Freedom
Jonathan Franzen · b. 1959 · United States
Why it matters
A Minnesota family's marriage, politics, and betrayals unspool against the Iraq War and the excesses of the 2000s. Franzen's sprawling follow-up to The Corrections, greeted as a defining novel of its American moment.
At a glance
family sagapsychological novel
Difficulty 5/10medium pace576 pagesA long, multi-perspective family saga in otherwise accessible realist prose.
Where to go next
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Percival Everett · 2001ErasureLvl 6Fast paced
Alice McDermott · 1998Charming BillyLvl 5Slow burn