Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Catching up�

I remember when we discussed this years ago in our Library Book Discussion group. So, when it was donated to my Little Free Library Shed recently, it looked like it was time to re-visit it so that I could write a review.

This is a story of contemporary American life. Or, is it an indictment of it? In some ways, don’t be surprised if you feel a bit bored by it. It is after all 562 pages.

Franzen begins his story with an introduction to Walter and Patty Berglund as seen through the eyes of his neighbors. They are earnest and socially conscious individuals who have raised two children and live in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. In any story like this, there is going to be some “challenges.� Like when their son Joey decides to start having a relationship with a slightly older girl next door. How will that decision impact the overly observant neighbors?

But things don’t stop there. The author takes us in several other directions. Readers are treated to Patty’s unpublished memoir, which takes us back in time. And, then readers get more POV perspectives in other character voices which carry us through to the end.

When we think we are getting somewhere, we are interrupted with some cliffhanger and/or foreshadowing event into another character’s story. In some ways, it allows readers to gain a variety of character’s perspectives on the same scene.

Still, if any of this sounds confusing, it really wasn’t, it just was an interesting way on how to read this story. And, it really added to the group discussion because of all the character perspectives in the book.

But…I know there is that but.

There are so many characters. So many to love, hate, pity, care about, or not! And, how do we keep track of them all? But�

Again, the but.

This is Franzen. This is how he tells his stories. Character-building and breaking down. It is all about central drama. Readers either like it or they don’t.

And, as electrifying as it was as a discussion book, it wasn’t my favorite book of his. But one that I believe grabs readers because the characters are just different and you can’t help but wonder about them when you are away from the pages. And, that is something for readers to consider, as well. Will you invest in them, or not? And, that is the beauty of a book like this…Readers can decide to simply open the book, begin to read, like it or not!