I will try and keep this brief (Terry) because no review can justify Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen. It’s been a few days and I am still loitering aboI will try and keep this brief (Terry) because no review can justify Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen. It’s been a few days and I am still loitering about in 1970s Chicago with the Hildebrandt family.
Russ Dad, he’s an assistant minister at some sort of modern church. He has 4 kids and is married to Marion. It’s a tired marriage. He’s a resentful man – and is particularly jealous of a fellow minister, Rick. They don’t talk – mutual animosity. Russ fancies a widow called Frances; I must say she does sound a tad sporty, and she flirts with him too. It seems Russ might be ripe for the picking. The church kids – and his own kids, think Russ is a bit of a sap. We’re not sure what Frances thinks of him.
Marion Doesn’t seem to have much joy in her life and it’s easy to feel sad for her lot. I think she’s a terrific mum. But when a marriage aint working it’s a real case of 1+1= - 4, rather than 1+1=4. Many of us know all about that. Marion has obviously ‘grown apart’ (how often to you hear that?) from her husband and vice versa. She’s particularly close to Perry – kid number 3. Marion’s back story is one of the best parts of the book, almost a novel within a novel.
The kids from oldest to youngest. Clem goes to university, avoided the Vietnam draft. Has a passionate affair with a girl at uni. He has the strongest of bonds with Becky - kid number 2. My eldest is called Becky – so I am automatically in love with her – bright, beautiful, has a presence – she gets mixed up with a decent guy in a church band called Tanner (he has my seal of approval). Kid number 3 is Perry - he’s unforgettable. I think he’s about 9 when we first meet him – he has a MASSIVE intellect, but with that comes a lot of other stuff – he’s a troubled boy. If it makes you high – he’ll get it and sell it. Then there’s the youngest Judson - he’s almost an extra (in my view) cute kid – his main relationships are with mum and Perry.
Throw this lot into the 1970s – and the politics of a thriving church, and a youth group with all the shenanigans associated with that. Also, characters like Rick – (the guy Russ hates, yes – hates) – who just so happens to be charismatic, interesting, interested and a people magnet. The ‘dangerous’ widow, Frances adds to the excitement and intrigue.
There are also some fascinating interactions with Navajo tribes – we see that when the youth groups visit their land to ‘help’ with works and maintenance as part of their Christian obligations. This part of the story really made me think of how ‘us’ white people think, and often patronise, First Nations people – all with the best intentions. But we are often hopelessly misguided. It really confuses me how to best handle matter – I feel all at sea.
Faith does play a significant role in this and as a non-believer, I was initially worried. But the deep dive into faith and how the characters deal with their beliefs, was to me, so very interesting. It was so well done; I believe I have a slightly better understanding of the smoke and mirrors (to me) of this aspect of the human condition. That’s a good thing methinks.
Overall – just brilliant. I was thrilled to learn recently this is the first of an eagerly anticipated trilogy as the near-600 pages of this chunkster was nowhere near enough.
5 Stars
Note to a mate: Tezza sorry – I promised less than 400 words, I seem to have checked in at 624. I couldn’t help it! Try reading every second word – it’ll probably make just as much sense ...more
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen is a masterpiece. My first read of this author, I will read all of his books, you can tell how good a writer is whThe Corrections by Jonathan Franzen is a masterpiece. My first read of this author, I will read all of his books, you can tell how good a writer is when you automatically create a new shelf on GR.
We have the Lamberts – Enid and Albert, an elderly couple, living in a mid-western conservative town in the US. The house is big and unruly, they raised their three kids there back in the day. Albert is suffering from a progressive disease, perhaps dementia and/or Parkinson’s. Enid has her hands full; Albert has his big blue chair and his basement (laboratory), their exchanges are sad, funny, impossible and cruel.
Then there’s the three kids:
Gary: Married to Caroline, they have three kids living in Philly. He’s an anally retentive sort, kind of depressed and seems to be completely dominated by his wife. He’s also a miser, too careful, too particular for me. He seems depressed, is unhappily married and not really likeable.
Chip: A hopeless type, but likeable enough. He finds it hard to keep hold of a woman. His inability to maintain any sort of responsibility and his lack of means are a problem. He sees himself as a playwright of sorts. Unreliable, spontaneous but an okay kind of guy.
Denise: The youngest of the three, has been married, but is now single – she’s had relationships with both sexes and is an obscenely talented chef. I loved Denise; I wish I had met her back in my early twenties. But methinks, I would have been intimidated by her, she’s not without her issues and faults though – but what a fascinating lady! Sexy too.
This author writes like no other – his characters are so layered, we start off with the two parents and we progress through each of their kids nice and sloooow-like. We shoot backwards and forwards in time, schooldays, boyfriends, girlfriends, arguments, mates, injuries, good things, bad things, jobs, affairs – oh man, everything. Everything we, ourselves, experience in life. The things that make us what we are. I don’t think I’ve known any characters in any book I’ve read – well maybe apart from the likes of Trajan, Hadrian and Nero – as well as I now know the Lamberts.
Franzen frequently takes us on unexpected tangents with this cast, and I would think “why is he taking us here?”. Well perhaps there is no reason why – apart from building the character, so we know who they are. I know the Lamberts - I am intimate with them. Surely, that’s what character pieces are all about?
The narrative moves us steadily to a Christmas Day gathering in the family home, a Christmas which Enid believes will be their last one together due to Alfred’s ill-health. If you read this, you will be very aware – Christmas Day will be a torrid affair. It doesn’t disappoint. Poor, poor Enid – this elderly lady had her hands so full of Albert. I saw bits of this with my father looking after my mother when she had dementia – poor Dad was at his wits end, and he wasn’t well either. You will all find something to relate to in this book, to be sure.
Even though each character, particularly Gary (in my view) act awfully sometimes. Such as the way Gary speaks to his poor Mother at Christmas time. Even though it’s uncomfortable to watch, the reader will know WHY he acts like that. The reader is fully informed of each character’s make up – we know why, we understand, we have empathy. Oh my, this was such a riveting read, I was hooked from page one and the story about Arthur’s Blue Chair.
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