Reviews

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

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emilykomp's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

nike_1212's review against another edition

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5.0

This book starts slowly, and it took me a couple chapters to get into it, because it throws you into the story immediately. We follow the stories, both individually and collectively of a family that struggles across a range of issues. I’ve never read anything from Franzen but I was impressed by the manner in which he wove this interconnected tale across time and space. It’s very psychologically driven and we get a great spectrum of backgrounds and motives of each member of the family. I really loved how he draws out the nasty and painful stuff along the nuance and beauty that makes each of the individuals relate to each other and themselves. It feels real in its tragic, confusing and contradicting rawness. 4.5/5 stars.

darmclough's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

zaharadesert9's review against another edition

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5.0

once i got through the first third of the book and its long chapters, this book flew by. all the scene setting and backstories made me have empathy (and a bit of pity) for the Hildebrandt family that by the end of it I feel like i was their next door neighbor witnessing it all. the common themes of insecurity, sex/love, and individuality were so beautifully interwoven through each character and the various relationships of each character that it was easy to draw connections and find things that seemed to be carried genetically through each generation. also, i thought it was powerful and unique how these themes were masked by deep questions about religion because that added another layer of meaning to each of the Hildebrandt’s struggles. overall, i didnt think i would rate this so high but i definitely recommend especially to people who struggle w societal/religious expectations and acceptance but it also applies to those not dealing w those things!

mercury_skater's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I docked .25 for some of the long writing that took getting used to, and for the general misery of the characters, otherwise it was a fantastically written book

eiridium's review against another edition

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5.0

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen offers profound echoes of Rick Moody's Ice Storm. Although Crossroads is presented across a much grander scale, with a deeper focused psychological exploration of the main characters than Ice Storm, the real differentiator has to be its thought-provoking engagement with spirituality. In addition, the use of various voices is clever and well-implemented - each character's perspective is distinct and cleverly interwoven with a unique voice - credit to Franzen.
The only niggling criticism from me is a perceptible rise in tempo and speed at which time passes in the denouement, the purpose of which is difficult to deduce. Although the reader is ready to find a suitable conclusion to a longer book, the far less narrative detail provided after the 'climax' just seems not to respect the depth of change to the characters' lives.
Nonetheless, this is an absolutely engaging read. The author plays out the backstory for the characters throughout, cleverly and intending to maintain the readers' curiosity throughout. Unfortunately, I failed to develop empathy for the characters. Still, I found their tales and perspectives fascinating - and as an interwoven tale, most excellent.