Read This

There's all kinds of chat and print going around about this novel - rave reviews ("The Great American Novel"), Franzen's photo on the cover of Time magazine, some women writers who got snarky about him getting so much publicity, a terrible review in the Atlantic, some less than enthusiastic reviews by readers on Amazon etc.  

The fact is (in my opinion) it's a delicious read. And 562 pages! You sink into the story and characters, you carry it around in your head all day and can't wait to go to bed at night to start reading again. And it does have a depth that makes you think that maybe it just might be the great American novel - at least of this decade. 

Has anyone read it?

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I'm putting it off because I'm so contrary. I'm dying to start it but the whole media thing irritates me. Maybe now I will...

[Rhonda]

I read it over a weekend and, like you, couldn't put it down. It was absolutely enthralling. Eating and bathing didn't matter while reading this, only a good light source.

[Becca]

Just got in on my e-reader, and planning to read it next week. I sometimes shy away from books that are hyped this much, but this one actually sounds like a good story, so I'm going to try and ignore all the background chatter and just read it as if I discovered it myself! lol

[Barbara]

Elizabeth - I know what you mean - I wasn't going to read it right now but Amazon has it in hardcover for 14 bucks!And a good deal is right up there with a good read.
Rhonda - Lucky you to devote a whole weekend to it!
Becca - and so much contradictory chatter too. Enjoy!

[Sharon Bray]

I'm almost halfway through, and you're right, it lingers in your head all day... :-)

[Brenda Freiberg]

An amazing job of intertwining some of the biggest issues of our time in the daily, mundane lives of members of a family.
The characters really breathe and eat just like we all do.
All this - despite a funny, lingering feeling that I really don't care about these people. But I must because I am barreling through the book.

[Jeannette Bloom]

You're post about the Franzen new came just as I was thinking about what to read next..Thanks for the suggestion and will order it up asap!

[Magdalena Edwards]

He is amazing with dialogue. And so playful. The naysayers are being party poopers, methinks.

[Barbara]

Sharon, Brenda, Jeannette and Magdalena - I'm on the last ten pages and don't want this book to end.
Thanks for your comments -

[helena]

Thank you so much for recommending this book. It is amazing! I can't put it down, I'm carrying it around with me and it just keeps getting better.

[Frank]

Loved the book Barbara. Thanks for recommending it! And, happy new year!

[Pricool]

Pippa, I think blog tours are great. You can do them in your PJs. It just means contacting pelope, offering the book as a give-away, asking for reviews and offering to do posts.I did this with when King Rolen's Kin was released. On one blog there were 75 entries to win a copy of the book. On some there were five, but I figured every book your give-away (if they like it) will get read by their friends, recommended and talked about.Can you organise a give-away of your e-book?

[Takayuki]

Hi Joanna,It's brilliant to hear that you and your wrniitg have benefited so much from Sardinia. I have to get me out there! I think it's also great you are chewing fiction over and enjoying the taste more and more but the best news for me in this post is that you are going to post one of your poems.Naoko's comment mentioned a deep delve into the emotional psyche. This is what poetry is to me. Our thoughts, intentions, feelings and everything else it is possible for us to experience turned into something that the voice (and the heart) can sing out loud.Sometimes we need a group to help us to know what our voice really sounds like. I know I do! Go Joanna!All my best,PaulPauls last blog post..