The Rif Raff Book Club's September reading was The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen.

The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen

What a great book. It was a little long, but well worth it. The authors portrayal of the family and the many facets of each persons role in it was extremely well done. I thought the characters were completely thought out and remained consistent through out the book. I could see why Oprah wanted this book on her show. It had many discussion points regarding family life in this country an how people try to "fix" the things they encounter. I liked taking the journey with this book through the lives of what I would call common people. The mind games and family role expectation seemed universal to most families I've known. I didn't start out liking the book, but half way through it turned me around. From now on I'm doomed to get through every book waiting for the payoff.

The book was well written - and pretty darn long. At times it seemed that the author pulled and inserted an observation he had written down on a piece of paper from years back and thrown into a bag knowing he would use it in a novel at some time. But it was definately a good read. This is not a book to be read in a hurry - but slowly for the pleasure of reading.

Truly a jolting slice of family life in all it's dysfunctional, neurotic glory. Franzen has done a superb job of capturing the nuances and absurdities of familial life, through guilt, control, and emotional distance. It was interesting to learn about each family members "little secret" and how they all intertwined. I was somewhat unsatisfied that Caroline, Gary's picture perfect wife didn't get any comeuppance for being the complete shrew and control freak she was. It was sad reading how she would pit the children against their own father and further, to disrespect and make fun of their Grandmother the way she did. In a way she was sort of a tragic immature character who did not realize that despite her disdain for Gary's parents, they were still her children's grandparents and she stole from them the opportunity to have a nurturing experience beyond what she could give, which clearly had Oedipus undertones. Another hard to believe passage dealt with Enid oral adventures in Alfred's nether-regions. Hardly the sort of sexual activity displayed by women in the mid 50's, but overall, albeit a long read, quite a good one.