Fiction

AngryOldDem

(14,176 posts)

31. "Crossroads," by Jonathan Franzen.

Mon Jan 31, 2022, 09:05 AM

Jan 2022

First of a promised family trilogy, IIRC.

For a largish-book (580 pages) with characters who by and large aren’t particularly sympathetic, I can’t put this book down. The writing is excellent, and the way he is weaving the family’s stories together is amazing. His insights, too, are thought-provoking. Reading a chapter now that is looking at joy in the context of religious belief. (This is a tension that runs throughout, since the father is a messed-up associate pastor.)

This is set in 1971.

I read “The Corrections” several years ago and was unimpressed. May have to reread, since this book has changed my opinion of Franzen.

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Highlight:

What Fiction are you reading this week, January 30, 2022? [View all] hermetic Jan 2022 OP

"Sweetland" by Michael Crummy bif Jan 2022 #1

Read that one some time ago hermetic Jan 2022 #2

Thanks I was going to give it my usual 50 pages bif Jan 2022 #7

Ann Cleeves is great isn't she? The King of Prussia Jan 2022 #3

Oh nice hermetic Jan 2022 #5

A drink before the war bottomofthehill Jan 2022 #4

This is... hermetic Jan 2022 #6

It was bought before we had kids, put in a box and forgotten about. bottomofthehill Jan 2022 #15

That's really nice hermetic Jan 2022 #18

One of the other books I found was "Worth It All" bottomofthehill Jan 2022 #19

I need to find a copy of that one! Speaker Wright was a very dear friend yellowdogintexas Jan 2022 #25

"The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" by Lilian Jackson Braun Number9Dream Jan 2022 #8

That is so cool! hermetic Jan 2022 #11

I think I will investigate the ebooks at our library yellowdogintexas Jan 2022 #26

Someone just gave me a copy of PROJECT HAIL MARY Irish_Dem Jan 2022 #9

Lucky you! hermetic Jan 2022 #12

My friend said it was a bit boring. Irish_Dem Jan 2022 #14

Interesting hermetic Jan 2022 #16

Ok I will let you know.... Irish_Dem Jan 2022 #17

"Project Hail Mary" is the best book I read last year. Jeebo Feb 2022 #37

Sounds wonderful. Irish_Dem Feb 2022 #38

Stick with it bif Feb 2022 #41

I am reading murielm99 Jan 2022 #10

Oh, my hermetic Jan 2022 #13

I reread Hamlet before reading this book. murielm99 Jan 2022 #28

Two new ones. Polly Hennessey Jan 2022 #20

All right, new ones hermetic Jan 2022 #21

Early Warning. hippywife Jan 2022 #22

I can relate hermetic Jan 2022 #23

Agreed. hippywife Jan 2022 #24

I purchased that trilogy some time ago, murielm99 Jan 2022 #29

I'm really liking it right now. hippywife Jan 2022 #30

That is very much like ZORRIE by Laird Hunt that I just finished last week. japple Jan 2022 #32

And I'll check out that one! Thanks! n/t hippywife Jan 2022 #33

Finished Crash and Burn which was good yellowdogintexas Jan 2022 #27

"Crossroads," by Jonathan Franzen. AngryOldDem Jan 2022 #31

Ahh, 1971 hermetic Jan 2022 #34

It ends in 1974. AngryOldDem Feb 2022 #35

"We Must Be Brave" by Frances Liardet Jeebo Feb 2022 #36

I can't imagine only having three days worth of books PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2022 #39

TC Boyle and French 101 lounge_jam Feb 2022 #40

I was about half way through "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss, CrispyQ Feb 2022 #42