Vashbear@bookwyrm.social reviewed The corrections by Jonathan Franzen
heartbreaking
5 stars
I avoided this book for a long time. I suppose because I judged it based on some of the authors interactions in interviews. But a friend of mine convinced me to read it. He said it was funny. I also read reviews that said none of the characters are sympathetic.
Those things are only half true. There are funny parts, but they are almost always uncomfortable funny parts - the laugher is nervous because it reminds you of things you or someone close to you has done. All of the characters have some awful selfish behavior ... but the reason they are that way is the brilliant part of the book. They usually recognize when they rare behaving poorly, cannot "correct" them, and then tear them selves up about it. In fact, this might be one of the saddest books I have read. The family is dysfunctional in he way …
I avoided this book for a long time. I suppose because I judged it based on some of the authors interactions in interviews. But a friend of mine convinced me to read it. He said it was funny. I also read reviews that said none of the characters are sympathetic.
Those things are only half true. There are funny parts, but they are almost always uncomfortable funny parts - the laugher is nervous because it reminds you of things you or someone close to you has done. All of the characters have some awful selfish behavior ... but the reason they are that way is the brilliant part of the book. They usually recognize when they rare behaving poorly, cannot "correct" them, and then tear them selves up about it. In fact, this might be one of the saddest books I have read. The family is dysfunctional in he way that most are: people hiding their true inner selves out of pride/ego/embarrassment. They are searching for "corrections" when what they really need are "connections".
Overall the writing is excellent. There were some passages that felt a little too clever, but many passages which were so devastatingly clear describing a character's inner turmoil.
I do not really like depressing books, but I think books that help you become more self aware, and sympathetic to others who are struggling are good investments. This book does that.