I wanted to like this but I didn’t

Having finally finished Crossroads I just feel relief. I know Franzen has mastery of his craft, but I struggled to like or identify with any of the characters (except perhaps Clem). As a satire it was particularly brutal and I suspect that having grown up in Australia, where Christianity is less intrusive, I simply had my prejudices reinforced. Here was a family of Christians who seemed to ignore the tenets of their faith and I felt little sympathy for their wallowing self loathing. I was also jarred by the level of hatred being spewed. Perhaps I missed the point...cultural differences and all that, but I won’t be hanging out for the two other volumes of the trilogy.

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5 people found this helpful

Epic.

A heavy slow burn touching on a multitude of sociocultural issues. Great fun. “Page turner” is that applicable here? Addictive! That’s the one.

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Ok...ish

I found this book a bit of a slog to finish. If I had been reading the book I would not have persevered. Individual character stories were good but really drawn out, with it boiling down to coming of age and parents at a crossroads in life, all around a 1970's Christian world. this was the heavy theme throughout and dilemmas that they experience....I struggled most with the religious righteousness and ignorance of these people. I did enjoy parts of the book but definately not others and then the book just ends...

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Jonathan Franzen rocks….

I’m so invested in these characters. Bring on the next please! I listened to this as an audible but definitely need it as a tangible item on my shelf.

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Intricate characters and complicated relationships

Franzen’s talent for creating characters that you truly know is unquestionable and this book is no different. Magnificent character arcs and unexpected ones too. Narrator had a beautiful voice but he would become super breathy with the female characters, which took away from their strength. Particularly with Becky as it turns out.

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Entertaining and thought provoking

A family drama/ saga set against the backdrop of the early 1970s, and everything that brought, from hippies to happy clappy Christianity . Classic Franzen; dysfunctional families, flawed mixed up characters, drugs, sex, desire, dark comedy. I enjoyed this more than any of his other novels. It’s a fun journey but there are plenty of issues along the way to make you think. What does it mean to be good? Are Christian good deeds just to make us feel good? Do we owe our siblings anything? To name just a few. If there were Oscar nominations for reading an audiobook then David Pittu would surely get the nod - fantastic performance!

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A rich saga

This story is long and satisfying as it delves into this family with all its nuances and idiosyncrasies. With the backdrop of the 70s, women’s liberation movement, racism and religion, a fantastic read.

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3 people found this helpful

Near Perfect

A wonderful exploration of faith and choice and consequences. Feels like Franzen didn’t know how to end it but more than worth the Journey.

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Fantastic book!

Fantastic story - it is as good as The Corrections! Full of twists and turns and not a dull moment. I could not stop listening….

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Disappointing for a Franzén

This story although at times compelling left me completely confused as to what the point of it was. There wasn’t a likeable character to be found. Including first Nations Characters was naïvely done and there was such a thick white colonial lens through which that part of the Story was told, It was all just very disappointing. Franzén would benefit from learning some cultural humility.

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1 person found this helpful