zuolu

There has been so much fuss about this book and the author ----I was very much looking forward to reading it. I respect this book and the author, but was it worthy of the praise heaped:? Not to me. Amazing and compelling story - you don't want to put it down, because it is a terrifically dysfunctional family that you do sympathize with - (being set in modern times with modern problems that we are all aware of )- but it is not one that will stay with me long into the future --(although my son and I had some terrific discussions about the book- and he thought it was magnificent!) It was interesting to me that this author is a New Yorker and lives in Santa Cruz - two of the best places!! And that he has no children, and I don't think has been married On one hand that gave him the time and energy to observe and make amazing assumptions and observations about families, their children, and marriages. And I believe he made some brilliant observations, but I'm just saying......maybe that is what did not hit me in the stomach - his detachment on some level....One thing that really struck me about Jonathoan Franzen is that he can write a woman or man voice and thoughts and feelings seamlessly.....He nailed both - I would not have known if this was a male or female writer.

2022-11-10 12:32