The Millions : NPR Reviews the New Franzen

Curiosities

By Garth Risk Hallberg posted at 11:26 am on August 6, 2010 2

Alan Cheuse‘s review of Jonathan Franzen‘s much-anticipated new novel, Freedom, appeared on All Things Considered yesterday…and begs the question of what kind of compassion we look for in novels.

Tom B.
at 12:37 pm on August 8, 2010
I look forward to reading “Freedom,” but with some unease, because Cheuse (and other things I’ve read) make it sound as if Franzen is repeating himself — the new book appears to be very much in the same vein as The Corrections; i.e., another satire of middle-class life. He did it so well the first time, that the second go-round will almost certainly be a disappointment. It’s a safe choice of subject matter, and I hadn’t thought of Franzen as a safe writer up till now.
Rich Hughes
at 9:08 am on August 9, 2010
It’s a horrible review that though – doesn’t really say a great deal. Excited to read this, but agree a little with Tom – sounds like Franzen is in his safety zone here…

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Garth Risk Hallberg is a staff writer for The Millions. He is the author of A Field Guide to the North American Family. His stories and essays have appeared in Glimmer Train, New York Magazine, Slate, Canteen, Best New American Voices 2008, and Best of the Web 2008. He lives in Brooklyn.