Strong Motion by jonathan franzen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This was my mashed potato book (iykyk). It's a book that I've had since 2016. I tried reading it several times already, but could never get into it past the first chapter or two.

Well, finally, I read it. I actually finished it on the train from Brussels to Ghent. And it was good. It's another typical Franzen book, which I love. Sorry not sorry.

Coincidently, it was also my last Franzen. So you may call me a Franzen completist, until the Crossroads sequel gets published sometimes in the future. I'm really looking forward to that sequel. I wonder what new stories and characters Franzen will bring us. I have a feeling it's going to be just as good as his previous works.

I'm glad I finally gave this book a chance and was able to fully enjoy it. It's a reminder that sometimes we need to persevere and give things a second chance.

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Leaf78

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

After reading Jonathan Franzen's more recent blockbusters, I had fully expected to be let down by this earlier novel. However, to my pleasant surprise, I was not. In fact, in certain aspects, it proved to be more substantial and held greater relevance for me than his latest work, Purity.

For one thing, I have a genuine enjoyment and find great fascination in his digressions. The way he seamlessly incorporates history lectures and background information into his story, rather than burdening us readers with cumbersome end notes, is truly remarkable. I firmly believe that this additional information significantly enhances my understanding and appreciation of the events unfolding in the present.

There were indeed moments when I felt an urge to give some of the characters a good smack, but that's quite normal in Franzen's works. Truly, he has a knack for introducing us to individuals with rather peculiar problems who often make less than ideal decisions. The heroine of the novel, Renee Seitchek, was masterfully drawn. Despite all her flaws and problems, I gradually came to like her.

Franzen's writing is of the highest caliber, and I am truly impressed by the breadth and depth of this plot. I would unhesitatingly recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in engaging and thought-provoking literature.

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RenanGRM

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I am completely done with this book.

Although I have not yet completed reading it, I have come to the realization that life is simply too short to waste on finishing this particular book.

There are so many other wonderful books out there waiting to be explored, and I don't want to spend all my precious time on something that may not be as fulfilling as I had hoped.

Perhaps I will come back to it at a later time, but for now, I am ready to move on and discover new literary treasures.

I believe that by being selective with the books I read, I can make the most of my reading experience and gain more knowledge and enjoyment from it.

So, goodbye to this book for now, and hello to the exciting world of new books that awaits me.

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bloodknife

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I couldn't help thinking of the outrage over Franzen's recent Guardian essay as I finished this book a few days ago.

Those who are calling him an out-of-touch elitist for hating the internet should (re)visit this novel. For a book published over 20 years ago, it doesn't seem dated at all.

Much of its themes are as fresh today. What we now call fracking is a guise for Franzen's fictional energy company to drill, dump, and hide industrial waste.

Abortion and the religious right's fierce war against it has hardly evolved in two decades. If Franzen seems to have changed at all since the internet ruined the modern world, I think that he has tended to overwrite since reaching middle age.

His wordy 5000+ word essays may be in reaction to the Twitter era. While I liked "Freedom" very much, I couldn't help but wonder if his editors were gagged and bound in deference to the Pulitzer winner and TIME cover boy.

The earlier "Strong Motion" is much more tight and controlled. I guess I've become a Franzen apologist. All of the accusations hurled at him as being a misogynist always leave me puzzled.

Again, I have to point over at "Strong Motion." Renee Seitchek is as intelligent, sympathetic, morally ambiguous, unapologetically feminist a heroine our current day could wish for. She is a complex and well-developed character who challenges the traditional gender roles and expectations.

Franzen's writing is not without flaws, but his ability to create vivid and realistic characters and explore important social and political issues makes his work值得一读.

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HotDog95

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

On some pages, I wanted to rate it 2, on some others 3, and on some other pages there were excellent analyses regarding the development of the US, while the last pages of the "story" were beautiful. So I ended up with a 3. But this has little significance. It is written beautifully with notable suggestions. The problem is that as a whole, the 630-page book doesn't leave you with any impression. An impression like the relatively small book of the young author of 'ETHIMA TAFIS' which, in a few words, conveyed the atmosphere of an entire era. And the book has... touched my inner book-loving corner. In conclusion. Whoever has patience and perseverance should read it. Otherwise, they should choose something else.

It's important to note that while the writing in this book has its merits, such as the excellent analyses and beautiful descriptions on certain pages, the overall impact is somewhat lacking. The large number of pages might make it a bit overwhelming for some readers, and it fails to create a lasting impression like some other, more concise works. However, for those who are willing to invest the time and effort, there are still some interesting aspects to discover.

In the end, the decision to read this book depends on an individual's reading preferences and tolerance for a longer and perhaps less immediately engaging text. It may not be the perfect choice for everyone, but it could still offer some value to those who are willing to give it a chance.

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saadqta

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Quite possibly, this is the worst book ever written. Well, that might be a bit of hyperbole, but it does indeed feature one of the ickiest descriptions of having sex ever. I picked it up simply because I had liked The Corrections. However, I am still deeply regretting that decision.

The moment I started reading this book, I could sense that something was amiss. The writing style seemed disjointed and the story failed to grip me from the very beginning. But it was that particular description of the sexual act that really made me cringe. It was so graphic and uncomfortable that it almost put me off the entire book.

I had high hopes for this book, given my enjoyment of The Corrections. But unfortunately, it has fallen far short of my expectations. I would not recommend this book to anyone, unless they have a very strong stomach and are willing to endure some rather unpleasant and unnecessary details.

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Magister_Jakene

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

With Strong Motion, Franzen truly showcases his prowess as a master of fiction. Each sentence is crafted with such power and precision, it's as if he is conducting a symphony of words. His style, while sharing some similarities with the likes of DeLillo and Foster Wallace, has its own unique charm. He manages to blend the intelligent and encyclopedic prose of his contemporaries with a sharp sense of concision, creating a narrative that is both layered and fascinating. Despite its expansiveness, it rarely feels burdened by excessive detail.

However, I do have one minor criticism of the novel. The characterisation of certain individuals, especially Lauren, could have been improved. While I appreciate the character and her development, her instant and insatiable attraction to Louis seemed a bit unrealistic and perhaps too convenient for the plot. A bit more push and pull between them would have added more depth and authenticity to their relationship. Nevertheless, I respect the overall trajectory of her character.

At any rate, if you're in search of the upper echelons of contemporary fiction, this is definitely a must-read. Moreover, if you're transitioning from the transgressive postmodern writers like Palahniuk and Easton Ellis to the hysterical realist ones, Franzen's Strong Motion is a great place to start. It has a smooth flow that some of his later works and most of DeLillo's and Foster Wallace's lack, making it an accessible and enjoyable read.

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Sabyasachi007

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Earthquakes rock Boston, and our protagonist, Louis Holland, finds himself in a cityscape filled with the post-utopian angst that Franzen is known for exposing.

Evil corporations are destroying the environment in their pursuit of wealth, pro-lifers are picketing abortion clinics in the liberal northeast, and egocentric Ivy League elites are sipping coffee in Cambridge and intellectualizing it all.

Louis' personal orbit is also populated with secondary characters: his pothead father, his solipsistic mother, the reformed-punk-rocker Harvard seismologist he falls for, and his vacuous sister who is becoming like their nihilistic mother.

Throw in a sudden family inheritance of twenty million dollars, and we expect an eloquent, insightful, post-modern novel.

However, this novel has many faults. The characters are almost all one-dimensional, like cardboard cutouts. Their stilted dialogue and aimless meandering are painful to read.

The plot is a strange combination of predictability and viscosity, with nothing really happening. We get the occasional earthquake, sex scene, and tangent about society's greed or America's dysfunctional families, but it's all been done before.

The worst part is that the book occasionally has beautifully constructed, complex, and insightful passages, like an oasis in a desert. But then we have to trudge on through the boredom.

I wanted to like Franzen, but this was a disappointment. Maybe The Corrections is better, as many people say. I'll give it a try once I've recovered from this reading experience.

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Strong Motion

jonathan franzen

This edition

Louis Holland

Renée Seitchek

Eileen Holland

Melanie Holland

Peter Stoorhuys

Lauren Bowles

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About the author

jonathan franzen

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