Freedom
4th Estate
Freedom. It encapsulates people's hopes, dreams, aspirations, experiences and beliefs. It inspires and moves us. It rouses us into action. It can be manipulated, stripped, abused and denied. And whilst some go to extreme lenghts to gain it, most take it for granted.
Freedom is the story of Patty and Walter Berglund; their children Joey and Jessica; and their friend Richard Katz. Its a portrait of modern America - not the star spankle, clean cut version, but the ugly, selfish, wart-riddled society it has morphed into. It's a story of how individuals use their personal rights to deny others theirs. The ever increasing self-centredness of individuals and their refusal to put the needs of society before their own.
The dialogue is witty and razor sharp in its accurate portrayal of 21st century society. My one criticism however is the long waffling passages. Franzen likes to take the reader inside the protagonist's head. He walks us inside their shoes and we are privy to their every thought. This leads to long segments that slow the narrative and detract from the overall message of the book. I would have preferred to have the characters just take me on their journey rather than invite me to a therapy session that stretch beyond the customery one hour.
Thankfully towards the end, the narrative takes on a different pace. Franzen rewards the reader for their patience by giving them a sharp and highly satisfying ending. Yes the journey is at times arduous. Yes the characters are unlikable and at times infuriating. But atleast for this reader, the end made the journey worthwhile. 4 stars.
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