It is of a great deal of interest for me to listen to Jonathan Franzen engaging in conversation, and to be further party to what he might be thinking. The sofa looks like what I was given to believe Prime Minister Johnson's sofa looks like in 10 Downing Street - Has Kirsty Wark had very extensive plastic surgery recently? She looks incredibly young in this Interview - much younger than she has lately been looking on our British TV Screens. I am at present looking forward to trying to unravel Crossroads, though my pressing tasks are complex.....I hope to give it the time it obviously deserves soon.
this interview is indicative of the problem Franzen points out--the reporter fishes for sound bytes that may generate controversy (and clicks) by asking about his views on politics, Twitter, etc. rather than focusing on the novel itself... still interesting to listen to Franzen though
The most telling line in the book for me is when Pip says to her mother "I have no talents. I have useless intelligence". That must apply to many people. The world is full of them and they all read books, especially novels.
When Norman Mailer was asked his opinion of Jonathan Franzen, he said, "Well, I've read him, and I'll tell you, I got exactly the same impression from his writing as I did from reading Thomas Pynchon. And that is: he is either a great writer, or he has perpetrated one of the greatest literary frauds in history. That's how I feel about him. As I said, I felt the same way when reading Pynchon. And I admit it: I can't tell whether it's great writing or he's an absolute literary fraud. I would lean toward the latter explanation. But I just don't know."
