Freedom

 Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is a big book.  Simple.  Ha!😏  If  only it were simple.  Freedom is about our damn free will.  We live in and through the Berglund family.  Franzen's characterization is exquisite.  You know these characters.  You love them; you root for them; you shake them; you hold your breath until you put the book down to breathe.  

Part of the story is told through Patty.  We begin with her college years and are introduced to her parents and all the other characters through Patty.  Like everybody, she has problems and fails.  She makes poor decisions, but Patty tries.  Actually, everyone tries.  Franzen ties his story lines together towards completion very satisfactorily.  I wish Bobby found his way home, but Franzen didn't think that was necessary.  Bobby will be fine.

My one criticism of the story was that there was too much sex.  Joey and Connie copulate throughout the novel from middle school through adulthood.  And Franzen's descriptions of scatological details will make you gag. But you still won't put the book down.

In fact, everyone is having sex.  But in Franzen's world it's just natural.  It's not pornography; it is necessary for the story.  No way could I say he should have left it out.  The sex enfleshed the plot.  But being an old fogey, I just wished it weren't necessary.