Jonathan Franzen Reviewed on Video

Washington Post fiction editor Ron Charles has published a video book review of Jonathan Franzen‘s Freedom. The upload (embedded above) coincides with today’s release of Franzen’s new novel.

Charles had a mixed opinion about the book. His positive take: “It’s classic Franzen, a smart, finely-fanged take on suburban life. Ok, it’s brilliant!” His negative take: “It’s classic Franzen, a smart, finely-fanged take on suburban life. Ok, it’s brilliant!” Charles’ negative take on the book: “The novel doesn’t so much as offer us its themes as bully us into accepting them with a knife to your throat. The word ‘freedom’ beats through the book with the frequency of a frat house drinking game.”

Last week, Charles tweeted his first video book review about Mona Simpson‘s novel, My Hollywood.

Franzen himself published a list of overlooked books at The Daily Beast.

They are: Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, How to Sell by Clancy Martin, Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne, and Oh The Glory of it All by Sean Wilsey.

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