From my point of view none of them are, and that takes me to the thought that probably, nobody is, there are always circumstances, family, money, careers... so why challenge with the title "Freedom"? What do you think the author is trying to say with it?
What do you think of what is happening in the book? Do you like it? Do you find it realistic? Because I think that Franzen ultimately wants to be realistic, but to me, maybe they are all too extreme and together tied by a fine rope, it just sounds like too much at times.
I am enjoying the book. Actually, after some struggling with the first few pages, I am now hooked on it.
ReplyDeleteI think some characters are not free because they do not want to be, like Walter and Patty. Contrary to what Rocio wrote, I believe they are (or maybe used to be) in love. I think Patty has some unresolved feeling (or passion) for Richard, but I do not think is love.
Other characters are even less free, for they are misunderstanding and misusing their freedom, like Richard or Joey.
I am surprised about how Walter is depicted in this second part. Also, I am still trying to "understand" the, on my opinion, poor approach he has towards the ZPG movement: "we just want to make having babies more of an embarrassment"? "like smoking", "like being obese is an embarrassment."??
Some sentences I liked:
- "…what made people complain about stupidity was their own stupidity".
- "there came a stretch of minutes in which they lay and held each other in the quiet majesty of long marriage, forgot themselves in shared sadness and forgiveness for everything they'd inflicted on each other, and rested."
Dear All,
ReplyDeleteI haven't worked out how to write on the main page! I don't know if I can, actually... :-)
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I will have to leave this book. I have an exam on May 21 and I need to use all my spare time in studying! I am already behind and I surely won't catch up.
But nothing to worry about. I will be back for the next book!
Enjoy Freedom!
Mmmm, we'll have to consider a training to post on the blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you will leave the book, but, I understand, it's not easy to find the time these days for me either. Next book, it will have to be on my Kindle, much more practical to take around with me.
Good luck for your exam Alancha (in case it's chinese)!
Yes, it is Chinese... what else! Xie xie ni for your good wishes.
ReplyDeleteI have the book on my Kindle, but still, I need to carry my Chinese vocabulary everywhere!
The nightmare will end this coming Saturday, so I might be able to finish the book.
Good luck, Arantxa! We will be looking forward to hearing from you and reading about your impressions of the book whenever you finish it.
ReplyDelete