The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen

I was recommended this book by a good friend - in fact it is also in a collection of books I apparently must read before I die! I struggle to describe this book - it is brilliantly written and manages to graphically describe the thoughts and actions of a middle-class American family and their dsyfunctional lives. It is not for the faint hearted - the grown up children's sexual behaviours are extreme as Franzen opens up the minds and lives of the characters in explicit detail. I didn't warm to any of the characters but I came to understand some of the reasons for why they acted in the way they did. The portrayal of Alfred, the father, dealing with dementia really makes this book, for me, worth reading. Many reviewers see great wit and humour on the pages but I only laughed out loud on page 575! I was also disappointed by the ending and at times the intensity of the writing lens became oppressive.... but having said all that, the writing is clever and thought provoking and it will have a lasting impact on me.