"The Corrections" by Johnathan Franzen ..Highly recommended!

[Thursday Mens reading group]

"The Corrections" by Johnathan Franzen was written in 2001 and could be called a "Great American novel" or even a great anti-American Novel". The book itself  has deservedly won many awards. It has a dark kind of humour, that is biting and at times very funny.

The story itself is almost too simple; that of a family re-uniting for a family christmas, possibly for the last time as the Patriach of the family has serious health issues.

The book has some major themes one of which is that of the difference of life-styles or outlooks of those from the mid-west of America and those from the North-East (New York etc). The latter seen effite and degenerate and the former as calsified and backward by the other. The major characters show these characteristics as part of their many character flaws. The father , an old curmudgeon- hardy,moral, and myopic. A stern disciplinarian unable to show feelings or love towards his sons. The mother is loyal and long suffering, and puts a brave face on her husbands deteriorating condition). The eldest son has become a sucessful Yuppie but is married to a wife who manipulates the children against him and undermines his self esteem. The middle son becomes an academic and writes the curriculum on the (sexual) code of conduct with students but becomes involved, comprimised and ultimately sacked for a hapless affair. He then gets involved with a scam that involves floating a former communist country on the internet. The youngest daughter, a successful chef, self destructs by having an affair with her boss..and her bosses wife.

All their lives seem to have failed, and the shame of the secrets behind them are eventually released through the coming together at christmas. (which the matriach of the family hopes unrealisticaly will be a happy occasion)

The book reaches a intergration of sorts as the plot weaves together around the lives and memories of this family, and the characters find a point of acceptence of their situations, and the relationships with their parents. I have not seen or heard a bad review of this book. It is extremely well written and entertaining. It tackles some big themes and does so in a very original and contemporary way.

He has set the bar high for his latest novel!  highly recommended ! 

[Jane B]

I'll have to give this book another go....maybe. I started it and got half way through but couldn't really get into it beause the the middle son, Chip, was just so annoyingly selfish that I couldn't be bothered reading anymore about this boring/boorish family and their Christmas reunion. To me, it is just another cliched American middle class family angst ridden book that has been marketed and critiqued so well so that everyone thinks it is the new "great American novel".