A review by samantha_shain
The Discomfort Zone: A Personal History by Jonathan Franzen

3.0

I loved this book and I wish I could give it 5 stars, but unfortunately, Franzen seems to treat women like props or wallpaper... accessories with which men might compete, project, desire, scorn, or wonder. What a shame, because Franzen's adroit reflections on his inner life, his parents' relationship, his adolescence, the influence of literature on his intellectual and social development were all brilliant. I can see why he has gotten so much mainstream acclaim - the writing certainly checks off lots of boxes. The chapter on pranks, the chapter on birding, the chapter on reading Kafka were all exquisite. So, read it if you have a high tolerance of misogyny. Otherwise, keep it moving :)