Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen

Characters etc.:

Berglunds

            Walter

            Patty - parents Joyce and Ray, sister Abigail

            Jessica

            Joey

            Dorothy – Walter’s mother

Richard Katz

Monaghans

            Carol

            Connie - eventually married to Joey Berglund

            Blake

Eliza - Patty's college roommate - lied and said she had leukemia

Lalitha - Walter's assistant

Jonathan - Joey's college roommate, sister Jenna

House on Nameless Lake

Linda Hoffbauer - lived in Canterbridge Estates Lake, cat Bobby

Cerulean Mountain Trust

            Van Halen

            Carol Zorn – campaigned against Cerulean Mountain Trust

Forster Hollow

            Cole Mathis – lived in Forster Hollow

Mistakes Were Made - Patty's autobiography

For discussion:

1. Discuss Patty's childhood.  How did that influence her adult life? 

2. Discuss Walter’s childhood and how it influenced his adult life.

3. Discuss Richard and Walter’s friendship.  Franzen wrote, “Intellectually Walter was definitely the big brother and Richard was his follower.”  Also, “He (Walter) could never shake the feeling that Richard was hiding stuff from him; that there was a dark side of him always going off in the night to pursue motives he wouldn’t admit to, that he was happy to be friends with Walter as long as it was understood that he was the top dog.”  (page 135, hardback)

4. Discuss the relationships among Walter, Richard and Patty.  Consider each pair – Richard and Walter, Richard and Patty.   How did the relationships evolve over the years?

5. Discuss Richard and his reaction to success. 

6. Discuss the family dynamics in the Berglund family?  Was the discord inevitable?

7. The neighbors, particularly Seth and Merrie Paulson were surprised at how unaware Patty was of what was happening with Joey and Connie.  At one point Seth stated, “I think it’s a mistake to take pleasure in a fellow parent’s ignorance.  It’s tempting fate, don’t you think?”  (page 13, hardback)  Do you agree with this statement?  Can you relate to it?

8. Did you like the background of current politics in the novel?  Did it add to your enjoyment of the novel?

9. Discuss Connie and Joey's relationship.

10. How would you explain Patty’s college roommate, Eliza?  Why did she lie and say she had leukemia?  Do you think Patty really wanted to know the truth?

11. Do you think the Cerulean Mountain Trust was justified in all that it did in order to save one bird from becoming extinct?

12. What parts of this novel do you think represented real life?  Did the author address any issues or life situations that future generations will identify with?  Explain.

13. Do you think this novel will become one of our modern day “classics?”  Why or why not?

14. What is the significance of the title "Freedom?"  What statement is the author making?

15. Who was your favorite character?  Favorite scene in the book?