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The Corrections
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3Q 2024- The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen
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A little about the author:Franzen was born in Illinois in 1959 and grew up in a suburb of St. Louis Missouri. He went to Swarthmore College and received a degree in German. The Corrections, written in 2001, earned hm a National Book Award. It was also a finalist for the Fiction Pulitzer Prize of that year. Probably more curiously it was selected by Oprah Winfrey for her book club. Franzen expressed dismay that Oprah’s logo on his book would discourage men from reading the book. Oprah then uninvited Franzen to her TV show. Under the heading of any publicity is good publicity, I suspect that publishers were delighted with the supposed “tiff” between the two. The book went on to be one of the decade’s best-selling works of literary fiction. (edited from Wikipedia).
Thoughts and question before reading: a) The corrections of the title could have a number of meanings. There's correction in the sense of punishment, as in a department of corrections; the correction of the stock market after it has gone too high; and the correcting of a mistake.
What do you think the title refers to before reading?
b) The Corrections has been reviewed as "The Great American Novel" although it is largely about the lives of the members of one american family. It is also compared to the intricate weavings of Dickens.
Have you read anything else by Franzen?
Mod
Thoughts and question before reading:
a) I don't have any preconceived notions about the book as I know next to nothing about the book or author. I am going with the meaning of correcting a mistake.
b)This will be my first book by the author and I am looking forward to it.
I am looking forward to this as I also know next to nothing about the book or author, but the synopsis sounds interesting.Thoughts and question before reading:
a) the definition that came to my mind was the correction of a mistake, or putting things back on track
b) this will be my first book by this author. I must admit I hadn’t even heard of him and had to look on the internet to see what he’d written.
Questions for After Reading: The Corrections
1. What is the significance of "one last Christmas"? Is Enid's obsession with the holidays predictable for a mother of her generation or is it, as Gary fears, "a symptom of a larger malaise" [p. 148]?
2. Why does it take so long for the Lamberts to acknowledge the seriousness of Alfred's illness? Is Al's deteriorating mental health solely a result of Parkinson's disease? How are his physical and mental deterioration linked? "Irresponsibility and undiscipline were the bane of his existence, and it was another instance of that Devil's logic that his own untimely affliction should consist of his body's refusal to obey him" [p. 67]. Why are these ailments especially humiliating for Alfred?
3. Novels written in the nineteenth century often have plots with many characters and story lines. Novels from the 1980s and 1990s often have spare plots with minimalist characters. How would you characterize this novel? Which elements of the book's style seem especially modern and which more traditional to you?
4. How would you define the members of the Lambert family based on their traits? Which are shared traits and which are specific to an individual? Are elements of the Lambert family universal characteristics of the American family?
5. Think about the alliances that formed in the Lambert family after the children left home. What occurrences might account for Denise's loyalty to Al and for Chip and Gary's sympathy for Enid? How do these alliances shift during the course of the novel?
6. What is the significance of the title The Corrections? How does the idea of "corrections" play out during the course of the story? What do you think this quote means: "What made correction possible also doomed it" [p. 281]?
7. To what extent, do you think, that the book's children are shaped by their upbringing, or do you think that much of their character is predetermined? What do you think Franzen thinks about this topic?
8. How do you feel about Chip's relationships with women and what does this reveal about his character? How does his attitude toward women change over the course of the novel? Considering the details of his earlier relationships, does it seem probable that his marriage to Alison Schulman will survive?
9. How would you describe Franzen's narrative style? How deeply does he sympathize with his characters? Does the tone of the novel change? Examine the evolution of Enid's character, from housewife to the liberated woman at the end of the novel who feels that "nothing could kill her hope now" [p. 568]. Are you happy for Enid?
10. How does the issue of class play out during the course of the novel? In what different ways does class drive Enid's behavior on the cruise and propel Denise's decision to sleep with Don Armour? How does concern over class status affect Gary and Caroline or Brian and Robin?
11. Is Alfred's death the key to Enid's happiness? How does the quality of her life change once Al is hospitalized? What reaction do his children have to his death? Are we meant to believe that their father's death is the catalyst for their "corrections"? For how much of the unhappiness in the Lambert household was Al responsible?
12. Which character has undergone the most fundamental change? Is the change positive or negative? Have any of the characters evolved enough for their "corrections" to endure? Are these corrections deliberate, or are they the result of outside occurrences that force the characters to change?
13. How does America's long-standing fascination with the notion of progress manifest itself in the story of each character? How does the novel, in its entirety, stand in relation to the American ideas of self-improvement as well as social and
technological progress?
14. And, of course, did you enjoy reading the book and does it belong on the 1001 list?
In the recently rolled out New York Times 100 best books of the 21th century The Corrections makes the top 10. If you are reading this quarterly, let us know if you agree.
I read this several years ago and generally enjoyed it. I do remember thinking it was a bit long and that Franzen went a bit too far with some of his characters. I get that they are flawed human beings, that they make bad decisions, and are not always pleasant (like all human beings). In The Corrections, he manages to keep them sympathetic and likeable despite their flaws. And the book is very funny; there's a dinner scene when the kids are little that my husband and I listened to in the car, and we almost drove off the road we were laughing so hard. Franzen doesn’t maintain that balance in his later books, and the more I read of him, the less I liked him. Freedom was okay, but Crossroads was never ending and turned me off completely. As one example of how he goes TOO far: there is a LENGTHY scene where a character tries to retrieve a wedding ring from their own feces :( I entertained the idea of re-reading The Corrections for the quarterly challenge, but my memory of his later books kept me away.
Mod
Enid appears to have an obsession with Christmas even before “one last Christmas”. Gary says that Enid would be more willing to leave St. Jude and move east if she had her “one last Christmas”. I do believe it was a symptom of a larger malaise.
2. Why does it take so long for the Lamberts to acknowledge the seriousness of Alfred's illness? Is Al's deteriorating mental health solely a result of Parkinson's disease? How are his physical and mental deterioration linked? "Irresponsibility and undiscipline were the bane of his existence, and it was another instance of that Devil's logic that his own untimely affliction should consist of his body's refusal to obey him" [p. 67]. Why are these ailments especially humiliating for Alfred?
Denial is a powerful thing. As for Enid I think living with someone you have a harder time seeing all the subtle changes. I think AI’s dementia is related to his Parkinson’s disease. I have 2 family members with Parkinson’s disease and it is very frustrating to not be able to control your own body. Alfred's challenges with incontinence and constipation are particularly humiliating.
3. Novels written in the nineteenth century often have plots with many characters and story lines. Novels from the 1980s and 1990s often have spare plots with minimalist characters. How would you characterize this novel? Which elements of the book's style seem especially modern and which more traditional to you?
The modern part is the lack of any chapters. There are many characters with numerous flaws and multiple story lines. I would not consider this a spare plot novel as their is so much detail, maybe too much, and there seems to be meaning by everything.
4. How would you define the members of the Lambert family based on their traits? Which are shared traits and which are specific to an individual? Are elements of the Lambert family universal characteristics of the American family?
Chip by far was the most annoying; like a man-child and I did not want to know all his sexual thoughts! Denise seemed level headed. Enid, seemed typical and was just trying to maintain some normalcy. Al, in the beginning I thought he was passive but when I got his back story he seemed not the great guy. Gary is trying to stay in control but his and Caroline’s fights became very tiring. I did not like Gary attitude towards his parents in the latter part of the story.
5. Think about the alliances that formed in the Lambert family after the children left home. What occurrences might account for Denise's loyalty to Al and for Chip and Gary's sympathy for Enid? How do these alliances shift during the course of the novel?
I am one of three siblings and my relationship to my sisters have changed over the years. I would expect the Lambert family to be no different.
6. What is the significance of the title The Corrections? How does the idea of "corrections" play out during the course of the story? What do you think this quote means: "What made correction possible also doomed it" [p. 281]? “A last child was a last opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes and make corrections, and he resolved to seize this opportunity. From the day she was born he would treat her ore gently than he’d treated Gary or Chipper. Relax the law for her, indulge her outright, even, and never once force her to sit at the table after everyone has gone.”
Each member of the family made some sort of course corrections in their lives but none of them were really redeeming for me.
7. To what extent, do you think, that the book's children are shaped by their upbringing, or do you think that much of their character is predetermined? What do you think Franzen thinks about this topic?
Since Franzen goes into a great deal of the past I think he is putting a lot of emphasis on upbringing.
8. How do you feel about Chip's relationships with women and what does this reveal about his character? How does his attitude toward women change over the course of the novel? Considering the details of his earlier relationships, does it seem probable that his marriage to Alison Schulman will survive?
Oh my gosh Chip! He is so immature and his relationships are like high school obsessions. Chip does change over time as we finally do not have to hear about his high school crushes.
9. How would you describe Franzen's narrative style? How deeply does he sympathize with his characters? Does the tone of the novel change? Examine the evolution of Enid's character, from housewife to the liberated woman at the end of the novel who feels that "nothing could kill her hope now" [p. 568]. Are you happy for Enid?
At half way through the novel, the only character I have sympathy for is Enid. After reading her back story she is left to all the duties of house and home including child rearing. Towards the end of the book as Al’s disease progresses I have sympathy for him. I really don’t have sympathy for any of the children.
10. How does the issue of class play out during the course of the novel? In what different ways does class drive Enid's behavior on the cruise and propel Denise's decision to sleep with Don Armour? How does concern over class status affect Gary and Caroline or Brian and Robin?
The cruise section of the story was my least favorite so I will leave it at that.
11. Is Alfred's death the key to Enid's happiness? How does the quality of her life change once Al is hospitalized? What reaction do his children have to his death? Are we meant to believe that their father's death is the catalyst for their "corrections"? For how much of the unhappiness in the Lambert household was Al responsible?
When Al’s is hospitalized, Enid finally gets the help she needs. Her kids were not supportive and I was shocked at how selfish they were.
12. Which character has undergone the most fundamental change? Is the change positive or negative? Have any of the characters evolved enough for their "corrections" to endure? Are these corrections deliberate, or are they the result of outside occurrences that force the characters to change?
Chip seemed to have matured as the novel went along, he stepped up and helped his family as he should have. Denise also matured by forgiving Chip’s loan and she stopped sleeping with married men. I am not sure Gary matured he just wanted to be right.
From the book jacket; a comic, tragic masterpiece about a family breaking down in an age of easy fixes.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by George Guidall which really helped as I don’t think I would have made it through this book otherwise. I enjoyed getting to know the Lambert family, flaws and all. The book started to lose steam for me around the cruise which I found to be a bizarre chapter, what’s with the turds? I didn’t have much sympathy for this family, I wasn’t really pulling for anyone. I was glad to have read a Franzen book but I am not sure he is for me.
Mod
With a closer literal link to the story, Enid’s obsession was induced by the impending deterioration of Alfred’s mind. But she probably also felt that her children were slowly drifting away in their own directions, making the possibility of future Christmases less likely.
2. Why does it take so long for the Lamberts to acknowledge the seriousness of Alfred's illness? Is Al's deteriorating mental health solely a result of Parkinson's disease? How are his physical and mental deterioration linked? "Irresponsibility and undiscipline were the bane of his existence, and it was another instance of that Devil's logic that his own untimely affliction should consist of his body's refusal to obey him" [p. 67]. Why are these ailments especially humiliating for Alfred?
There is a sense of pride that melts away when you start being afflicted by these old-age conditions, especially in strong-willed men like Alfred. This adds to the frequent humiliating scenes he undergoes throughout the novel. I think the speed of acknowledgement about the seriousness of his condition is different for each character, Gary being the more level-headed, realist among them. I wouldn’t want to be in Alfred’s shoes…or pants.
3. Novels written in the nineteenth century often have plots with many characters and story lines. Novels from the 1980s and 1990s often have spare plots with minimalist characters. How would you characterize this novel? Which elements of the book's style seem especially modern and which more traditional to you?
For me, this fits into a mould that I have often seen in American novels of the end of the 20th century, featuring characters in somewhat unusual situations and with unusual personalities. It probably started with John Irving and it hypertrophied into these longer editor-driven weird novels from people like Franzen, DeLillo, etc. They also feature too many “experiences-in-life” events to the detriment of narrative structure and content/meaningful themes exploration.
4. How would you define the members of the Lambert family based on their traits? Which are shared traits and which are specific to an individual? Are elements of the Lambert family universal characteristics of the American family?
I am not sure that they actually share common traits, but you can say their Midwest living experiences have shaped who they have become; for the siblings, the younger they are, the less Midwesterner they have become. Obviously, Enid and Alfred reflect the more conservative values you encounter in that generation and that part of the US.
6. What is the significance of the title The Corrections? How does the idea of "corrections" play out during the course of the story? What do you think this quote means: "What made correction possible also doomed it" [p. 281]?
Franzen has probably exhausted all the possible meanings of “corrections” in his book: Chip’s teaching corrections; stock market corrections; corrections as in punishments; even cooking corrections in the case of Denise. And I suspect that whatever correction has been applied, it has not resulted in any character improving or rectifying their situation; they all end up with dealing with what life has thrown at them.
8. How do you feel about Chip's relationships with women and what does this reveal about his character? How does his attitude toward women change over the course of the novel? Considering the details of his earlier relationships, does it seem probable that his marriage to Alison Schulman will survive?
Ah Chip… this incorrigible man-boy with some intellect, but with only two cents of judgement and common-sense. No woman will realistically change him because he lives on (sometimes animal) instinct, in the here and now.
9. How would you describe Franzen's narrative style? How deeply does he sympathize with his characters? Does the tone of the novel change? Examine the evolution of Enid's character, from housewife to the liberated woman at the end of the novel who feels that "nothing could kill her hope now" [p. 568]. Are you happy for Enid?
Of course, Enid is liberated (not fully though) towards the end of the novel. I am not sure that Franzen is fully sympathetic with his characters as he kept them in the same (or worse) situation. Gary is still with that b**ch Caroline (I can’t be more polite) and their spoiled kids; Denise is still ambivalent about her sexual preferences.
14. And, of course, did you enjoy reading the book and does it belong on the 1001 list?
Even though I didn’t dislike the novel, I’m not really convinced that this should belong to the List, especially in light of my comments in Question 3.
Moderator Gail. Thank you Gail.