I recently read The Corrections (I finally got around to it after it had been in a book pile for about 3 years) and found it witty, humane, insightful, politically aware and moving. I think It's a masterpiece.
I read somewhere that Tolstoy showed his genius by making Natasha in War and Peace a completely good character. Portraying good people in novels is much more difficult than portraying bad or outright evil people.
Read Corrections recently and found it to be work of deep quality by an ambitious author. It had a middle 50 page stretch that was a bit tedious, but that can happen when books are over 500 pages. The unfolding of a love triangle was some of the most intense shit I've ever read. I recommend it and I definitely will read another of his novels.
👍on the playful quote.. The Proposition is a great postmodern hellish western film. Anyone who likes that stuff will find Blood Meridian one of the greatest reading experiences of their life.
Based on your ranking of the other four novels, I think you would enjoy Strong Motion. Basically it's an early prototype of what would become the Franzen Family Drama, but with a bit of the mystery/thriller-ish vibe of his debut -- stylistically, it's pretty much what you'd expect considering this was written in between The Twenty-Seventh City and The Corrections. It's kind of a blend of the two. My List: 1. Freedom 2. The Corrections 3. Strong Motion 4. The Twenty-Seventh City 5. Purity
Hi, I see your everywhere, a lot in leaf by leafs channel. After 3 years, would you still recommend Franzen? I'm unsure about buying his books, I love Pynchon, do you think I'd enjoy franzen's writing?
Have you read any Flannery O'Connor? Her characterization is wonderful, and it's absolutely critical to her stories (I've yet to read either of her novels). You should perhaps make a video on how you annotate novels and stories that you read. It would be very helpful for individuals who aren't very efficient notetakers.
I'm not sure I'm too efficient as a notetaker myself but that's a good idea, thanks ^^! I've never read any of her stuff but I've got a friend who was obsessed with her a few years ago; I'd really like to check her stories out sometime :)
I have a feeling that whether people prefer "Freedom" or "The Corrections" is mostly determined by which one you read first. As pointed out, they are extremely similar books. Now that I've had some time to let both books settle in my mind, I think The Corrections is probably the stronger of the two, but I initially didn't have nearly as good a time reading it because I had already read Freedom, and I couldn't shake off that feeling of familiarity.
Robert Baillargeon I get what you mean although I read Freedom second and prefer it.They are very similar. I feel Freedom is sort of like Corrections Redux. Despite the high polish of the Corrections Freedom is another level. Corrections is funnier. Some of the soapbox stuff in Freedom is a bit overdone. Corrections is probably the better book I just love the sweep of Freedom and the ending killed me.
when I read the title of this video I was like "but eh... Franzen only has 4 or 5 novels..." jajaja I've only read this latest works: The corrections, Freedon and Purity, and I liked them in that order. The corrections is one of my favorite books of all times, I loved everything in it: the narrative structure, the characterization, the themes, the reflection, everything! Then Freedom, though I liked it a lot too, felt kind of repetitive to me. I hope to read his first novel, and some of his essays, this year! :D
What made you shall we say drift apart from wallace? Is there something in his biography that you disliked or is it something about wallace himself that you disliked?
His writing! I was never a big fan of his fiction outside Infinite Jest, and for all that I loved IJ a lot, when I studied it for my undergraduate dissertation I realized it was not quite the book I had taken it to be. It was indeed a mockery of precisely the kind of fiction I love! I might explain it in a video sometime ;)
I've started reading The Corrections and after meeting the characters, I thought, "There are no likeable characters in this book" and yet after hearing your review I'll carry on instead of bailing out. The redemption at the end of the novel sounds good . . .
I do! Although I've only read three or four of his books - I'd really love to dive deeper into his production. The Sirens of Titan has been on my shelf for ages now.
Not quite because I'm not so familiar with his general bibliography (I've read, like, three of his books), but I might film a reader's guide about either of those books you've mentioned!
I don't actually (I did on Anobii before I started filming video-reviews). Lately I've been thinking about submitting some longer reviews to magazines and such, but I'm way too busy to try that anytime soon :P
Poor Franzen with his callow debut never bettered! It's very entertaining but c'mon! For me, Freedom definitely no1, Corrections 2. Other two still gotta read.
Franzen probably made a mistake by having a title inspired by William Gaddis and a character with the same name as a Dickens book. That's about as in-depth as people read, hence the criticism about him ripping people off.
Wow wow, I want to hear more about that train-Operation-table-in-Mexico story
BillyPilgrim Yes!
Yes, what on earth happened?! :0
I recently read The Corrections (I finally got around to it after it had been in a book pile for about 3 years) and found it witty, humane, insightful, politically aware and moving. I think It's a masterpiece.
I read somewhere that Tolstoy showed his genius by making Natasha in War and Peace a completely good character. Portraying good people in novels is much more difficult than portraying bad or outright evil people.
I would love to see a video of you talking about how your opinions of DFW have shifted
Read Corrections recently and found it to be work of deep quality by an ambitious author. It had a middle 50 page stretch that was a bit tedious, but that can happen when books are over 500 pages. The unfolding of a love triangle was some of the most intense shit I've ever read. I recommend it and I definitely will read another of his novels.
"Boks"? What fresh postmodern hell is this?
Clearly it's a sly reference to experimental poet Christian Bok
👍on the playful quote.. The Proposition is a great postmodern hellish western film. Anyone who likes that stuff will find Blood Meridian one of the greatest reading experiences of their life.
I'm planning to read The Corrections by mid February so this was excellent!
Lectito in Spain made me excited to read it!!
Based on your ranking of the other four novels, I think you would enjoy Strong Motion. Basically it's an early prototype of what would become the Franzen Family Drama, but with a bit of the mystery/thriller-ish vibe of his debut -- stylistically, it's pretty much what you'd expect considering this was written in between The Twenty-Seventh City and The Corrections. It's kind of a blend of the two.
My List:
1. Freedom
2. The Corrections
3. Strong Motion
4. The Twenty-Seventh City
5. Purity
Hi, I see your everywhere, a lot in leaf by leafs channel. After 3 years, would you still recommend Franzen? I'm unsure about buying his books, I love Pynchon, do you think I'd enjoy franzen's writing?
Totally agree with your order. I couldn't finish Purity and strong motion, but plowed through the top three.
Nice video - thanks for the ranking and your comments!
Have you read any Flannery O'Connor? Her characterization is wonderful, and it's absolutely critical to her stories (I've yet to read either of her novels).
You should perhaps make a video on how you annotate novels and stories that you read. It would be very helpful for individuals who aren't very efficient notetakers.
I'm not sure I'm too efficient as a notetaker myself but that's a good idea, thanks ^^! I've never read any of her stuff but I've got a friend who was obsessed with her a few years ago; I'd really like to check her stories out sometime :)
I have a feeling that whether people prefer "Freedom" or "The Corrections" is mostly determined by which one you read first. As pointed out, they are extremely similar books. Now that I've had some time to let both books settle in my mind, I think The Corrections is probably the stronger of the two, but I initially didn't have nearly as good a time reading it because I had already read Freedom, and I couldn't shake off that feeling of familiarity.
Robert Baillargeon I get what you mean although I read Freedom second and prefer it.They are very similar. I feel Freedom is sort of like Corrections Redux. Despite the high polish of the Corrections Freedom is another level. Corrections is funnier. Some of the soapbox stuff in Freedom is a bit overdone. Corrections is probably the better book I just love the sweep of Freedom and the ending killed me.
Very good point!
when I read the title of this video I was like "but eh... Franzen only has 4 or 5 novels..." jajaja
I've only read this latest works: The corrections, Freedon and Purity, and I liked them in that order. The corrections is one of my favorite books of all times, I loved everything in it: the narrative structure, the characterization, the themes, the reflection, everything! Then Freedom, though I liked it a lot too, felt kind of repetitive to me. I hope to read his first novel, and some of his essays, this year! :D
I'll read his essay books this year too!
What made you shall we say drift apart from wallace? Is there something in his biography that you disliked or is it something about wallace himself that you disliked?
MultiCastorFiber could be his writing
His writing! I was never a big fan of his fiction outside Infinite Jest, and for all that I loved IJ a lot, when I studied it for my undergraduate dissertation I realized it was not quite the book I had taken it to be. It was indeed a mockery of precisely the kind of fiction I love! I might explain it in a video sometime ;)
I've started reading The Corrections and after meeting the characters, I thought, "There are no likeable characters in this book" and yet after hearing your review I'll carry on instead of bailing out. The redemption at the end of the novel sounds good . . .
Have you read Crossroads?
what about Kurt vonnegut? do you like him a lot?
I do! Although I've only read three or four of his books - I'd really love to dive deeper into his production. The Sirens of Titan has been on my shelf for ages now.
The_Bookchemist if you read more of him, please make a video!!
great video as always! keep it up. Are you planing on doing anything on Philip Roths work, for example "American Pastoral", "Human stain"?
Not quite because I'm not so familiar with his general bibliography (I've read, like, three of his books), but I might film a reader's guide about either of those books you've mentioned!
Your videos are excellent. Do you publish written reviews?
I hope and he should.
I don't actually (I did on Anobii before I started filming video-reviews). Lately I've been thinking about submitting some longer reviews to magazines and such, but I'm way too busy to try that anytime soon :P
The_Bookchemist if there's a will there's a way. Or so they say.
ur the best
Man I love boks
Poor Franzen with his callow debut never bettered! It's very entertaining but c'mon! For me, Freedom definitely no1, Corrections 2. Other two still gotta read.
Franzen probably made a mistake by having a title inspired by William Gaddis and a character with the same name as a Dickens book. That's about as in-depth as people read, hence the criticism about him ripping people off.
Have you read his essay collection 'How To Be Alone'? It's pretty good.
I'll be reading it this year! I might have read some essays in it so far, he's got some pretty curious ideas about stuff :)
The Corrections - hands down.
His boks rule.
How come you've read this hack but not Bolaño smh
Scholars who think Wallace was one of the greatest writers of the 20th/21st century. What scholars would they be?