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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This book was horrible: not one character had any redeeming qualities whatsoever and the whole thing made me feel dirty and ashamed to be a human. And to add insult to injury, I thought the writing was poor.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought Franzen's Crossroads was a stronger book, but perhaps it was just more to my liking. This is also a family saga exploring the flaws of the family members and how they tug on each other and transform through relationships. The Corrections had an almost satirical, sci-fi tinge, especially the parts about Corecktall, and I felt like the book was slow to start. I am still not sure what to think of Enid and Alfred. As one of three children, I recognized a lot of sibling dynamics in Gary, Chip, and Denise, and I thought they were masterfully noticed: one sibling choosing to be the enforcer to the parents, another trying to be The Good One, and another trying to disappear. Franzen is so attuned to the complex burden of being someone's child and someone's relative - the complex burden of being human among humans at large. I think that is Franzen's main strength, and it came through in the Corrections.
I’m giving up on this one. Two hundred pages in and I hate every character and have no interest in the story line. I was trying to get through because I hate to give up on a book but I can’t stomach 300 more pages of these people.
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you can sludge through the deluge of words (so many words, forming never ending paragraphs), be patient through the dull first 2/3rd, and look past the insufferable-ness of the characters, then you may just enjoy the endearing chaos at the end.
slow-paced
This book moved so freaking slow and all the characters were whiny prats. I should have known from the Oprah pick to not bother with this book. Another thing that I had a hard time with was the dad had Parkinsons and the mom wanted to get everyone together for "one last Christmas." It hit a bit too close to home for me.
Finely drawn characters full of faults that you somehow end up loving. Occasionally the prose is overwrought, but more often than not it is finely tuned and frequently beautiful.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes