“But the critics who have been celebrating this long-awaited return to the authoritative caresses of literary realism seem to have forgotten that a book (rather like a lover) can be highly enjoyable without having much substance.”
Ruth Franklin, in The New Republic, which is by far the best piece on Freedom I’ve read. It summarizes the plot, so it may not be good reading for people who haven’t finished the book, yet.
I’m finding Franzen’s two latest novels to be really really funny and light. I don’t take them at all to be serious. They’re really like airport novels for people who don’t read airport novels.
