Yest to writers. No to readers. This tome has chewed me up and spit me out. Never have I taken a book so personally. It is the definitive snapshot of my generation of "Dazed & Confused" teens, who morphed into helicopter parents, and subsequently spawned a "Facebooked" generation of children.
It took me 3 months of starts and fits, but I finished all 600 pps., despite loathing most of the characters, with the exception of Dorothy and Connie. That said, Franzen has a way with words i.e. "whiskey sunburn," and can the man put together a sentence? That would be an understatement; he is a master at utilizing the English language in ways that make you pause. Get a fresh highlighter for this read.
I have a hunch this is a future classic, but frankly it's depressing in all the ways the 21st c. is depressing, wars, recessions, environmental disasters, betrayals, not to mention the duplicity of our leaders. Frankly, to bastardize Dickens..."It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times," we all know that
Having said that-- readers,if you are a mashochist and crave a double espresso dosage of the daily depressive headlines I recommend you pick up this book. Otherwise, let the dust settle on your ravaged psyche and buy this future masterpiece in 3 years at your local public library used book sale.
Yest to writers. No to readers. This tome has chewed me up and spit me out. Never have I taken a book so personally. It is the definitive snapshot of my generation of "Dazed & Confused" teens, who morphed into helicopter parents, and subsequently spawned a "Facebooked" generation of children.
ReplyDeleteIt took me 3 months of starts and fits, but I finished all 600 pps., despite loathing most of the characters, with the exception of Dorothy and Connie. That said, Franzen has a way with words i.e. "whiskey sunburn," and can the man put together a sentence? That would be an understatement; he is a master at utilizing the English language in ways that make you pause. Get a fresh highlighter for this read.
I have a hunch this is a future classic, but frankly it's depressing in all the ways the 21st c. is depressing, wars, recessions, environmental disasters, betrayals, not to mention the duplicity of our leaders. Frankly, to bastardize Dickens..."It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times," we all know that
Having said that-- readers,if you are a mashochist and crave a double espresso dosage of the daily depressive headlines I recommend you pick up this book. Otherwise, let the dust settle on your ravaged psyche and buy this future masterpiece in 3 years at your local public library used book sale.