Keith's Corrections

No, I am not correcting my previous post.  It is perfect, as are all my posts once published.  It is an insult that you would even consider that I made a mistake.

My first book that I am going to write about is The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.  As you will see, I like to throw my name into the title of the book and use it as the title of the blog entry.  It is my gimmick that will make me famous.  You'll see.

Anyways, so the Corrections.  Wow.  A very hefty tome.  It was a slow start for the book, I'll admit.  Took me awhile to really get into the story, but once I did, I was flying through it.  The characters are some of the most developed I've ever read.  This book is basically five life stories all rolled up into one story of one family.  The main crux of the story takes place within a four month period, where the mother, Enid, tries to get her three adult children to come home to the mid-west for one last Christmas together at their home.  The father, Alfred is suffering from Parkinson's and demetia, and won't make it to another most likely.  Yet the children all lead their own, strange lives, and there are many problems.

There are some strange parts of the story, such as the trip to Lithuania, and Denise flip-flopping in her love life, and early references to Pandora.  Also the talking poop.  These were funny, but overall strange, and kind of brought me out of the story a little bit.  I loved the ending though.  Enid's final monologue and thoughts on her love with Alfred reminded me of the final chapter in Joyce's Ulysses.

As it just so happened, I saw Franzen speak on the night after I finished the Corrections.  He was promoting his new book Freedom on a local campus and I went and heard some of it.  Seems pretty good, like something I will check out later, once it comes out in paperback and the price comes down.

So, The Corrections.  A very strong book with likable, though flawed, characters.  How will I use it in my own work?  Obviously the development of each character, even the smaller supporting ones.  But also the non-traditional time structure of the plot.  I'm not going to analyze all the themes and motifs and plot structures of each book, just overall impressions.  Someone on the street asks, "How was that book you are reading?" and you respond with "It was good."  Well, Why?  Why is it good?  Should I read it too?

4 out of 5 stars.