The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

The Corrections was a 2001 book written by Jonathan Franzen that received rave reviews, multitudes of awards, and is often cited as the greatest work of fiction of the first decade of the new century.

Over the last week I have read this book and must admit that I enjoyed it, parts of it were extremely well written and affecting, and that the story itself was very strong. The story is also unsettling.

Albert Lambert is a retired Railroad Engineer. In his late seventies he now suffers from Parkinson's disease and dementia. As his personality and physicality crumble from what they were his wife Enid endures but suffers as well.

The books features a section on each character, in these sections we travel back and forth in time from the characters childhood through some of the their major life events. Interestingly some of the characters relate the same event through different viewpoints.

Alfred the patriarch of the Lambert family is dignified and correct. He also has been a bit tyrannical in his administration of his house. To me his character represents old America, perhaps even how I feel seeing the technology of cell phones, texting and constant engagement that I sometimes am shocked in seeing. His loyalty to his company, even after he is discarded, is typical of people from that era. His battle with dementia is uncomfortable to see. He keeps his shotgun handy and we pray he does not use it. He suffers with bathroom problems, enemas, and bladder control, adult diapers and conversations with illusory feces. He is a man breaking apart mentally and physically. Near the end of his ability to speak begging his son Chip to, in a moment of final clarity, help him end it he says I and we are told of all he wishes to say. He wishes he could say he is scared, he is in pain, he wants to die, he loves his family, he did his best. Al is a man who has come to the end of his sanity, his clarity, and in that final moment of clarity rages against the world whose rules he has tried to follow.

His wife Enid is a sympathetic character. Raised in the Depression she is constantly concerned about money and finds fault with her husband, her children and like many people we may know is a good person who is too caught up in appearances.

Oldest son Gary is the most unlikable character. A weak willed character he lives in Philadelphia. Rich beyond his dreams, with a wife and kids who have nothing good to say about his family, indeed ridiculing his parents and their Midwestern lifestyle one can sense he has given in so long when he attempts to be the man it is not taken seriously. Perhaps his attitude is explainable as his way to deal with the fear of what is taking place with his father. His desire to control, to make sense, leads to outbursts and cruelty to his parents that is tough to witness. His miserly hounding of his Mother for $4.46 tells much about his character.

Middle Son Chip has made many mistakes. Gaining a Doctorate he is teaching on tenure track at a small collage but in his last year before tenure he self destructs by having an affair with a student. Soon he is working on a screenplay, proofreading for a law firm, dressing too young and too cool for who he is, and placing studs in both ears. When this falls apart he is Lithuania being the marketing and computer muscle in a scheme to defraud investors, mostly American. For all that however Chip becomes a sympathetic character. His ability to understand and accept his father's frailties without judgement show why Alfred over the last year has called out for Chip before asking for anyone who was there. Alfred, losing traction on reality, knows who Chip is.

Lastly we have Denise the baby of the family. A woman of confused sexuality who has made multitudes of mistakes in relationships with both men and women is a Chef of very chic restaurants written up for reviews in the Times and other papers. She is however a wreck, having left her parents hometown of St Jude as long as possible she is haunted by her parents and their mundane lives in contrast to hers. Her discoveries of her father's knowledge of a mistake she committed years ago, known by him since it happened, but never discussed or the knowledge disclosed, feeds her guilt to new levels and fuels her desire to protect her Dad from her older brother's sanctimonious efforts to help.

HBO is currently at work in a series adaption of this book. It should be powerful viewing. It certainly was powerful reading. More like Updike than Cheever, two of the authors I have most seen him compared to Franzen is very very good. If a bit too modern for some of my tastes that is a reflection on me not him.

A book highly recommended.