FREEDOM  (English, Paperback, Franzen, Jonathan)

Freedom By Jonathan Franzen

Freedom is a story that follows the fictitious Berglund family, Patty and Walter Berglund who see several ups and downs in their personal and married life. In the initial part of the book, an account of the family from the neighbours’ point of view is provided. Walter is an attorney with a special interest towards the environment and Patty is a young and good looking housewife. They lead a normal American middle class life in St.Paul, Minnesota with their two children, Jessica and Joey. They get into a situation that forces them to shift to Washington as Joey is threatening to move in with his girlfriend. The second part is Patty’s own narration of her past. It goes back to her college days, when she had a career in basketball game and was attracted to Richard, a musician in a rock band. Patty met Walter through Richard since they were roommates. Her marriage with Walter is forced since an ankle injury ended her sports career and Richard stopped responding to her feelings. Further, the story shifts to 2004 where Richard comes back into their lives and the Berglunds are having a wavering relationship. In a similar track it also reveals the story of Joey who is arrested for the supply of faulty spares for trucks and is therefore forced to reconcile with his parents. Walter loses his job owing to his revelation about his company’s wrongdoings and also splits with Patty. She shifts to Brooklyn with her father and witnesses the scuffle for property among the family members after his death.

Jonothan Franzen was born on 17th August, 1959 in Western Springs, Illinois. He graduated from the Swarthmore College, Missouri, and also had a degree in German. He began his career as a writer soon after his graduation. He is the author of books such as The Twenty-Seventh City and Strong Motion.