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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I prefer Franzen's [b:Freedom|7905092|Freedom|Jonathan Franzen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316729686l/7905092._SY75_.jpg|9585796] to this one. This really dragged in the middle at times, but overall enjoyed it.
Spoiler
It's sad that Alfred's story is only really told from the perspective of his being ill, because there's so much more to his character. I found his parts difficult to read, along with Gary's parts. Denise and Chip had the most interesting storylines.
Ok, confession: I did not actually finish this book. I couldn't. The characters are so awful to each other, I really didn't want to read it. I got about 1/3 of the way through and then just ok, ENOUGH.
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great writing but not an enjoyable book
Tutte le famiglie infelici lo sono a modo loro. La rovina di una famiglia è l’età adulta, il momento in cui i figli devono fare dai genitori ai propri, rendendosi conto di non essere risolti e di non poter quindi neanche risolvere gli altri.
I Lambert: Alfred di principio fino alla fine, Enid a cui interessano soltanto le apparenze soltanto, Gary depresso e gaslighted da moglie e figli, Chip senza carriera e pieno di debiti col sogno della sceneggiatura, Denise chef stellato che manda all’aria tutte le relazioni.
Semplicemente epico, con personaggi che bucano le pagine.
I Lambert: Alfred di principio fino alla fine, Enid a cui interessano soltanto le apparenze soltanto, Gary depresso e gaslighted da moglie e figli, Chip senza carriera e pieno di debiti col sogno della sceneggiatura, Denise chef stellato che manda all’aria tutte le relazioni.
Semplicemente epico, con personaggi che bucano le pagine.
This novel tells the story of the Lambert family. Both parents and all three adult children are going off the rails in different ways and need to make some "corrections."
On the plus side, Franzen is a genius with plotting and setting up small scenes that pay off big later. His prose is excellent. I felt a little teary but also chuckled at the ends, and any writer who can inspire that sort of emotional reaction is doing something right.
On the down side, much like the character Chip's screenplay, you need to get over an obstacle in order to get into the novel, and that obstacle is that pretty much every family member is hard to like. I had some sympathy for mother Enid and daughter Denise, but even Enid has her faults, and Denise makes some pretty poor choices over the course of the novel.
Overall, though, this is definitely worth a read, and I can see why it won awards and came in as a finalist for several more.
On the plus side, Franzen is a genius with plotting and setting up small scenes that pay off big later. His prose is excellent. I felt a little teary but also chuckled at the ends, and any writer who can inspire that sort of emotional reaction is doing something right.
On the down side, much like the character Chip's screenplay, you need to get over an obstacle in order to get into the novel, and that obstacle is that pretty much every family member is hard to like. I had some sympathy for mother Enid and daughter Denise, but even Enid has her faults, and Denise makes some pretty poor choices over the course of the novel.
Overall, though, this is definitely worth a read, and I can see why it won awards and came in as a finalist for several more.
I cannot, and simply will not, bear 500+ pages of awful people doing horrible things ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This book was just as good and actually quite a bit better than Freedom, my previous experience with Franzen. This is a sweeping epic that totally engrossed me in the characters worlds and that felt incredibly authentic and true-to-life. I found that I could so relate to these characters and their struggles. It didn't feel contrived or made up but instead felt genuine and honest. I've known people like these characters. I've felt some of the same feelings that they had. Franzen is an incredible writer and his use of the written word is both engaging and intriguing. He knows how to "turn a phrase". While there was a bit of a sag in the middle, overall, this book was engaging, witty, well-written, authentic, clever and heart-breaking. I can see why this won so many awards. It deserved them.
I loved this, despite it sitting on my shelf waiting to be read for years. None of the characters are particularly likeable, and all do questionable things, but the family dynamic was so relatable. It was believable and quite saddening. I’ll definitely keep reading more Franzen.
funny
reflective
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