Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I don't know why Franzen is considered a major writer. I abandoned Corrections halfway through because it couldn't hold my interest. I nearly did the same with this one. However, I persevered and reached the end, albeit with a feeling of relief and a determination never to read another book by him.
I don't want to say I hated it, but I really just kind of hated it.
Ok, I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I happen to find Jonathan Franzen an extremely gifted writer. His value as a human being may be up for debate but as a writer? There's no doubt in my mind that he is quite gifted.
This book will not convert anyone to the Franzen fan club, that's for sure. It is long, extremely so. It goes off on wild tangents that are only slightly related to the main story. The title character isn't even in the book for a good third of it. Basically, if you didn't love the corrections or freedom, I don't think you will love this one either.
All that being said, however, I found this book endlessly fascinating. Franzen's ability to craft a story out of seemingly nothing is to be admired. His excesses only serve to further the story here. This one has not much of a plot. It is a character study and the richness of the characters on display here is just extraordinary. They feel lived in and like fully fleshed out human beings. They feel three dimensional and unique. Did I mention that parts of this book are set in California and Texas, two places that have a very special place in my heart?! Yeah, I guess you could say I was already predisposed to like this book!
Is it as good as freedom or the corrections? No, not at all but those books are both so great that it would be hard for anything else he writes to top them. However, this one just proves that Franzen has lost none of his writing gifts. I may not like a lot of what he says as a person but as a writer, I will follow him anywhere! Highly recommended but only if you are already a fan of his. Much like murakami, Franzen is an acquired taste!
This book will not convert anyone to the Franzen fan club, that's for sure. It is long, extremely so. It goes off on wild tangents that are only slightly related to the main story. The title character isn't even in the book for a good third of it. Basically, if you didn't love the corrections or freedom, I don't think you will love this one either.
All that being said, however, I found this book endlessly fascinating. Franzen's ability to craft a story out of seemingly nothing is to be admired. His excesses only serve to further the story here. This one has not much of a plot. It is a character study and the richness of the characters on display here is just extraordinary. They feel lived in and like fully fleshed out human beings. They feel three dimensional and unique. Did I mention that parts of this book are set in California and Texas, two places that have a very special place in my heart?! Yeah, I guess you could say I was already predisposed to like this book!
Is it as good as freedom or the corrections? No, not at all but those books are both so great that it would be hard for anything else he writes to top them. However, this one just proves that Franzen has lost none of his writing gifts. I may not like a lot of what he says as a person but as a writer, I will follow him anywhere! Highly recommended but only if you are already a fan of his. Much like murakami, Franzen is an acquired taste!
mysterious
reflective
"So many Jonathans. A Plague of literary Jonathans. If you read only the New York Times Book Review, you'd think it was the most common male name in America. Synonymous with talent, greatness. Ambition, vitality.”
- Jonathan Franzen, Purity
Ugghhh
- Jonathan Franzen, Purity
Ugghhh
Odd and disturbing but also completely gripping and impossible to put down.
3.75 stars. This had all the makings of a book I wasn't sure I would like. As I started the book, I didn't really like many of the characters, the story jumped around, (in a more distracting way than Freedom), and the book was often unnecessarily wordy. However, as I kept reading, I got more invested than I thought in the characters (though I'm pretty sure I don't actually like any of them if that makes sense), was engrossed by the plot line, and somehow all the jumping around and verbosity worked. Don't let the length dissuade you from reading it, it's a quicker read than I would have thought.
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Full disclosure: Staunch Franzen fan here, confirmed in my staunchness after Purity. My experience of the novel was uneven, loving some parts and squirming my way through others. In retrospect, squirming seems to be exactly the effect Franzen must have aimed for, what with sexual deviancy, cold-blooded murder, and, ultimately, the idea that guilt never just goes away; that we are all victims of our inner demons; and that meaningful relation to others--through love, parenthood, friendship--is the only way to make it through life and come out clean on the other end. I happen to love the main character, and I find Franzen's cultural stance--much reviled by others--to coincide perfectly with mine, so as social critique the book really works for me. His elaborate analogy between Communism and the Internet, found in "The Killer" chapter, is not just brilliant--it is the mark of a great mind and the work of a virtuoso of language.