Franzen as Katz...food for thought

"As it happens, I found it difficult not to see Richard Katz as a stand-in for Franzen himself: an artist whose efforts are for 20 years met with critical acclaim and commercial silence, until, in 2001 (also, ahem, the year The Corrections came out), he produces a huge hit whose popularity and attendant widespread adulation make him squirming and scornful. Katz is the book's best character, an unrepentant speaker of truths, and perhaps it goes without saying that the possible parallels between him and the author only make him more intriguing."

Curtis Sittenfeld


The Observer, Sunday 19 September 2010

Novelist Jonathan Franzen Plays Grist's Bird Game

Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom"

Winter's Bone: our scores

Dear RRs,

Many thanks to Sara for hosting our meeting last night, cooking a truly lovely vegetarian stew and baking the most amazingly gooey birthday chocolate cake for us. Mmmmm J…..

As we also managed to discuss the book, thanks to Raka's notes as well, here comes a summary in numbers of what we thought...  For the very first time it seems that we all agree on the best character and almost agree on the worst one too...But check out Anja's twist....

         Char.s Topic Style UPD* Best Ch.  Worst Ch. FINAL SCORE

Anja      7          6       7       8       Ree           Ree         28

Heather - - - - - - -

Mira - - - - - - -

Monica 7         7        4       4       Ree         Little A       21

Raka     8        9        8        9      Ree          Little A       34

Sara      8       5         9        5     Ree          Little A        28

*UPD = Unputdownableness