The Corrections

Rating:
Summary: A 21st-Century King Lear?
Review: On one level, The Corrections is a case study on why the kids in the Lambert family drifted so radically from their stolid, corn-'n-pork, septuplet-siring Iowa roots when all the other kids on their parents' block grew up dyed-in-the-wool Hawkeye ("Kenny Kraikmeyer," indeed!). But on another level, there are echoes of King Lear in father Alfred Lambert's recurring mad scenes and the poignant final scene in which the third child, Cordelia ... whoops, Denise ... and Alfred achieve a reconciliation.

The Corrections is a big book with big themes in which many readers are bound to recognize their own families. It's said that a woman once wrote playwright Arthur Miller to say she never understood why her husband and sons quarreled so much until she saw Miller's Death of a Salesman. Reading The Corrections, I was dumbfounded to recognize my own mother in Enid Lambert, and to understand, finally, that her obsession with annual Christmas rituals and other irksome trivia may, like Enid's, stem from the life sentence of marriage. (Is there ultimately no difference between Iowa and Utah women?)

A virtually identical story of families spinning out of control was told more gracefully by Peter DeVries in Through the Fields of Clover (1961); DeVries was invisible in his novel, while Jonathan Franzen's heavy hand makes him almost a main character here. Still, The Corrections is very hard to put down and I think it fully deserved the National Book Award.

Rating:
Summary: Reworking over used cliches...
Review: Based on the reviews from literary critics, I had very high expectations for this book. One third into it, I felt that I had been duped by a screen play turned novel from an author who needed to get it produced one way or the other. The dysfunctional family cliches are overused and characters are fairly predictable in the way that they play out their parts. Clueless college professor falling for his student, misunderstood fathers supporting ungrateful families, undervalued mothers, manipulative mates, disrespectful children all needing, I got it "corrections".

There are some great books that deal with dysfunctional families with more sensitivity and humor. "I Know this Much is True" delves into relationships between parents and siblings and provides you with insights into how relationships work. With "Corrections" you never quite believe the characters really care about each other. Although beautifully crafted, the story entertains but never enlightens. Does it reflect modern society at the millenium or is it just an example of modern prose; either way, I'd hope for more depth, less pretense and heightened sensitivity all around.

Rating:
Summary: More disappointing than I imagined possible
Review: The book begins in New York City, where Alfred and Enid are meeting their son, Chip, and daughter Denise for lunch before they board a ship for a cruise to Nova Scotia. Sex-obsessed, and self-obsessed, Chip is having a rotten day, as his girlfriend has chosen right now to dump him. Chip is an amusing character because he's believable yet over-the-top. Denise takes over the lunch duties when Chip deserts the family to speak with a lady about a movie script. How he ends up on a plane to Lithuania is really pretty great. At this point, I wanted to know more and to stay with Chip on his adventures in a former Soviet state.

Unfortunately, Franzen had other ideas. The book is spent chaotically shifting from one character's life to another. Just as I would get to a point that I cared about a character and his situation, Franzen yanked him (or, in Enid's case, her) from me. Okay, I can be a good sport and play along for a while. Halfway through the book, however, Franzen is still yanking me around like a dog on a training leash by introducing yet another new character right after a rather dramatic plot point for Alfred and Enid on the ship. I bit my lip and prepared to get to know this new person, and only tolerated a page and a half before I finally geve up reading this book altogether.

Have I mentioned that many of the characters are repulsive human beings?

Repulsive human beings are okay for book characters, but I, as one reader, would like to see some opportunity for redemption in these people's lives. The further I got into the 342 pages I tolerated of this book, the less convinced I became that there was any hope for redemption for any of these people. And frankly, I started being really creeped out by the people around me, and feeling like maybe there's no chance of redemption for any of us; like we're all just pathetic, self-absorbed, bitter, angry freaks on the short road to the cemetery, cluttering the lives of people around us with our misery.

The surprising thing about this book is that the writing is quite good. But I think this proves that good writing does not make a good book. Even the stories (and make no mistake, there are definitely multiple stories going on in this book) are interesting. But the characters and their lack of insight into their own cruelties, the lack of any indication of a shot at redemption for any of them, just destroyed this book for me.

If you like dark, can handle a large cast of characters, and can be content to taste bitter through at least the first 450 pages of the book, you may enjoy "The Corrections." More likely, you should just read a Russian novel.

Rating:
Summary: THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL
Review: I read this book while recuperating from foot surgery. What an escape! This is truly the great American novel. Janice Daugharty, author of LIKE A SISTER

Rating:
Summary: Long, Difficult Read To a Much Anticipated Finish
Review: This book won awards for one of the best books of the year
...even promoted, though controversal, by the popular Oprah book club.(Many of her books I've read and enjoyed...many I found boring, prejidicial or trite...thus I do not consider Oprah a literary authority by any means...but then, neither am I, although I am an avid reader of both fiction and non fiction and own an extensive book collection). I started the book realizing the characters were tarnished and disfunctional, however these people are more than disfunctional, they are downright bizarre. I haven't met one normal realistic character I could identify with yet, which disappoints me. I like controversal characters,
find them entertaining. mostly likeable, however I would like to follow at least one character exhibiting some degree of normalcy.

I looked forward to reading this book...and am about one half way through it, but I find it difficult to hold my interest in it's dysfunctional haphazard plot. Rarely do I not finish a book...but I am debating about finishing this book. Something (most likely stubborness about not finishing what I start) keeps me plugging along, hoping it will improve. I want to see what all the praise is about...why it deserves so much acclaim. I want to like it...and am trying to develop an appreciation for the author's talent, but it is slow going. Maybe I will have to try harder...there has to be SOMETHING there deserving rave reviews.
I understand the section about the ocean voyage is more
intersting...and entertaining. I am almost to that section and will stay with it a little longer. Knowing me, I will likely see it to the end. But as for the best book of the year? I don't think so. It certainly is no "A TREE GROWS in BROOKLYN" or "GONE WITH THE WIND"..."UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" or "ALICE ADAMS",
or "FRIENDLY PERSUASION" a few of my all time favorites.

Carole
An avid Florida reader

Rating:
Summary: Long, Difficult Read To a Much Anticipated Finish
Review: This book won an award for the best novel of the year. I couldn't wait to read it. After reading reviews,I expected the characters to be flawed and disfunctional, however these characters are totally bizarre and hopelessly depressing. I'm well into the book and have yet to meet one rational character bordering on normalcy. I like...no I LOVE controversal characters but a whole novel full of them is taxing. I would like to follow at least one character exhibiting some degree of normalcy.

I am finding this novel difficult to follow; the plot is haphazard at best. Rarely do I not finish a book...but I am debating about finishing this one. My stubborness will likely keep me plugging along, hoping it will improve, wanting to see why it deserves top awards and much acclaim. I want to like it. I'm trying to develop an appreciation for the author's talent. There has to be SOMETHING that deserves rave reviews and top awards. I will persevere. I almost threw in the towel after reading about the male lead with Alzheimers chasing turds around his stateroom, watching them climb the walls and actually holding conversations with them and naming them. Bizarre at best! One will either find it entertaining or wonder why they are wasting their time reading it. But I will persevere and likely see it to the end. I like to finish what I start. But as for the best book of the year? I don't think so. See for yourself?

Ps
I finished the book and am glad I did, but wouldn't reccomend it. There are too many other good books to read.

An avid Florida reader, writer and collector

Rating:
Summary: Philly fan
Review: I was intrigued by the flap over the whole Oprah thing. Franzen's descriptions are truly amazing - of both the physical and emotional landscape. While I came from a relatively sane family, I recognized all the emotions and characters of the messed-up Lamberts. I had an uncle with Parkinsons, and the description of Al's descent in to senility were difficult for me to read. Many reviewers have commented that they found none of the characters likable. It is true that all of the characters have serious flaws, but I couldn't help but sympathise a little with Chip and Enid. Other readers have seemingly been put off by what they call Franzen's hatred of middle-America, but in case they didn't notice, Franzen comes down hard on the elitist post modern academic types as well. Finally, as a former Philadelphia resident, I found the description of this under-rated city truly wonderful. The sadness, elegance and quakerliness of Philly are superbly depicted.
While a little editing would have helped (esp in some of the descriptions of metallurgy) it is a fine read

Rating:
Summary: An absolute must read-fabulous!
Review: Please do not be put off by any negative reviews of this wonderful book. Yes, the characters are complex, and yes there are some big words (use a dictionary, if you must), but the payoff is so very rewarding. I read THE CORRECTIONS over a month ago, and I am STILL thinking about the characters! Mr. Franzen's character development is extraordinary, the writing is first rate, and the ending...will stay with you forever. An exceptional novel.

Rating:
Summary: How much can one author pontificate?
Review: After finishing this book, I still can't tell whether I liked it or hated it, so I'm giving it a middling 3 stars. I must admit that I read it all the way through. Half the time I was in awe of Franzen's writing ability, and half the time I felt like putting it in a box for a yard sale because the author is so obviously emamoured of his writing ability. He is also impressed with his wide fund of knowledge (or how he knows how to look stuff up) and makes sure that we are too. Still, the characters, while annoying because of their helplessness in getting their own acts together, are fully developed (or over developed as if Franzen spent extra time making sure that each one of them had a really big personal history and he knew each and every facet.) I think my biggest gripe with 'The Corrections' is that I can see the author behind every scene working very hard to show me just how clever he is, and he is indeed very clever. Somehow, this book irritated the heck out of me, but I was fascinated and kept reading it anyway.

Rating:
Summary: I must have missed something
Review: This is one of the most disappointing reads I've come across in a long time. It's allegedly a charachter piece, but it mostly just wanders around for a long time. It's well written but it seems to take a real long time to go nowhere.