The Corrections by Jonathan Franken

[suedonim]

Has anyone else read this book? I'm about a quarter of the way through and loving it! I think I had it muddled up with another book but it's turned out to be a very happy accident!

that's good to hear. My mum gave me the hardback a couple of years ago after hearing great reviews but I never got round to reading it. Shall dig it out!

Read it a couple of years ago and loved it too. Fantastically well written.

I loved it, although I think I found the ending a bit flat? Read it ages ago.

His other stuff is pretty good, too, particularly the one about the radio station ...

I thought it was a bit middle of the road, to be honest. It was billed as this Great Novel and, er,wasn't.

I got about half way through it a couple of years ago and think I was enjoying it but for some reason never finished it ....

I agree with motherinferior.

Read it once and could not fathom why it was made out to be a 'great american novel'. Recently re-read it and found it better but still no great shakes.

god I thought it was fabulous
sort of thing that makes your brain throb with pleasure

I think it does live up to its hype. . .I think it addresses so many disparate & important themes and then actually succeeds in tying them together in a way that doesn't collapse--something I don't see that often in contemporary fiction. To me it seemed like breath-taking acrobatics. But I know lots of people who disagree with me (and many who agree, too) so I guess it's one of those novels that works for you or doesn't.

I remember it came out in the US on September 11th 2001or right about thenand everyone thought it'd retreat into obscurity due the bad-timing of its launch. But in fact the opposite happened. . .it did incredibly well.

Franzen's partner wrote an essay in The Guardian (I think) a few years ago about how difficult it was to be a lesser-known writer in a relationship with a famous one, especially when the fame comes on suddenly. She didn't say who her big time boyfriend was. . .but it was Franzen. (Yeah, I'm onto her! )

Thanks for your views. I must admit, this book passed me by completely when it came out and I only bought it because it was 50p at a book day I went to!

I've got this on my bookshelf and I am continually put off by it's proportions, this one and the Wally Lamb one about the twins, one is a schizophrenic, just can't bring myself to start either one. They look more like door stops!

Glad to hear it is good!

will endeavour to read it then.

I got it just before I was pregnant with the DTs. Need to find some time and space to read it. Started it, but didn't finish it.

Now that I've read your reactions I think I will.

It's a fairly quick read, MrsSpoon; once you get started you turn the pages at a steady rate and soon get through it.

got a copy on my bookshelf,but haven't got round to reading it yet...

realised after about 80 pages that I (like batters) couldn't give a tinker's cuss what happened to any of them. haven't opened it since.

I enjoyed it although wasn't awork of genius.
Read out big chunks to dh which was poignant as his father has dementia.

i really liked it at the time, but it didn't really stick in my memory. i bought it for my mum (we normally like pretty similar books) & she hated it.

I quite liked it, found it very readable. Not stunningly good but a reasonably intelligent page turner. can't be bothered to read any more of his though.