From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Freedom

Jonathan Franzen

Start date: April 15, 2011

Finish date: May 15, 2011

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Barbara

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Reading List

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What Members Thought

Apr 15, 2011 Ruth rated it liked it

I 3/4 loved this book. I just fell into the explorations of character and situations that form character and found it all fascinating, every little detail.

Then suddenly it was all enough, enough, ENOUGH! I felt as if we'd been spinning our wheels in the same ditch for way too long and I couldn't wait for the tractor to come and pull us out. But when it did, I felt let down. It was all just too neat and tidy. A massive buildup to a very small poof! and a sigh.

If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would ...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Laurel Bradshaw rated it liked it

Shelves: chunky-450, minnesota, 20th-century, domestic-fiction, 21st-century, audiobook, perspectives-book-club

I am reluctantly giving this one three stars, because I found it very thought provoking. It is a story that will stay with you, although you really can't stand the characters, and find them highly selfish and disfunctional, and yet you keep reading (or listening) because you want things to work out in the end. Franzen examines the theme of freedom through the often agonizing choices (mostly bad) made by the members of an affluent liberal midwestern family. At the same time he is giving us a very ...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Lisa rated it liked it

Though I am not quite finished reading it I feel the need to talk about it. It is a hard book to enjoy because I haven't developed any attachments to the characters. To be honest there is not a lovable one out of the bunch. Each character has their redeeming qualities, but also seem to be more of a character study than a real person or maybe as if it was all a platform for differing political opinions. The title and reoccurring theme of Freedom means something different to each one. The idea tha ...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Jane rated it really liked it

amazing. I'd give it a 4.5 really. I loved the characters and the sentences and the many ways in which the theme of freedom echoed throughout the book. So many problems with freedom. I don't think that all of the sections worked and balanced each other...too much about the mining/Walter's plans and dreams...too brief a tender conclusion. The parts didn't balance the whole. Also, I'm a little unclear about which part of the diary Walter read earlier, before he kicked his wife out of the house, an ...more

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Mar 12, 2011 April rated it did not like it

Shelves: book-group

I tried; I really did. But just about every time I picked this book up it put me to sleep. I *did* finally manage to finish it, but mainly because I couldn't imagine how Franzen could possibly manage the ending I heard about at book group. And also because I've wondered for years whether I missed something by giving up too quickly on The Corrections. All I can say is that if it weren't for the naps, I'd have gotten absolutely nothing from this book. Imagine "American Beauty," but with absolutely ...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Hillary rated it really liked it

Well-written; great characters. I really enjoyed the book.

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Jan 18, 2011 Yashoda Sampath rated it liked it

so many varying thoughts...

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Feb 05, 2011 Sandy rated it liked it

I liked some parts..most I did not. The last 100 pages and the beginnning were the best parts.
Just could not relate to these cgaracters.

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Oct 25, 2010 Jim rated it it was amazing

have enjoyed the 1st 30-40 pages immensely with the send up of contemporary yuppies and their lifestyle

enjoyed almost every page of this long book
very humorous but thought provoking about modern life

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Mar 07, 2011 Debra added it

Shelves: audiobooks

Because of all the hype, I wanted to read this book. Now, I am thinking that it needs to be washed from my brain. Disagreeable characters, all of whom need hit upside their heads, meandering plots that seems to be modeled on drunken rants.... I am completely puzzled why anyone would gush over this book.

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