Come and chat to award-winning author of Purity JONATHAN FRANZEN on Friday 2nd October, 12-1pm. Post your questions for him here.

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that our September book of the month will be Jonathan Franzen's latest novel Purity, which is published on 1 September. We're also honoured that Franzen has agreed to join us for a webchat to discuss the book and his other novels on Friday 2 October, 12 - 2pm.

Jonathan Franzen is one of America's most acclaimed contemporary novelist and essayist. In 2001, his novel The Corrections, a sprawling, satirical family drama, won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist and won Franzen a National Book Award.

Purity is a multigenerational American epic that spans decades and continents. The story centers on a young woman named Purity Tyler, or Pip, who doesn't know who her father is and sets out to uncover his identity. It's a story of youthful idealism, extreme fidelity, and murder.

Come and put your questions to Jonathan Franzen on Friday 2 October, 12-2pm

Jonathan, I am enjoying Purity. I must admit I wouldn't normally have chosen this book. I found the East German chapter about Andreas growing up in Berlin particularly interesting as I didn't know that much about that era. Did you go there to do your research?

I'm busy getting ready for a long trip so can't commit to the chat.
I finished the book in more or less one go, very compulsive reading once I got started it had to finish!
It was a book that got me going on all kinds of thoughts - about dysfunctional relationships, families and mother-child relationships specifically. Did you have a point to make about mothers Jonathan?

I don't want to say too much about the storyline for people that haven't finished, but a lot hangs on moral integrity and compromise.. I didn't quite get how Pip in the end kind of 'sold out' after all the tears and madness about Andreas. Even Purity cannot escape moral compromise in the face of poverty?
At times I wondered if people can really be that messed up, as Tom and -oh the shame I forget her name (but did I say I am planning a Big trip?)- the artist, but then I remebered someone from my past and thought, oh yes! That messed up and then some.

Anyway, didn't love the book as much as Freedom but it was a great read and enjoyed it a lot. It touches on great themes, the secrets and lies, shapes of lives around people and relationships.

Might pop in again later!

Like some of the other posters, I didn't really like any of the characters! Jonathan, I'm curious about where you drew your inspiration for them?
And another question-what have you learned about yourself as an author as a result if wring this book?

This is the first book of yours that I have read and though I enjoyed it like many others I don't like any of the characters. My question is when you start the book do you make the characters of the book fit the plot or as the writing of the book continues are you surprised where the characters take you

Also when people don't like the characters that you have created does it upset you

This is my first Jonathan Franzen novel too. I am really enjoying it!

My question for Jonathan is this: Andreas says: "It sucks to be well known. Everyone should be told this about fame before they start pursuing it: you will never trust anyone again." Do you ever wish you used a pen name or do you feel that fame plays a role in being a successful novelist?

I am finding Purity to be an enjoyable read. It is the first time that I have read any Jonathan Franzen novels, previously I have been a little put off by their sheer magnitude.

The mother/child dynamic is interesting. Reminds me a little of Philip Larkin's poem, 'This be the verse'. I find it is not a case of liking or disliking some of the characters. I feel empathy for Pip, and whilst I cannot condone his actions in any form, I think pity for Andreas.

Your novels are mainly within the genre of social realism, a critique of the world we live in. Do you believe that as you have a particular skill for writing that you have a social responsibility to do just that, or do you do it solely for enjoyment, acclaim or even the money?

Has Karl Kraus, the Austrian satirist, been one of the main influences on your writing and thoughts, especially in terms of technology 'an apocalyptic red horseman'?

Thank you Mumsnet for this excellent, thought provoking novel.

Thank you Mumsnet for the copy and Jonathan for making yourself available to us!
My questions is how much does the public response to your writing affect you personally and in your writing.

I have rarely seen opinion so polarised.

People are never "meh" about your work - there is either admiration and adoration (understandable)or utter disdain (jealousy?).
I was about to add an emoticon or two there but managed to resist!

Oops - missed a question mark at the end of my question!

Wowee Jonathan Franzen.

Jonathan, I'm sorry, I have not yet read Purity, but I loved Freedom and very much enjoyed How to Be Alone* and various other essays of yours.

I feel that many of the people who dismiss your work haven't actually read it - and so don't know how accessible and funny and entertaining it is.

Do you have any sense that the next generation of children will be the ones to go offline partially or completely? Or will it take another generation for that to happen? Or will it ever? Would welcome your thoughts.

*How my husband laughed when he saw me reading a book with this title. At the time I had a nine-week old baby velcroed to me 24/7...

SPOILERS GALORE

Finished it just in time! This is the second Jonathan Franzen I've read (other was The Corrections, which I loved, mainly for the poignancy of the sacrifices Alfred makes for Denise).

I found this a harder read than The Corrections; I think because I felt closer to it, and closer to the characters. Reading the episode where Pip rejects Andreas and her feelings in the aftermath, I felt like Franzen had had a good rummage inside my head and then published the contents for all the world to see, and that feeling came back to haunt me repeatedly through the rest of the book. Not at all comfortable for the reader, but surely the mark of an exceptional writer?

I thought the ending was well-balanced too. During the Andreas section, I started to really worry that the whole book was going to end without any hope - I'm glad it didn't - but I thought the hope implied in Pip's thoughts was balanced realistically enough with Tom and Anabel's neverending conflict.

I guess it's for personal reasons of my own as a reader, but I'd've liked to hear more about Tom and Leila managing to find their ways back to each other.

Questions for Jonthan:

1. Purity seems pretty rock-solid on delineating the ways in which relationships sour and fall apart (the eggplant spaghetti) but skips over the ways in which they can grow in happiness - would you agree with that assessment? Why/why not?

2. I've read some articles/reviews claiming that the character of Anabel represents feminism, and that the book is an attack on feminism. I'm not sure I agree with that assessment. Certainly Anabel does not behave like a feminist - it could be argued that by rejecting her inheritance she deliberately disempowers herself, just as one example. What are your thoughts?

I'm nodding my head in agreement with ItchyArmpit. There were many times I felt uncomfortable reading Purity, because the feelings of the characters were so close to my own.

My question for Jonathan is about the Dickens links. Were you thinking of Great Expectations and the themes of secrets and identity from the beginning? Or was it something that came about during the writing process?

Hi Jonathan - thanks for joining us! Posting now as I can't make the webchat I loved The Corrections, and am looking forward to reading Purity.

The media tend to present you as a very serious figure, but I always find your writing really funny too - the "pyramids of shrimp" quote still makes me laugh. Do you think of yourself as a comedic writer?

Hi Jonathan - my head is full of Purity. Anabel is the most instantly recognizable, and most guilt-making yet murderable character I've met since about 1870 - you've created a new stock character for our times. Such a relief when writers articulate ourselves & our circles for us, you know, thanks.

Here's my question. If you could have any talent you wanted from any writer you like (Dickens out of bounds, you've passed that one) what would you snaffle? Then what novel would you write? Plot and everything please. No pressure, take your time, 5 min is fine.

Jonathan is here and poised to answer your questions. Over to you Jonathan...

@TheSandmansSon

Hi Jonathan - thanks for joining us! Posting now as I can't make the webchat I loved The Corrections, and am looking forward to reading Purity.

The media tend to present you as a very serious figure, but I always find your writing really funny too - the "pyramids of shrimp" quote still makes me laugh. Do you think of yourself as a comedic writer?

Yes. Totally. And, btw, hello to whoever might be watching this possible trainwreck of an hour unfold.

Hi Jonathan,

I think you're a tremendous writer and your book 'How to be Alone' changed I lot for me.

My question concerns anger: do you think anger has an overall positive valence in that it makes things happen? I feel instinctually that it should be something to be conscientiously avoided, but I see you write and speak about it as though it's the engine that gives idealism any tangible hope of actuation?

Thank you so much,
Dan

@aginghippy

I'm nodding my head in agreement with ItchyArmpit. There were many times I felt uncomfortable reading Purity, because the feelings of the characters were so close to my own.

My question for Jonathan is about the Dickens links. Were you thinking of Great Expectations and the themes of secrets and identity from the beginning? Or was it something that came about during the writing process?

Kind of neither, actually. I read Great Expectations thirty years ago and haven't though much about it since. I was more of a Bleak House guy. But once the name Pip popped up on the page, I thought hey, why not.

Optional other question, poss a little more reasonable: you did the first, and best, portrait of Alzheimer's in Alfred. (Corrections). Alfred's internal narrative carries on until he's in nursing care (we call it 'in care' in UK, or 'in a home').

Did you feel it was a story that just had to be told? And that it was incredibly difficult to pin down? What research did you do to be able to write that deteriorating mental state - or did you just guess based on medical reports out there? Were you absolutely fascinated?

Although this site is one big gush of talk and feeling about one's relations and their many and wondrous ways, please don't mention your father if it feels intrusive.

@Corygal

Hi Jonathan - my head is full of Purity. Anabel is the most instantly recognizable, and most guilt-making yet murderable character I've met since about 1870 - you've created a new stock character for our times. Such a relief when writers articulate ourselves & our circles for us, you know, thanks.

Here's my question. If you could have any talent you wanted from any writer you like (Dickens out of bounds, you've passed that one) what would you snaffle? Then what novel would you write? Plot and everything please. No pressure, take your time, 5 min is fine.

Well, who wouldn't have wanted to written what Proust did. But your question, though original, doesn't really compute for me. The best writers are so entirely themselves develop what they are so exhaustively that the impulse for me is to keep away from their strengths and hunker down amidst my own.

Hi Jonathan,

I've been racing through Purity trying to finish before the webchat but still have the final section to read - just left it on a literal cliff edge! I love the way you delve so deeply into your characters' psyches and I wanted to ask you, why did you choose to write Tom in the first person and did you consider writing any of the others in 1st?

I read RachelMumsnet's intro as 'Jonathan is here and pissed to answer your questions.'

That was a great image.

Thanks, and Thank God for baling on me - I've just realised Mumsnet have copyright on everything posted on the site, so you'd have sold the next Franzen for, er, nothing.

Your agent can breathe again

I appreciate that you've got a lot to get through but can we put to you the standard Mumsnet Qs that we like to ask all our authors...

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

What is the best book you have given anyone recently?

And the best you've received?

Greenstone

Pissed as in the American annoyed, or pissed as in British drunk, it works...

@ItchyArmpit

SPOILERS GALORE

Finished it just in time! This is the second Jonathan Franzen I've read (other was The Corrections, which I loved, mainly for the poignancy of the sacrifices Alfred makes for Denise).

I found this a harder read than The Corrections; I think because I felt closer to it, and closer to the characters. Reading the episode where Pip rejects Andreas and her feelings in the aftermath, I felt like Franzen had had a good rummage inside my head and then published the contents for all the world to see, and that feeling came back to haunt me repeatedly through the rest of the book. Not at all comfortable for the reader, but surely the mark of an exceptional writer?

I thought the ending was well-balanced too. During the Andreas section, I started to really worry that the whole book was going to end without any hope - I'm glad it didn't - but I thought the hope implied in Pip's thoughts was balanced realistically enough with Tom and Anabel's neverending conflict.

I guess it's for personal reasons of my own as a reader, but I'd've liked to hear more about Tom and Leila managing to find their ways back to each other.

Questions for Jonthan:

1. Purity seems pretty rock-solid on delineating the ways in which relationships sour and fall apart (the eggplant spaghetti) but skips over the ways in which they can grow in happiness - would you agree with that assessment? Why/why not?

2. I've read some articles/reviews claiming that the character of Anabel represents feminism, and that the book is an attack on feminism. I'm not sure I agree with that assessment. Certainly Anabel does not behave like a feminist - it could be argued that by rejecting her inheritance she deliberately disempowers herself, just as one example. What are your thoughts?

More good questions, thank you. I would agree that happiness can grow; I've been experiencing that myself for nearly twenty years now. And I tried to gesture toward it with Tom and Leila. But the sad fact is that happiness is seldom dramatic, and so what is the novelist to do with it? There's a reason that fairy tells end, rather than begin, "and they lived happily ever after."

Anabel seems to me so much Anabel that I'm puzzled by the idea that she's a caricature of anything. And, being a lifelong feminist myself, I don't have any motive to caricature feminists. But there was a certain strain of crazy idealism about men and women in the Seventies that I was intent on including in the Tom/Anabel narrative, partly for the sake of realism, and partly because the novel is the story of failed idealisms of all kinds.