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Jonathan Franzen’s gift for wedding depth and vividness of character with breadth of social vision has never been more dazzlingly evident than in Crossroads.It’s December 23, 1971, and the Hildebrandt family is at a crossroads. The patriarch, Russ, the associate pastor of a suburban Chicago church, is poised to break free of a marriage he finds joyless―unless his brilliant and unstable wife, Marion, breaks free of it first. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college afire with moral absolutism, having taken an action that will shatter his father. Clem’s sister, Becky, long the social queen of her high-school class, has veered into the era’s counterculture, while their younger brother Perry, fed up with selling pot to support his drug habit, has firmly resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandts seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate.Universally recognized as the leading novelist of his generation, Jonathan Franzen is often described as a teller of family stories. Only now, though, in Crossroads, has he given us a novel in which a family, in all the intricacy of its workings, is truly at the center.By turns comic and harrowing, a tour-de-force of interwoven perspectives and sustained suspense, Crossroads is the first volume of a trilogy, A Key to All Mythologies, that will span three generations and trace the inner life of our culture through the present day. Complete in itself, set in a historical moment of moral crisis, and reaching back to the early twentieth century, Crossroads serves as a foundation for a sweeping investigation of human mythologies, as the Hildebrandt family navigates the political, intellectual, and social crosscurrents of the past fifty years.

In Jonathan Franzen's highly anticipated novel, "Crossroads: A Novel (A Key to All Mythologies, 1)", readers are introduced to the Hildebrandt family as they navigate the complexities of life in the suburbs of New Prospect, Illinois, during the tumultuous 1970s.

At the center of the story is Russ Hildebrandt, a Lutheran minister struggling with his faith and marriage. Russ's wife, Marion, is a devout Christian who is deeply involved in the church and community. Their children, Clem, Becky, and Perry, are each wrestling with their own personal challenges and coming of age.

As the Hildebrandt family grapples with issues of faith, morality, and personal identity, they are confronted with a series of events that will change their lives forever. Russ is forced to confront his doubts and insecurities when he is assigned to a new church, while Marion struggles to maintain her composure as her husband's faith falters.

Meanwhile, Clem, the eldest child, is grappling with his sexuality and place in the world. Becky, the middle child, is a sensitive and introspective young woman who is searching for meaning and purpose in her life. And Perry, the youngest child, is a troubled and unpredictable boy who is drawn to danger and violence.

As the Hildebrandts navigate the crossroads of their lives, they are forced to confront their own demons and come to terms with the choices they have made. Through their struggles and triumphs, they learn the importance of love, forgiveness, and the power of family.

"Crossroads" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of family life, faith, and personal growth. Franzen's insightful writing and nuanced characters make this a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and anyone interested in the human condition.