'Crossroads' by Jonathan Franzen is a family drama set just before Christmas 1971, focusing on the Hildebrandt family. The novel explores the lives of the patriarch Russ, his wife Marion, and their four children - Clem, Becky, Perry, and Judson. Each family member is dealing with their own struggles and desires, leading to a complex web of relationships and personal dilemmas. The narrative delves into themes of religion, morality, faith, love, addiction, betrayal, and existential philosophy. The writing style is described as beautifully written, compelling, and immersive, with a strong focus on character development and domestic dynamics.
The plot of 'Crossroads' revolves around the Hildebrandt family, their individual journeys at personal crossroads, and the interconnected dynamics within the family and the church community. The novel skillfully weaves together themes of family relationships, spirituality, and the challenges of navigating life in the 1970s, creating a rich tapestry of characters and events. The author, Jonathan Franzen, presents a nuanced exploration of human behavior, morality, and the complexities of personal growth and self-discovery through the lens of the Hildebrandt family's experiences.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings may include discussions of addiction, mental health issues, infidelity, and familial dysfunction.
Has Romance?
Romantic themes are present, particularly through the adolescent experiences and adult relationships, and are woven into the characters' larger struggles.
From The Publisher:
Seleccionado como uno de los mejores libros de ficción del 2021 por Publishers Weekly
Uno de los libros favoritos de Obama en el 2021
Vuelve Franzen con una gran saga familiar. Su mejor novela desde Libertad
Estamos a 23 de diciembre de 1971, y la familia Hildebrandt se halla en una encrucijada. Russ, el patriarca, pastor adjunto en una iglesia de Chicago, está a punto de liberarse del yugo de un matrimonio que considera infeliz... Suponiendo que Marion, su brillante e inestable esposa, no se libere primero. Tras haber hecho algo que va a destrozar al padre, el primogénito, Clem, regresa a casa para pasar las vacaciones. Su hermana Becky, que desde hace tiempo es la indiscutible reina de la vida social de su colegio, ha virado hacia la contracultura de la época. Y Perry, el pequeño, harto de vender hierba para mantener su adicción a las drogas, está decidido a ser una persona mejor. Por caminos muy distintos, los Hildebrandt ansían una libertad que los demás amenazan con complicar.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
Publishers Weekly Best Book 2021 Fiction
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2021
It's December 23, 1971, and heavy weather is forecast for Chicago. Russ Hildebrandt, the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church, is on the brink of breaking free of a marriage he finds joyless-unless his wife, Marion, who has her own secret life, beats him to it. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college on fire with moral absolutism, having taken an action that will shatter his father. Clem's sister, Becky, long the social queen of her high-school class, has sharply veered into the counterculture, while their brilliant younger brother Perry, who's been selling drugs to seventh graders, has resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandt's seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate.
Jonathan Franzen's novels are celebrated for their unforgettably vivid characters and for their keen-eyed take on contemporary America. Now, in Crossroads, Franzen ventures back into the past and explores the history of two generations. With characteristic humor and complexity, and with even greater warmth, he conjures a world that resonates powerfully with our own.
A tour de force of interwoven perspectives and sustained suspense, its action largely unfolding on a single winter day, Crossroads is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis. Jonathan Franzen's gift for melding the small picture and the big picture has never been more dazzlingly evident.
Ratings (22)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (8) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (33):
Read It (22) | |
Want To Read (10) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
I have been attending churches from my childhood years, hence Crossroads is a familiar place, with a mix of genuine faith and religious performance, Franzen brings the reader home to the world of fallible men and women trying to live by the holy book.
What can you read after
Crossroads?
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