author: Jonathan Franzen

name: Steev

average rating: 3.61

book published: 2010

rating: 5

read at: 2012/03/19

date added: 2012/03/19

shelves: novels, fun, spirit-self

review:
A really excellent and profound and sad book. I'm still not sure if I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed Franzen's last novel, The Corrections. The Corrections seems to be more born from Franzen's personal experience, while Freedom ranges a little farther from that intimacy. But one thing he does exceedingly well is construct believable and varied characters. Often in a multiply-narrated story by a less skilled author, all the characters seem to really be the same person. But Franzen does a good job of creating distinct personalities. He seems a little weaker at realistic female characters, which may be why he only wrote from the point of view of 1 female out of his 4 narrators, Patty, Walter, Richard, and Joey. (I very specifically noticed that he didn't try any sections centered on Jessica, or Lalitha, for example, perhaps because he knows this is a weakness of his.)



The novel resonates powerfully, in its portrayal of family, of midwestern life, of relationships, and of sincere but imperfect attempts by a variety of people to be good people - good parents, good partners, good friends, good stewards of the planet, and more. This is perhaps, for me, the fundamental sadness and lesson of the book: that we may strive incredibly to be all of these, but mistakes will happen, inner demons and flaws may surface, bad things beyond our control will happen; and yet life goes on and we must continue to strive, and hopefully reach some existence that includes both the striving and happiness.