DigeeBooks

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 heavy weather is forecast for Chicago. Russ Hildebrandt, the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church, is on the brink of breaking free of a marriage he finds joyless―unless his wife, Marion, who has her own secret life, beats him to it. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college on fire 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 sharply veered into the counterculture, while their brilliant younger brother Perry, who’s been selling drugs to seventh graders, has resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandts seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate.Jonathan Franzen’s novels are celebrated for their unforgettably vivid characters and for their keen-eyed take on contemporary America. Now, in Crossroads, Franzen ventures back into the past and explores the history of two generations. With characteristic humor and complexity, and with even greater warmth, he conjures a world that resonates powerfully with our own.A tour de force of interwoven perspectives and sustained suspense, its action largely unfolding on a single winter day, Crossroads is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis. Jonathan Franzen’s gift for melding the small picture and the big picture has never been more dazzlingly evident.

Crossroads: A Novel by Jonathan Franzen

In Jonathan Franzen's Crossroads, the Hildebrandt family is at a crossroads. Russ and Marion, the parents, are struggling with their marriage. Clem, the eldest son, is grappling with his sexuality and his place in the world. Becky, the middle child, is trying to find her own voice and independence. And Perry, the youngest, is dealing with the challenges of adolescence.

As the Hildebrandt family navigates these challenges, they are also dealing with the larger changes happening in the world around them. The Vietnam War is raging, and the civil rights movement is gaining momentum. The family is divided over these issues, and their disagreements often lead to conflict.

Crossroads is a powerful and moving novel about the complexities of family life. Franzen's characters are complex and well-developed, and their struggles are both heartbreaking and inspiring. The novel explores the themes of love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness, and it offers a profound reflection on the human condition.

Crossroads is a must-read for fans of literary fiction. Franzen's writing is masterful, and his characters are unforgettable. The novel is a thought-provoking and emotional experience that will stay with readers long after they finish reading it.

Other Works by Jonathan Franzen

• The Corrections
• Freedom
• Purity
• The End of the End of the Earth
• How to Be Alone

About the Author

Jonathan Franzen is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is the author of five novels, including The Corrections, which won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2001, and Freedom, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2010. Franzen's work has been praised for its realism, its humor, and its insights into the human condition.