Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen first wowed his audience with the novel, The Corrections back in 2001. Oprah picked it for her book group, but Franzen was afraid that men wouldn't read it if it was labeled on the cover as an "Oprah" book. Well, it went on the best-seller list, and this new one was named by Oprah again. This new book, Freedom, had been heralded as a work by a literary genius. I did find it interesting, but more important, I didn't like any of the characters. His characterizations were well done, his expressions well-written and original, and his study of American culture was spot-on. Maybe I just don't read enough by men authors, maybe I didn't relate to his political agenda, maybe I missed the point, but I wouldn't rate this as A that reviews gave him. Maybe compared to the bestseller style, Franzen's is more genius than most, but I probably am not impressed enough. Picking up some of the words from the back cover reviews: "satirical, brutal, merciless," true enough. The book paints a pretty depressing view of a couple who fall in love and create a family in American in the 30 years this book takes place. In regarding the beginning of the Berglund marriage, the autobiographer says, "He may not have been exactly what she wanted in a man, but he was unsurpassable in providing the rabid fandom which, at the time, she needed even more than romance." And the rest of the book goes on to explain what happens to a marriage when one partner is more in love than the other. I am sure there will be mixed feelings about this book.