jdub412 's review for:

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

5.0

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I had been wanting to read this for years.. if only for all the buzz surrounding it. Not only that, any book that generates such extreme feelings ("Best book ever" or "Reading that book was like a slow death") must have something to it. So... the result on my end? Franzen is an amazingly skilled writer who has a certain way with words that few authors (especially modern authors) possess. This is not a fast-paced book; rather, it moves through and prods the individual and collective lives of one family. This is a family that could easily be your own, your next-door neighbor's, or even if not someone you know yourself - you can easily imagine these people existing. The beauty of this book is not necessarily in the actual story (although the story isn't bad)... but in the development and analysis of each of these tremendously (and differently)flawed (but very real!) characters, their relationships with each other and also with themselves. It's one of those that sinks in after you finish.. kind of lingering there.. and then you realize you have just read a modern masterpiece. There are many who disagree with that sentiment (perhaps due to the slow-ish moving plot-line? Then they didn't "get it," in my humble opinion). I would highly recommend this book (and then some therapy!).