Tag Archives: Jonathan Franzen

“He felt as if he was never again going to know the reason for anything he did.”

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Kate Stover

Why read novels?  Jonathan Franzen argues in a Harper’s essay that people are drawn to strong fiction because they like to engage in complex stories that  don’t have simple resolutions. In Anne Tyler’s first novel, If Morning Ever Comes, the … Continue reading →

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“I want to be alone, but not too alone.”

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Kate Stover

I disagree with the description on the back of this book, which says that one of Jonathan Franzen’s “essential themes” is “the hidden persistence of loneliness in postmodern, imperial America.” Rather, it seems to me that in every one of … Continue reading →

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“Who is it you are writing for? It surely could not be the average person who just enjoys a good read.”

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Kate Stover

The reader who asked Jonathan Franzen this question touched a nerve. Franzen’s answer — a 30-page essay titled “Mr. Difficult” — describes two models for relationships between writers and readers. In the “Status” model, writers aim to create great art, … Continue reading →

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