Freedom
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4.1 • 264 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Patty and Walter Berglund were the new pioneers of old St. Paul—the gentrifiers, the hands-on parents, the avant-garde of the Whole Foods generation. Patty was the ideal sort of neighbour who could tell you where to recycle your batteries and how to get the local cops to actually do their job. She was an enviably perfect mother and the wife of Walter’s dreams. Together with Walter—environmental lawyer, commuter cyclist, total family man—she was doing her small part to build a better world.
But now, in the new millennium, the Berglunds have become a mystery. Why has their teenage son moved in with the aggressively Republican family next door? Why has Walter taken a job working with Big Coal? What exactly is Richard Katz—outré rocker and Walter’s college best friend and rival—still doing in the picture? Most of all, what has happened to Patty? Why has the bright star of Barrier Street become “a very different kind of neighbour,” an implacable Fury coming unhinged before the street’s attentive eyes?
In this instant #1 bestselling novel, Jonathan Franzen charts the mistakes and joys of these intensely realized characters as they struggle to learn how to live in an ever more confusing world. An epic of contemporary love and marriage, Freedom is a deeply moving portrait of our time.
Customer Reviews
Freedom
Excellent!!!
Freedom
While reading this book, (I was nearly finished), my daughter asked me what it was about. I went into a fairly long explanation, to which she said, “ That’s enough material for five or six books.” However, since Johnathan Franzen can really do no wrong, and can somehow tie a story together, no matter how many components it contains, I read on and on, and very much enjoyed the book. It should be noted, that it has a somewhat liberal, democrat, bent to it, which runs contrary to my political leanings. It was selected by Oprah in 2010 to her book club, but I picked it up anyway, and was pretty happy I did.
Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom: Essential Literature
This novel is full of complex, vividly believable characters, and following along with their struggles is endlessly compelling. The writing style is engrossing, with a staggering level of psychological depth and insight. Everything about the book feels completely honest and authentic, giving readers a stunning look at the joys and pains of human relationships. The only reason to skip it would be if you prefer to read more action-heavy books. Freedom is one of my favourite books of all time and a prime example of the power of storytelling.