The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen Book Summary

BOOK SCORE
4
TOTAL RATINGS
805
BOOK PRICE
$12.99

Winner of the 2001 National Book Award for Fiction
Nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award
An American Library Association Notable Book

Jonathan Franzen's third novel, The Corrections, is a great work of art and a grandly entertaining overture to our new century: a bold, comic, tragic, deeply moving family drama that stretches from the Midwest at mid-century to Wall Street and Eastern Europe in the age of greed and globalism. Franzen brings an old-time America of freight trains and civic duty, of Cub Scouts and Christmas cookies and sexual inhibitions, into brilliant collision with the modern absurdities of brain science, home surveillance, hands-off parenting, do-it-yourself mental healthcare, and the anti-gravity New Economy. With The Corrections, Franzen emerges as one of our premier interpreters of American society and the American soul.

Enid Lambert is terribly, terribly anxious. Although she would never admit it to her neighbors or her three grown children, her husband, Alfred, is losing his grip on reality. Maybe it's the medication that Alfred takes for his Parkinson's disease, or maybe it's his negative attitude, but he spends his days brooding in the basement and committing shadowy, unspeakable acts. More and more often, he doesn't seem to understand a word Enid says.

Trouble is also brewing in the lives of Enid's children. Her older son, Gary, a banker in Philadelphia, has turned cruel and materialistic and is trying to force his parents out of their old house and into a tiny apartment. The middle child, Chip, has suddenly and for no good reason quit his exciting job as a professor at D------ College and moved to New York City, where he seems to be pursuing a "transgressive" lifestyle and writing some sort of screenplay. Meanwhile the baby of the family, Denise, has escaped her disastrous marriage only to pour her youth and beauty down the drain of an affair with a married man--or so Gary hints.

Enid, who loves to have fun, can still look forward to a final family Christmas and to the ten-day Nordic Pleasurelines Luxury Fall Color Cruise that she and Alfred are about to embark on. But even these few remaining joys are threatened by her husband's growing confusion and unsteadiness. As Alfred enters his final decline, the Lamberts must face the failures, secrets, and long-buried hurts that haunt them as a family if they are to make the corrections that each desperately needs.

The Corrections Book Details

Book Name The Corrections
Genre Literary Fiction
Author Jonathan Franzen
Published 15 September 2001, Saturday
Price $12.99
E-Book Size 6.39 MB

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen Book Reviews

Free International Money Transfer 💸

Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 120 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks! The cheap, fast way to send money abroad. Free transfer up to 500 USD!

Emmet Aloysius

Excessive. Franzen is a great writer but his books are excessive in length and expression. It seems as if he is trying to prove how smart he is instead of just telling an interesting story for our enjoyment...EAF

The skyrog

Incredible.. This book changed my life.

Brennansgranmom

Five Stars. I loved The Corrections and looked forward to reading every evening. I’m sorry now if finished and that they’re not part of my world any longer! This is a raw look at what really happens between family members and it’s easy to recognize those you know- I’m so glad to have found this author!

Richard Bakare

What Goes Unsaid. In a sentence, this book felt like watching the slow suffocating misery of first world problems play out in front of you. That is the dispassionate spectator in me not finding a connection in the characters in this book that made me care for their issues. That summation sits in stark contrast to the pull of Franzen’s books for me. Franzen’s greatest skill is being able to illustrate through various scenarios what it looks like when expectations coming crashing into the steel reinforced brick wall of reality. Franzen is a master at capturing the unspoken grey area of what it means to exist. He creates characters whose struggles you understand but struggle to feel sorry for. Each of his novels could represent the Great American Novel in that they pop the balloon on the idea of the Great American Dream. Specifically, in how all the endless work and riches don’t satisfy the most basic human needs and desires. Moreover, in what goes unsaid by the characters, oceans of dissatisfaction fill the emptiness. I enjoyed “Freedom” so much more. Where I could not put that one down, I was ready for “The Corrections” to end at barely a hundred pages in. That said, I can see why it was such a draw for many. Well written and layered with pages of drama, subtext, through lines, and complexity to keep the most experienced reader engaged. Franzen’s novels have real meat on their bones that stick with you long after you’ve put them down. Even if some characters and sections don’t quite fit your palate.

Luft 57

Correcttons. Wonderful read. Quirky characters made real. Loved the dynamics between the parents and their three children and how they loved their parents but couldn’t be with them for too long. Lot’s of corrections: drug corrections, self corrections and parents correcting each other and most of their children. I also liked the way he included a little existentialism and Plato I love the way Franzen writes.

BrianCarter

Beautiful. This is a book that generates strong emotions, you will either love it, or you will hate it. Either way, I have yet to meet someone who didn't have strong feelings about it. My view: I think this is my favorite book. There aren't a lot of books that keep me thinking about them months and years later. I identified very strongly with the Lamberts, even though they are nothing like me, they were still so familiar. Incidentally, another book that made me feel this way was Franzen's other book, 'Freedom'. In any case, my wife hated it and couldn't finish it. Only time I've seen her put down a book.

Meghana N

Don't deny yourself.. This is a painfully truthful book about life (as most anyone knows it) that you can't turn away from.

Lisa Barton

Brilliant!. I absolutely loved this novel! I was enthralled with the prose, feelings, and social cues we generally go through as humans but never really name is expressed in this novel and was my favorite part. What an eye opener! I feel this brilliant author of The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen who is an absolute a genius in his production of this literary book, as well as his other works, novels, etc. I don't understand why his novels are so harshly criticized. If you had choice to read James Patterson's mass produced books with co-authors and two page chapter's, what's the point? He , Patterson , is trying to make a lot of money off waco' murderers who he co-writes and in one of he books he commented that he uas 19 books going at once! How can he nurture and care deeply about the mass production of writing a book every two months and then you compare it to Jonathan Franzen's novels, you would see the brilliance of Mr. Franzen. He is so careful with each word and sentence structure albeit painfully constructed, it is something you would love to read his works. What a refreshing literary piece to sink your teeth into. Loved it! I intend to read every book he wrote and I also compare this author of our times as up there with Tennessee Williams and Lord Byron and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mr. Franzen has to be the best intellectually stimulating writer of our times! As usual, Oprah always picks the best books to read. I haven't read a bad one yet. Sorry Franzen, I know you want to have your material stand for itself, however because of Ms. Winfrey, I never would of known of your awesome works! You are simply the best and a pure genius!

808fgirl

Irritating. I just couldn't connect with this book. I found the characters unbelievably dull. The prose is extremely irritating ---- unless you like filling in the blanks and run on sentences that go on and on for pages at a time! Don't waste your money!

WalkingonSand

The Corrections. One of the better writers of his generation, Franzen explores life in this must read.

Handke

Terrific. Deep.

GiuliaNYC

Meh. Had a few LOL moments but otherwise, Meh. Quit 1/3 through

Thecountchocula

Yes irritating. Have to agree with 'irritating'. Took two years of picking this book back up to finally finish. Can't see why the book has so much praise ... Was there a plot?

Deni6'4"

It depends on what you’re looking for…. I have rarely felt that a book was so technically and thematically brilliant, but also so raw and unnerving. I can’t say I “enjoyed” this book because it is quite frankly depressing and almost “too real.” But I’ve read a lot of Franzen and he is truly an incredible writer (e.g. precise vocabulary choice, beautiful prose, relevant cultural themes, detailed character/plot development, etc.). And so while I absolutely appreciate this novel as the outstanding literary work that it is, it was often a very gut-wrenching and sad read for me. If you are looking for a book that truly and painfully reflects some of the hard and dark struggles/choices in life, this is it. If you’re looking for a story with fun and joy, or light/fast reading, this is NOT it.

Racniccha

Phenomenal. If I ever got married, they'ed have to read this first

Irritatedtoo

irritating and more irritating. tried to read this book last year ....this book is really a struggle to get through...agree with other reviews that the book rambles on and on with no plot to really grab you.....not sure what all the praise is about...someone enlighten me please

Mind Lab Pro 🎯

Mind Lab Pro boosts work performance and productivity with nootropics for focus, multitasking under stress, creative problem-solving and more. Buy Now!

🪙 You are *this* close to claiming $10 of Bitcoin!

Discover how specific cryptocurrencies work — and get a bit of each crypto to try out for yourself. Coinbase is the easiest place to buy and sell cryptocurrency. Sign up and get started today.

Jonathan Franzen - The Corrections Comments

5 Books like The Corrections (Jonathan Franzen)

About Author "Jonathan Franzen"

Jonathan Earl Franzen (born August 17, 1959) is an American novelist and essayist. His 2001 novel The Corrections, a sprawling, satirical family drama, drew widespread critical acclaim, earned Franzen a National Book Award, was a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist, earned a James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. His novel Freedom (2010) garnered similar praise and led to an appearance on the cover of Time magazine alongside the headline "Great American Novelist". Franzen's latest novel Crossroads was published in 2021, and is the first in a projected trilogy. Franzen has contributed to The New Yorker magazine since 1994. His 1996 Harper's essay "Perchance to Dream" bemoaned the state of contemporary literature. Oprah Winfrey's book club selection in 2001 of The Corrections led to a much publicized feud with the talk show host. Early life and education Franzen was born in Western Springs, Illinois, the son of Irene (née Sup....

5 Best Jonathan Franzen Books
Popular Free Books
Inside Threat E-Book Download
Inside ThreatMatthew QuirkMysteries & Thrillers2023-06-13
Sweet Spot E-Book Download
Sweet SpotSusan MalleryFiction & Literature2018-08-27
Mine To Keep E-Book Download
Mine To KeepNatasha MadisonRomance2023-12-29
The Secret E-Book Download
The SecretLee Child & Andrew ChildMysteries & Thrillers2023-10-24
Apples Never Fall E-Book Download
Apples Never FallLiane MoriartyFiction & Literature2021-09-14
The Silo Series Collection E-Book Download
The Silo Series CollectionHugh HoweyFiction & Literature2020-05-19
Blog
Is Buying a Prebuilt Shopify Store Worth It? A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction: The Allure of Prebuilt Shopify Stores In the world of e-commerce, time is money. Business owners are constantly looking for ways to streamline processes, save time, and generate revenue quickly. Prebuilt Shopify stores have emerged as a...

10 Proven Strategies to Increase Website Traffic and Boost Your Online Presence

Hey there! Are you tired of staring at your website analytics and wishing those numbers would magically increase? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’re going to share with you 10 proven strategies to skyrocket your website traffic ...

Is it worth buying a prebuilt Shopify store?

For those looking to launch a successful ecommerce store quickly and with minimal effort, buying a prebuilt Shopify store can be an attractive option. But is it worth it? In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of purchasing an existin...

When will GA4 be released and what features will it include?

GA4, or Google Analytics 4, is the latest iteration of Google’s popular web analytics platform. The platform was officially launched in October 2020, and it promises to offer a range of new and improved features for businesses and marketers. On...

How can you prepare for the release of GA4

The release of GA4, or Google Analytics 4, represents a major step forward for web analytics and businesses. With its advanced measurement capabilities, user-friendly interface, and improved privacy features, GA4 has the potential to revolutionize th...