Which Franzen book should i start with?

File: gan.jpg=s1200x1200.jpg (59KB, 622x423px) Image search: [Google]

59KB, 622x423px

>>9321874
Don't bother. Read Tao Lin instead. Tao>Franzen

Start with the Corrections

>>9321886
No. Fag.

freedom>corrections>purity

>>9321885

Nice try, Tao

No, anon. Franzen is just not worth reading. Skip to the next in your backlog, or I can offer you mine.

>>9321908
Why do you consider him not worth reading?

I'm starting with purity. It's good so far, speaks to where I'm at in life...slightly degenerate from a societal perspective, with a vague notion of moving toward an identity and purpose wrapped around "good" or maybe just authentic.

He's smart if a bit meandering.

>>9321916
I suppose it depends on what you value. For me he's a mediocrity on all cylinders. I just don't find his work or his approach to that work interesting. I don't need novels to be "profound" because for me that's like looking for oranges in an apple orchard. There's one thing you should read by him, and that's his New Yorker essay about Big Dave.

>>9321931
you've been discredited for presenting a vague answer.
>durr I don't like him because I don't like him
that's what your response amounts to. fuck off

Freedom's good

>>9321942
er, ok.
Go ahead and read all his work, you won't be sorry.

>>9321955
For reference , what are some books that speak to you?

>>9321990
Gormenghast

>>9321990
I mostly read poetry and philosophy. I guess I can list a bunch of novels for you to dismiss. Tristram Shandy, Larva by Julian Rios, Replacement by Tor Ulven, nearly all of Markson's work, and like Hawkes, Joyce, Bernhard.

I do urge you to read his New Yorker article about Dave though. It's a good piece of biography.

>>9321874
Depends what you're after. Someone could read all his works, there's only like 7.

The last 3 novels are his top quality and where he found his voice. Same style, etc. The first couple aren't worth reading. The Corrections is the best one but if you're not starting with that try Freedom or Purity

File: 1460516455465.jpg (1MB, 792x1224px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 792x1224px

The Discomfort Zone, his book of memoir-essays, is pretty good. Then I'd say Corrections > other essays > first two novels > Freedom > Purity

>>9322072
I'm gonna go with this. Case closed. Thanks, anon.

>>9321931
That does not answer the question that was asked of you. You didn't say why he wasn't worth reading, you said why you didn't like him.