vision of a near-future shaped by social media, gaming, and alternate realities. Egan's work serves as a powerful testament to the enduring human longing for genuine connection, love, family, privacy, and redemption.