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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
As someone who gobbled up "The Corrections" and "Freedom", I found appreciation for this book too, though I can't say I enjoyed it as much. On one hand, it had qualities I liked in Franzen's other book: A sweeping, well-constructed narrative delivered from multiple point of views, wit and humor and something to say. At the same time, I found this book hard to get into. I found two of the characters so grating, that parts of the book were difficult to get through, and Franzen wasn't really subtle with all the messages he was trying to get across (re: technology, privacy).
In spite of good reviews and lots of hype, since I did not care for the two other Franzen books that I have read, this is not a book I would have read. However, it was a book club selection. I started reading Purity before Christmas, then put it aside with no intention of going back to it. The library let me keep renewing it and encouraged by a friend (who was not crazy about it either), I finally finished it on my lunch break the day of book club.
The book was too long, filled with details, often sordid, that I did not care anything about. I also did not care about any of the characters, a strange bunch of jerks. I don't have to like or identify with characters in a book, but I do have to have some interest in what happens to them, which I did not in Purity.
It is interesting that none of the other six women in book club liked the book.
"So many Jonathans. A plague of literary Jonathans. If you read the New York Times Book Review, you'd think it was the most common male name in America. Synonymous with talent, greatness. Ambition, vitality." (207)
This was the only part of the book I recalled. On first reading, I thought that Franzen was poking fun at himself. But on second reading, perhaps he was making fun of his readers.
The book was too long, filled with details, often sordid, that I did not care anything about. I also did not care about any of the characters, a strange bunch of jerks. I don't have to like or identify with characters in a book, but I do have to have some interest in what happens to them, which I did not in Purity.
It is interesting that none of the other six women in book club liked the book.
"So many Jonathans. A plague of literary Jonathans. If you read the New York Times Book Review, you'd think it was the most common male name in America. Synonymous with talent, greatness. Ambition, vitality." (207)
This was the only part of the book I recalled. On first reading, I thought that Franzen was poking fun at himself. But on second reading, perhaps he was making fun of his readers.
slow-paced
Unlikable characters plot uninteresting
I either used to like Franzen's writing, or I like what Franzen used to write.
It is a pretty readable book - the is strong and the pace is able to keep you reading (unlike Freedom) while providing depth of character. Plus, the main character is from my old stomping grounds...so there's some empathy there. But not enough to keep me from putting it in the "kids can sell it to the used book store" pile.
It is a pretty readable book - the is strong and the pace is able to keep you reading (unlike Freedom) while providing depth of character. Plus, the main character is from my old stomping grounds...so there's some empathy there. But not enough to keep me from putting it in the "kids can sell it to the used book store" pile.
Very boring and I didn't understand what was going on. It seemed totally different than the blurb.
Love Jonathan Franzen. Definitely recommend this one.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great story that you don't want to put down. The characters are, without exception, fully realized, complex and sympathetic if mostly unlikeable. There are parts that can drag but it was always amidst those sections where a sentence struck me as the most perfect observation-- so best not to skip anything.