Comments on: The Latest Books by Jonathan Franzen and Gary Shteyngart

By: Eric Rush

Eric Rush — Fri, 06 May 2022 01:29:10 +0000

I didn’t realize you review books. I don’t think I’ve ever read Franzen, but, because of your review, I will. Thanks.

By: walter smith

walter smith — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 13:49:14 +0000

Big fan. Thanks for these. If you love deeply drawn characters, laugh out loud funny stuff, and deep, poignant meditation on grief, loss, and what makes people believers and unbelievers in spiritual things, I can recommend John Irving’s novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany. It is the story of two boyhood best friends as they come of age during the Vietnam War, come to terms with their absent or hapless fathers, and help each other on the path to manhood. I just finished reading it aloud to a friend, during the US pull-out of Afghanistan, and the observations it makes about Vietnam and Iran-Contra seemed timeless in light of current events. But the main story is these boys growing up, learning to support each other in their struggles with the meaning of life.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 02:54:07 +0000

Big Shteyngart fan too, and I did love Our Country Friends. Sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from Absurdistan, but still had me laughing. I found the chaotic foreplay drive home one of the most vivid and funny “sex” scenes I’ve ever read. While the dream sequences were very confusing on the first read, second time around were better.

Thanks for all the great posts over the years. As a San Franciscan, I’m still reeling over the destruction of Virgin America at the hands of Alaska and am now a bit stuck domestically, as I won’t touch United with a 50-foot pole and Alaska seems to think it’s OK to send travelers from SF to other parts of the country via Seattle.

By: Gail

Gail — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 00:05:21 +0000

What a surprising place to find such substantial book reviews. Will go for Crossroads. Personally, I like that Franzen is a birdwatcher. Maybe you’ll do a story on birds you see in your travels sometime. (Though not the ones you see from the cockpit, as that wouldn’t be good).

By: Michael Kennedy

Michael Kennedy — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 14:09:24 +0000

I just ordered them both. Thanks!

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 21:02:19 +0000

Agreed on both counts, 100%.

I will say that I think Shteyngart’s best was Super Sad True Love Story – still an amazing book. But Our Country Friends was hard to finish.

Crossroads? Amazing page turner.