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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 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.

In Jonathan Franzen's "Crossroads: A Novel," we are introduced to the Hildebrand family, a Midwestern clan grappling with the complexities of family dynamics and personal growth during the turbulent 1970s.

At the heart of the story is Russ Hildebrand, a well-intentioned but often misguided patriarch, whose idealistic vision for his family clashes with the realities of adolescence and social change. His wife, Marion, struggles to maintain her individuality while navigating the demands of motherhood and societal expectations.

The Hildebrand children, Clem, Becky, and Perry, each face their own unique trials and tribulations as they come of age. Clem, the eldest, grapples with his homosexuality and the societal prejudices he must confront. Becky, the middle child, navigates the pressures of conformity and the desire to break free from the confines of her small town. Perry, the youngest, wrestles with his intellectual and emotional growth, searching for meaning and purpose in a rapidly changing world.

As the Hildebrands navigate the challenges of adolescence, they are confronted by a series of life-altering events that test their resilience and force them to confront their own values and beliefs. The novel delves into themes of family, identity, loyalty, and the pursuit of happiness, exploring the intricate relationships between parents and children, siblings, and lovers.

"Crossroads" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, capturing the complexities of family life and the challenges of growing up in a tumultuous era. Franzen's masterful storytelling and keen insights into the human psyche make this novel a compelling read that resonates long after the final page is turned.