Kevin Paccione Paccione itibaren Gündüzlü, 16400 Gündüzlü/İnegöl/Bursa, Turkey itibaren Gündüzlü, 16400 Gündüzlü/İnegöl/Bursa, Turkey

Franzen's short personal essays first attracted me to his writing, and I still find them much better (more fun, more insightful, more memorable) than The Corrections. The short essay "Centrally Located" is probably my favorite story ever. It was originally published in the New Yorker under the title "Caught," and if I'm not mistaken, he's added some things to this version. Having read that story first, it was great to read these other stories, about his marriage and his college years. They sort of function as sequels or prequels, filling out the characters in the original story. Overall, the collection is a little hit-and-miss, and yes, sometimes Franzen seems overly ornery, snobby, and critical of others (and himself), but still, I think there's enough wit and insight in most of these stories to keep them from being mere nostalgia.

I haven't read this cover to cover but I've read many parts of it. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, politics, and truth.