Westport Public Library BOOK blog

We have all been there- often in our teen years. Jonathan Franzen's memoir stuns with honesty and entertains with laugh-out-loud stories of geeky teen hijinks and bumbling young adult adventures. Most of this is about the 70s, when even iconic Webster Groves, Missouri began to experience the cultural turn away from 50s idealism. The Christian youth fellowship provides a snapshot of the times. (It will resonate with anyone involved in mid 1970s youth groups.) Franzen's college adventures(Swarthmore)- drifting into his major, trying to lose his virginity, traveling to Germany, worshiping his older brothers- continue his progression towards adulthood. His marriage is connected to the life lessons he extracts from his growing fascination with bird watching. The Discomfort Zone: a personal history reveals a talented and unique writer emerging from his middle class family in middle America in the middle of the 20th century. It is so satisfying to find an engaging book that lingers in your mind!
Franzen's other books include a collection of his essays & the National Book Award winner Corrections.