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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I don't understand the hype about this book. Quit halfway thru. Read far enough to find a written version of the grace my mom use to say at the speed of light: "Blessalor this foodier use nusta thy service make asair mindful neesa others Jesus name amen."
Ruefully funny, and so well-observed that I kept slipping into the identities of the characters. Towards the end I felt I was a combination of the abusive, arrogant, dementia-ridden father and of he abusive, arrogant, depression-ridden older son. Not pleasant. Recommended.
I’m late to this “American novel of the century”, so this won’t be a long review — you already have thousands of (somewhat polarized) reviews on Goodreads. It’s not my first Franzen — my book group read [b:Crossroads|55881796|Crossroads|Jonathan Franzen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617877772l/55881796._SY75_.jpg|87094188] last year, which we all loved, so I will start by saying that Crossroads is a better novel. This one is longer than it needs to be and veers a bit too much towards dark, misanthropic satire. That said, the writing is great and the brutal comedy aspects funny (in a gritted teeth kind of way). He also shows a dazzling grip of various topics including biotech, neurological research, railroads, and high-end restaurants (he particularly revels in descriptions of Denise’s food).
I suppose you could say the plot turns on “Will Mom be able to get the whole family home for one last Christmas?” but of course it’s about much more than that. Enid and Alfred’s toxic, dysfunctional relationship spills down into the lives of their three children, each equally obnoxious in their own way. It’s hard to sympathise with any of them, but Franzen draws you convincingly into their minds, giving himself ample space for warts and all portraits. So while Gary never really redeemed himself in my eyes, Denise and Chip both turned out to have some sympathy. I even felt glad for Enid in the end, freed from the burden of Alfred. It’s also an excellent portrait of the money-grubbing, drug-addled late 90s in the US.
It does have flaws. It could have been shorter, as I’ve said: unnecessary pages spent on secondary characters. Particularly notable is the amount of time spent on the pointlessly feuding Norwegians and Swedes on the cruise ship. The part set in Lithuania seems like a ludicrous, lazy parody compared the the US-set parts (as indeed does Denise’s brief sojourn in Europe). It’s almost as if he lacks familiarity with Europe.
But, final verdict, a cracking good read!
I suppose you could say the plot turns on “Will Mom be able to get the whole family home for one last Christmas?” but of course it’s about much more than that. Enid and Alfred’s toxic, dysfunctional relationship spills down into the lives of their three children, each equally obnoxious in their own way. It’s hard to sympathise with any of them, but Franzen draws you convincingly into their minds, giving himself ample space for warts and all portraits. So while Gary never really redeemed himself in my eyes, Denise and Chip both turned out to have some sympathy. I even felt glad for Enid in the end, freed from the burden of Alfred. It’s also an excellent portrait of the money-grubbing, drug-addled late 90s in the US.
It does have flaws. It could have been shorter, as I’ve said: unnecessary pages spent on secondary characters. Particularly notable is the amount of time spent on the pointlessly feuding Norwegians and Swedes on the cruise ship. The part set in Lithuania seems like a ludicrous, lazy parody compared the the US-set parts (as indeed does Denise’s brief sojourn in Europe). It’s almost as if he lacks familiarity with Europe.
But, final verdict, a cracking good read!
I felt as if I were trapped in an elevator with horrible people. And then I realized I could get out! So I put the book down and never looked back.
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not to be basic but deserves 100% of the praise, JF’s best!
Muddy, rambling, confusing, depressing. The family was horribly dysfunctional, but not in an entertaining way. There wasn't one character in it I liked or ever wanted to spend time with again.
It did, however, make me grateful for my own family as relatively normal in comparison.
It did, however, make me grateful for my own family as relatively normal in comparison.
I don't usually say, "Don't read this book." But like, I'm def not recommending this for anyone except the Military/FBI to force onto enemy combatants/drug cartels to get information out of them. But even then, we are bordering on eighth amendment violations even with that.
I didn't like it. I didn't like the writing. The plot was pretty non-existent. The characters were the only redeeming quality, and even they were terrible.
So, don't read it. Or do. I guess I don't care but I won't be recommending it. And frankly won't be talking about it with you if you do.
I didn't like it. I didn't like the writing. The plot was pretty non-existent. The characters were the only redeeming quality, and even they were terrible.
So, don't read it. Or do. I guess I don't care but I won't be recommending it. And frankly won't be talking about it with you if you do.
Most overrated author I've ever read. The book was ok. Barely. I'm really having trouble understanding his popularity. I saw him live on a panel and found him rather fond of himself (even though he was on the panel with John Irving, of all people!)
I wish I had read this book many, many years ago. I think I would have been in love. Or, at least, found something new and original about it. As it stands, it felt to much indebted to Gaddis. (Which is great and wonderful and sweet and etc). But having just read 'Carpenter's Gothic', this novel ended up feeling a bit too much of a repeat. An easier read, a more straight forward read than 'Carpenter's Gothic' for sure. But similar all the same.