How can you not LOVE it?

Dear Corrections' Reader:

I don't care if this is my fiftieth posting about Jonathan Franzen. Some people only blog on such narrow topics as the TV serial True Blood! I may have to change my introduction to the PinkTaxiBlogger to: "she writes about family, fitness, art, literature, music and ....Franzen."

A friend read Corrections before me and when I had recommended Freedom, he was incredulous: "how could you? I read Corrections and hated it." I can't recall if he had used the word hate but it was a negative. His opinion in mind, I concluded that Corrections must have been a rough start to Franzen's career despite it being the Winner of the National Book Award.

Instead, I am enjoying every page of The Corrections, every sentence, every grammatical construction, every character development. How does Jonathan Franzen imbue his characters with such distinctive personalities? Why is it that not one of them is the main protagonist and that we enjoy three to four narrations in each novel? How can he paint the background, especially the interiors, with the precision of Norman Rockwell?

My friend said he wouldn't be able to stomack another book about the MidWest. He compared it to my dislike of World War novels. But I did read Hemingway and enjoyed it. There is a difference between a Hemingway and another author of World War. But there isn't a difference between a Hemingway and a Franzen. Franzen is as important a writer. I can stand categorical.

I have reached mid-way through The Corrections. I cannot imagine it going downhill from here. In fact the plot is building, full of drama, comedy and poetry.

I am relishing it and wondering if Franzen is creating another novel as I write. Otherwise, I would be left with his first two novels and none have praised them.

Sincerely,