mundinova's review against another edition
3.0
You're a bad liberal.
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
You're a bad environmentalist.
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
You don't understand Edith Wharton.
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
Jonathan Franzen is one of the greatest living English writers. That's a fact and it's hard to dispute. He's intelligent, poignant, and a master of his craft. He has a voice that's specific, unique, and reflects our time. He's also contrary and a curmudgeon who doesn't understand those different from him. And he has no plans to do so. I love to hate him and will continue to read his work.
Reviewing Franzen is to be pulled against two counter ideals: He's too good of a writer, but his message is too off putting. He's the liberal "elite" poster-child the right-wing doesn't know it would love to hate. He's so liberal "elite" that liberals hate him.
I'll split the difference. 3 stars.
Themes: 1 star
Writing/Prose: 5 stars
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
You're a bad environmentalist.
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
You don't understand Edith Wharton.
But don't worry, Franzen will correct you.
Jonathan Franzen is one of the greatest living English writers. That's a fact and it's hard to dispute. He's intelligent, poignant, and a master of his craft. He has a voice that's specific, unique, and reflects our time. He's also contrary and a curmudgeon who doesn't understand those different from him. And he has no plans to do so. I love to hate him and will continue to read his work.
Reviewing Franzen is to be pulled against two counter ideals: He's too good of a writer, but his message is too off putting. He's the liberal "elite" poster-child the right-wing doesn't know it would love to hate. He's so liberal "elite" that liberals hate him.
I'll split the difference. 3 stars.
Themes: 1 star
Writing/Prose: 5 stars
rogerjpatterson's review against another edition
4.0
Thoughtful reflections on current events; a few of the birding essays are interesting, but most of them have limited appeal.
jennykinnear's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
zicariofsilverkeep's review against another edition
3.0
This type of book and it's contents are not my usual cup of tea but overall it was alright. I didn't know that birding was a thing until I read this book so there's that.
senordustin's review against another edition
2.0
The first essay about climate change and the complicated human response to it is pretty great... The rest is offensively self indulgent and boring.
alexmjjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
Franzen is clearly intelligent and a great writer, but man is this heavy on birds and climate change. Not that it was bad, just required some tolerance for the exhaustion of those topics I was not expecting.