The Corrections

The Corrections (2001) by Jonathan Franzen. This is one of the best books of the decade. There was some interesting controversy surrounding it when it was chosen by Oprah's book club. But that is all forgotten when you read the book, which follows the adventures and mishaps of the Lambert family of St. Jude, a mythical Midwestern city. The mother and father, Alfred and Enid, are well into their 70s when the novel begins. Their children, Gary, Chip and Denise, are in their 30s and 40s. At first, it seems that Gary and Denise have their lives together, and that Chip is the black sheep of the family. But as we get to know them better, we learn that Gary and Denise, each in their own way, are plenty screwed up. This book is not just a serio-comic look at a dysfunctional family, but also a wide-ranging and profound commentary on the culture we live in -- or at least lived in. "The Corrections" came out just before 9/11, so Franzen was unable to incorporate that tragedy into the the fabric of his story. But maybe that is just as well. The book provides a sharp snapshot of America just before everything changed, and it is instructive as well as amusing. Grade: A