Freedom, Jonathan Franzen. Paperback.

Absorbing, realistic, relatable.

I took my time reading this one, and even more time thinking about how to put my thoughts to paper once I’d finished. Franzen’s prose is at once sophisticated and accessible, easily pulling the reader into the graphic saga of the Berglund family and their individual, ongoing quests for freedom. Though I loved Franzen’s writing, I had a difficult time finding any one character who didn’t make me feel at best uncomfortable or at worst disgusted. I suppose Jessica Berglund was a decent human being, but perhaps for that reason she was relegated to the background of this story.

Though I could fill several paragraphs with my thoughts on Richard Katz’s sexual megalomania and Joey Berglund’s narcissistic entitlement, Patty and Walter Berglund’s relationship saga kept me turning the page. This book left me thinking about the families we’re born into versus those we create, the misguided world of suburban escapism, and overpopulation. Yes—I now think a lot about overpopulation.

Though I didn’t fall in love with this story in itself, I was so impressed with Franzen’s writing prowess that I have to acknowledge Freedom as a feat of modern American storytelling.

Favorite Quotation: “There is, after all, a kind of happiness in unhappiness, if it’s the right unhappiness.”