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bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
Notes on re-reading at the end.
Original review: My cousin and I decided to tackle this book together. I'm glad I read it that way, because if I'd read it by myself, I never would have made it past the first fifty pages. Franzen brilliantly dissects the lives of a midwestern family. The parents, still living in the Midwest, are dealing with his Alzheimer's and her severe case of Midwest blinders. Their grown children are living on the East coast, and each of their lives is falling apart in a different way. Gary, the oldest, is married to the scarily insidious Caroline. The section devoted to them is a direct, and better written, antecedent of Gone Girl. Chip, the middle child, is failing miserably and pathetically at academia, writing, relationships, and everything else he tries. He ends up in Lithuania creating a website to defraud American investors, an amusing sendup of the internet and the gullibility spawned by greed. Denise, the youngest, is a top chef at a new restaurant in Philly, hopelessly smitten with a married friend. Franzen's writing is usually brilliant, although occasionally he flips into info-dump for pages at a time--surprising in a writer of his stature, and the main reason I give this one four stars instead of five. Laugh out loud funny, with characters you start out hating and grow to love. Also has the most vivid depiction of Alzheimer's I've read anywhere. Great book.
2021 re-read: I can still admire Franzen’s ability to spin a story, and to indulge in lavish displays of knowledge and vocabulary, but I enjoyed this much less on a second reading. It seemed much more mean-spirited than it did seven years ago. I think probably because seven years ago, I still identified with the three Lambert siblings. In 2021, newly arrived in my sixties and with adult children of my own, I clearly have more in common with Al and Enid than with their children, and Franzen is not kind to the elder Lamberts.
Original review: My cousin and I decided to tackle this book together. I'm glad I read it that way, because if I'd read it by myself, I never would have made it past the first fifty pages. Franzen brilliantly dissects the lives of a midwestern family. The parents, still living in the Midwest, are dealing with his Alzheimer's and her severe case of Midwest blinders. Their grown children are living on the East coast, and each of their lives is falling apart in a different way. Gary, the oldest, is married to the scarily insidious Caroline. The section devoted to them is a direct, and better written, antecedent of Gone Girl. Chip, the middle child, is failing miserably and pathetically at academia, writing, relationships, and everything else he tries. He ends up in Lithuania creating a website to defraud American investors, an amusing sendup of the internet and the gullibility spawned by greed. Denise, the youngest, is a top chef at a new restaurant in Philly, hopelessly smitten with a married friend. Franzen's writing is usually brilliant, although occasionally he flips into info-dump for pages at a time--surprising in a writer of his stature, and the main reason I give this one four stars instead of five. Laugh out loud funny, with characters you start out hating and grow to love. Also has the most vivid depiction of Alzheimer's I've read anywhere. Great book.
2021 re-read: I can still admire Franzen’s ability to spin a story, and to indulge in lavish displays of knowledge and vocabulary, but I enjoyed this much less on a second reading. It seemed much more mean-spirited than it did seven years ago. I think probably because seven years ago, I still identified with the three Lambert siblings. In 2021, newly arrived in my sixties and with adult children of my own, I clearly have more in common with Al and Enid than with their children, and Franzen is not kind to the elder Lamberts.
cryssofthewild's review against another edition
3.0
I finished this book out of spite. The characters made me intensely angry, as though at every turn they made the wrong decision. It was akin to watching a horror movie and yelling in silent frustration at the screen. Well written, infuriating examination of family, relationships, and personal struggle.
vicky_reads_writes_reviews's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aperillo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
mandocal's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.25
This has a similar feel to the Royal Tenembaums.
gracemeagher's review against another edition
Denise was my fave, don’t know what that says about me
sarcasticnerdette's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
al07734's review against another edition
5.0
A phenomenal novel on American life and sickness. Every chapter was riveting from start to finish (except maybe the cruise part) and I was sobbing my eyes out at the end. This is a book that captures middle-class America to such an extent that it borders the line on satirical. Really amazing read
byp's review against another edition
4.0
I have both boundless love and hatred for every character in this book, much like my own family.