Purity discussion

Franzen was formerly one of my favorite writers, but I feel this book really suffers from lack of editing. What is particularly frustrating is the arrangement of the chapters, in reverse chronological order immediately after there is plot development on the main story line, about characters we don't care about. This LOST style of sequencing really does not work.

To me, the book seemed quite linear. The last chapter definitely happens several months if not a year or more after the first. There was the flashback sequence, which was announced as such. There were also a couple chapters in the middle that seemed to be out of order, but later Purity explains that in her cover story she changed the timeline of events to seem less suspicious.

I did feel that the pacing was off, but all of Franzen's work are that way ... which feeds into your subject question!

Interesting. After a period of being a little let down by the book, something came to me, and it may be nonsense. It occurred to me that Franzen is more than able to write a cohesive narrative, even if he does move around in time a bit. I wondered if the fragmentation that I felt, not only in the progression of events, but in the characters and their relationships as well, could perhaps be a purposeful evocation of what it feels like to live on social media. Things are all slightly out of synch, one's perceptions are skewed, I find myself replying to threads here that are three years old. You never hear a tone of voice, you learn things before you want to know them (spoilers), and now and again you realize you're having a deep conversation which may be intellectually interesting, but lacks -- what? Purity never really seemed to connect with anyone, truly, no matter how much she wishes to, or attemps to. There was a sense in which I wanted to be her mother, unwired.

This is all just imagination on my part. Franzen is one of the writers I really trust, and I can't help but think he intended me to be unsettled. (Which is, after all, something he's really good at!)

The storyline is entertaining though it is a bit self-indulgent. It doesn't seem like it merited the length or difficulty of the book.

I wonder if Franzen is still stung by Freedom being an Oprah Bookclub book of the month. Maybe is seeking more critical acclaim, like the Pulitzer?

Tammy wrote: "To me, the book seemed quite linear. The last chapter definitely happens several months if not a year or more after the first. There was the flashback sequence, which was announced as such. There w..."

Tammy, I agree that Franzen keeps the reader off-balance. It's a technique, and I always enjoy it. I'll be a Flying Wolenza in the hands of a good writer! I was put off for about a week after I finished the book. But then I realized what he was doing, and I think it's brilliant. I usually have to digest a book for a bit, I get so immersed, before I know what I think, what the structure, the locations, the characters each were, where the center was, and what door I exited from. A good writer creates so many entrances, so many ways out.

EDIT: I think the book was certainly linear. Flashbacks aren't non-linear. I think the non-linear factor lies in Purity's assumptions and her actions, her rushes-to-judgment. Purity is non-linear, but self-discovery is that way.

This was my first attempt at reading this guys work. I quit halfway through. He can write, but this was all over the place and a bit obsessed with mommy/daddy issues. I never felt the story moved and never launched.

I like books that play with conventions, such as jumping around in time, but I really didn't feel it worked here. It seemed like people were presented in the ways that made them look their worst. So many messed-up people in this book, and the commentary on social media, truth, etc, didn't go anywhere. Then the ending for Wolfe is a copout. I almost quit reading this book many times but kept on because it was by Franzen. What I felt about Freedom was that he was fond of his characters in spite of their flaws, but here he showed everyone as screwed up, especially the women.