From man who grew up in MN and lived in NY. Sent this to friend of similar background"Imagine Walter Bergland, from Hibbing, goes to U, gets law degree and works for Nature Conservancy. Has Victorian house on Ramsey Hill in St. Paul. Marries Patty Emerson, from Westchester...a basketball star at the U. Her mother is Jewish woman in state legislature in NY; father an attorney who “does good” on the side. Wacky family @#$& from the puckered up Swedish side, confused neglect from the Westchester side...their lives unfold in wacky ways and since we both understand the Westchester and the Swedish-Hibbing psyche, you might get a kick from the book. Franzen’s writing is tight, intense and compelling. Reading it only for his style is interesting. I tried to read “Corrections” but couldn’t get into it. Don’t know why I bought FREEDOM but enjoyed it for its wackiness."
