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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
A bit depressing at times- but very developed characters.
For the most part I enjoyed reading the book, but I also didn't think it was anything special. I felt that some parts - particularly the beginning - dragged on for too long, whereas some of the later parts were not developed enough. All in all, I thought it was alright, but also not great.
Critical voices have asked where the angry writers are; where are the writers who challenge our comforts and understanding? Where are the social novels? Where are the writers that roar? With his new novel Freedom, Jonathan Franzen gives an excellent answer.
With moral intelligence and surprisingly ribald wit Freedom’s characters ask us what liberty is. His characters are our limited and contradictory ideas of freedom. They play out the consequences of liberty, its realities and illusions. Franzen’s characterisations breathe detail and reality into his protagonists: Richard, a sardonic rock-god, self-indulgently railing against societal norms. Walter Berglund, the very personification of meliorism, confounded by his high ideals, is crippled by his inability to express the love or anger that fill him. And Walter’s wife, Patty, a self-loathing ex-athlete who doubts the validity and merit of her life; the Autobiographer, able to see the harm she does yet incapable of stemming the love that drives her harm. If the other characters are the currents of the novel, Patty is the body of water they run through. Patty expresses the constraints and expressions of freedom; all its complexity, damnation and beauty. Patty, and the extended Berglund family, is testament to the moments of perfect horror and beauty that make a life; moments emblazoned on personalities so deeply they can be passed through generations and societies like DNA.
So, where have all the social novels gone? Who is it that’s roaring? Freedom is a great social novel—it is brilliant. But Franzen doesn’t roar—he places his hand gently on your left shoulder while whispering, calmly and kindly, in your left ear, until all you can see is the reality he describes. The novel is life bound in paper sheaths; an idea explored in a narrative of warmth and great intelligence, carried forward by characters of depth and profound flaw. It is an all-consuming narrative about how to live.
With moral intelligence and surprisingly ribald wit Freedom’s characters ask us what liberty is. His characters are our limited and contradictory ideas of freedom. They play out the consequences of liberty, its realities and illusions. Franzen’s characterisations breathe detail and reality into his protagonists: Richard, a sardonic rock-god, self-indulgently railing against societal norms. Walter Berglund, the very personification of meliorism, confounded by his high ideals, is crippled by his inability to express the love or anger that fill him. And Walter’s wife, Patty, a self-loathing ex-athlete who doubts the validity and merit of her life; the Autobiographer, able to see the harm she does yet incapable of stemming the love that drives her harm. If the other characters are the currents of the novel, Patty is the body of water they run through. Patty expresses the constraints and expressions of freedom; all its complexity, damnation and beauty. Patty, and the extended Berglund family, is testament to the moments of perfect horror and beauty that make a life; moments emblazoned on personalities so deeply they can be passed through generations and societies like DNA.
So, where have all the social novels gone? Who is it that’s roaring? Freedom is a great social novel—it is brilliant. But Franzen doesn’t roar—he places his hand gently on your left shoulder while whispering, calmly and kindly, in your left ear, until all you can see is the reality he describes. The novel is life bound in paper sheaths; an idea explored in a narrative of warmth and great intelligence, carried forward by characters of depth and profound flaw. It is an all-consuming narrative about how to live.
I loved this book. I'm so sorry it's finished. The characters and situations are so complex that they are completely real. Ten stars.
The internal dialog of the characters was astounding, as they move through their convoluted lives. The stories of their lives, though, weren't as comp...moreThe internal dialog of the characters was astounding, as they move through their convoluted lives. The stories of their lives, though, weren't as compelling. With the skill that Franzen has at conveying the nuances of emotions and struggles, the plot didn't need to be made of so many caricatures.
"Freedom" is a portrait of a liberal American family and their trials and tribulations. It's an immensely compelling read - when it arrived at work and I peeked inside, I was hooked. It starts out in this hyper-ironic tone, but then, slowly, the characters become more and more real. Franzen captures our time very well, and in the end the people in his book are just trying to muddle through life as best as they can.
My favorite aspect of this book was the way he showed the difference between how people perceive themselves and how other people see them, and the conflicts that creates.
The only thing that felt a little too heavy-handed at times were when he literally talks about "Freedom"; in some instances it seemed like these discussions only took place because of the book's title, but on the other hand I can't say whether it would have felt that way if the book wasn't called "Freedom".
In any case, I can only recommend it.
My favorite aspect of this book was the way he showed the difference between how people perceive themselves and how other people see them, and the conflicts that creates.
The only thing that felt a little too heavy-handed at times were when he literally talks about "Freedom"; in some instances it seemed like these discussions only took place because of the book's title, but on the other hand I can't say whether it would have felt that way if the book wasn't called "Freedom".
In any case, I can only recommend it.
My first Jonathan Franzen novel. I found it long, and a bit tedious for my taste. I nearly stopped reading it several times, but thought it would eventually chime ... unfortunately, for me, it never did.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hated every character and every decision they took, but loved the book. I felt anxious, upset, awful through pretty much all of it. I would definitely recommend it.
I had very mixed feelings about this book. I think the author is a terrific writer, one of the best I've read in a while. However, I didn't really like most of the characters, even though I was fascinated by them. I particularly liked the parts in St. Paul and Northern Minnesota, since those are two of my favorite places.