For me, this book falls into the "oddly compelling" category. I pushed through 500+ pages, despite the fact that 90% of it was filled with and dominated by unlikeable characters. Nonetheless, the story was interesting and Franzen is an evocative writer. I am perplexed, however, by the number of annual top-ten lists on which this book has appeared. While interesting, I didn't find it amazing and I certainly preferred Franzen's earlier work, "The Corrections". "Freedom" essentially follows one family over 30+ years, with frequent reflections on the meaning and limits of liberty, particularly in contemporary America. Given that others have ascribed greatness to this book, it is perhaps worth picking up--maybe I just missed something.
3/5 Stars.
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