63 pages 2 hours read

Jonathan Franzen

Crossroads

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen focuses on the Hildebrandt family in 1970s suburban Chicago. The novel delves into the lives of Russ, an associate pastor, and Marion, a stay-at-home mother, along with their children Clem, Becky, and Perry, exploring each member's personal struggles and relationships. Russ considers an affair, Marion confronts past trauma, Clem contemplates as the Vietnam War looms, Becky grapples with faith and love, and Perry battles drug addiction. The stories interweave as the family faces challenges and changes, revealing complex emotional dynamics and moral dilemmas. The book includes discussions of drug use, sexual assault, and suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Jonathan Franzen's Crossroads is praised for its rich character development and intricate, heart-wrenching family dynamics. Critics commend Franzen's masterful storytelling and keen social observations. However, some find the pacing slow and the narrative occasionally cumbersome. Overall, it is a thought-provoking exploration of human relationships and moral complexities.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Crossroads?

A reader who enjoys Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen likely appreciates character-driven literary fiction with complex family dynamics and moral quandaries. Fans of Franzen's previous works like The Corrections and those who enjoy Jonathan Safran Foer's Here I Am or Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot will find it compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction

Themes

Relationships: Family

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Relationships: Siblings

Topics

Addiction / Substance Abuse

History: World