Doug KarlsonKarlsonitibarenLignorelles, FransaitibarenLignorelles, Fransa

Actually more like 3.5 stars

Pynchon's first novel tackles the increasing mechanization of the world and, hence, of humanity, in a heartbreaking quest by one character to find out why his father was killed, while dragging along another dedicated to living out his days as a schlemiel.

Simply a game-changing book in American fiction. A return to character-driven stories that, yes indeed, are allowed to have ending again. Franzen reshaped the definition of the literary novel with The Corrections. And, as always, his sheer brainpower of detail is staggering. An excellent book.