Well, I finally finished Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, and I have to say, Wow!It's an in-depth exploration of the emotional lives and psychological struggles of an American family and it delves into a number of characters with such rich, complex, observant detail that I found myself kind of mesmerized.
When I first started it (about three weeks ago?) I was immediately sucked in. Then it dragged, then it picked it up, and then it ended in a wonderful, powerful way. Left me crying and I will miss the Berglunds' presence in my life.
I have to say, my favorite part was the first half, the story of Walter and Patty growing up, their college years, the early part of their marriage. There was something lingeringly anti-climactic about the body of the book; in a way it never completely lived up to its promising start (much like all the characters).
But in the end I was won over. By his prose, by the devotion to each of the characters -- none of whom were totally likable, but all of whom were written with compassion and true authorly respect.
This book has gotten a lot of high praise, and it is certainly impressive and wonderful. However, as great a read as it was, I don't see this as such a groundbreakingly phenomenal literary feat that it seems it is being touted to be. Still, like I said, a great read.
3 comments:
Diana, I agree -- I think it is too flawed to be remembered as a truly masterful, important piece of literature, but I admired his ambition, his compassion and especially his skill at rendering the complex and often perverse dynamics between people.
Sara, a funnier, less ambitious, more wry (and shorter) take on the contemporary liberal family is the Believers by Zoe Heller.
Are you on goodreads?
I will check out The Believers -- I think I remember reading some reviews of it. I am on Goodreads, but not actively -- it seems like one more thing I can't really keep up with. But link up with me on it, if you know how --maybe I'll be inspired to check in with it more often.
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