Biographical Sketch
Jonathan Franzen is a contemporary adult novelist whose two most popular books focus on the dynamics of a mid-western family. He has a distinct fondness for birds and bird watching (as evidenced by the motifs used in his books, especially “Freedom”). Franzen has a dry sense of humor, which can be observed from his interviews, but comes off to some as pretentious. Franzen has not strayed away from drama throughout his career, however. In the early 2000’s, his novel “The Corrections” was selected for Oprah’s book club. While most authors would be delighted with this designation, Franzen openly expressed his annoyance with it because he believed the book was not meant for Oprah’s audience. He received plenty of backlash for this, and soon accepted the endorsement. In 2010, his novel “Freedom” was selected for Oprah’s book club as well, and this time there was no resistance from the author.
Franzen had another high-profile incident back in 2010 when he was at an international book signing and someone ran up to him, snatched his glasses, and left a ransom note. The crook was soon caught and the glasses returned, and Franzen was praised for his poise in dealing with the fiasco. It’s rumored that he is a fastidious and finicky man who spent almost a decade in a soundproof room writing “Freedom”.
Franzen had another high-profile incident back in 2010 when he was at an international book signing and someone ran up to him, snatched his glasses, and left a ransom note. The crook was soon caught and the glasses returned, and Franzen was praised for his poise in dealing with the fiasco. It’s rumored that he is a fastidious and finicky man who spent almost a decade in a soundproof room writing “Freedom”.
Reactions
Personal Reaction To “The Corrections”
Franzen’s experience as an author comes to light in “The Corrections”, a novel about the dynamics of family life that are often left behind closed doors or not discussed. Its acclaim was well deserved, and I personally enjoyed the thorough use of dark humor, and the lighthearted approach to what might seem to some as tragedies. The book is ultimately about making lemonade out of lemons, even though that lemonade will be very sour at times. Each member of the Lambert family has a distinct personality, some being amusing and others annoying. “The Corrections” satire of the drama of family life and society as a whole was well crafted, and I found myself agreeing with many of the criticisms while at the same time realizing I am guilty of them. Franzen does not hold much back in the criticism department, but rather than be turned off by this, it made me more interested in the book. The ending left me with a sense of measured optimism about the future, and the flawed nature of the world as a whole. “The Corrections” is a good wake up call for anyone who feels swallowed up by everyday life, but also an enjoyable story for anyone who simply needs an engaging read.
Personal Reaction To “Freedom”
Freedom is a book unlike any other I’ve read. It started out as a seemingly bland narrative of a Minnesotan family, but I soon realized that there was plenty of depth in this book. The drama in “Freedom” does not seem gratuitous or overdone, but it is rather ultra-realistic and sometimes unsettling for me as a reader when I realize that I can relate to some of the family’s experiences. The Berglunds might seem like an ordinary mid-western family struggling through the post 9-11 era, but the lives of each family member, and their close family friend Richard Katz, struck me in different ways. The gritty pasts and painful mistakes that pervade throughout the novel are what give it a page-turning quality, and it’s easy for me to become immersed in this world of everyday struggles because it seems so much like my own. Franzen’s construction of the web that is each character’s life and interactions with each other is brilliant, and I would recommend the book to anyone who wanted a more personal experience out of a novel.
Franzen’s experience as an author comes to light in “The Corrections”, a novel about the dynamics of family life that are often left behind closed doors or not discussed. Its acclaim was well deserved, and I personally enjoyed the thorough use of dark humor, and the lighthearted approach to what might seem to some as tragedies. The book is ultimately about making lemonade out of lemons, even though that lemonade will be very sour at times. Each member of the Lambert family has a distinct personality, some being amusing and others annoying. “The Corrections” satire of the drama of family life and society as a whole was well crafted, and I found myself agreeing with many of the criticisms while at the same time realizing I am guilty of them. Franzen does not hold much back in the criticism department, but rather than be turned off by this, it made me more interested in the book. The ending left me with a sense of measured optimism about the future, and the flawed nature of the world as a whole. “The Corrections” is a good wake up call for anyone who feels swallowed up by everyday life, but also an enjoyable story for anyone who simply needs an engaging read.
Personal Reaction To “Freedom”
Freedom is a book unlike any other I’ve read. It started out as a seemingly bland narrative of a Minnesotan family, but I soon realized that there was plenty of depth in this book. The drama in “Freedom” does not seem gratuitous or overdone, but it is rather ultra-realistic and sometimes unsettling for me as a reader when I realize that I can relate to some of the family’s experiences. The Berglunds might seem like an ordinary mid-western family struggling through the post 9-11 era, but the lives of each family member, and their close family friend Richard Katz, struck me in different ways. The gritty pasts and painful mistakes that pervade throughout the novel are what give it a page-turning quality, and it’s easy for me to become immersed in this world of everyday struggles because it seems so much like my own. Franzen’s construction of the web that is each character’s life and interactions with each other is brilliant, and I would recommend the book to anyone who wanted a more personal experience out of a novel.