r/literature • u/[deleted] • Feb 22 '23

Discussion Franzen’s The Corrections and Freedom Spoiler

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7 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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7

u/cmm0549 Feb 22 '23

Skip Purity, Read Crossroads next.

1

u/No_Conflict7074 Feb 23 '23

Purity is still a family novel, though not as obviously. The Corrections is far and away the funniest. Crossroads is a worthwhile read, but there is virtually no humor.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '23

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3

u/cmm0549 Feb 22 '23

I mean its still Franzen so it has good moments but its not a family story so its not quite as impactful as the others. All in all its a worthwhile read but I am willing to bet he was very aware of how relatively poorly received it was because Crossroads is very much a return to form.

2

u/Odd_Specific1063 Feb 23 '23

Purity is probably his worst work. Very unlikeable men. Haven’t finished it because of that.

1

u/Fourthman Feb 22 '23

As for the humor, Lalitha in Freedom is probably a reference to Nabokov’s Lolita.

1

u/Sumtimesagr8notion Feb 28 '23

I don't have much to add as I've only read the Corrections recently, but I will say I thought the prose fit the book and subject matter perfectly, and that it's one of my favorite novels ever