Uncomfortable Reading

A cold, wet, rainy long weekend seemed to be the perfect time to pick up Jonathan Franzen's new book, The Discomfort Zone: A Personal History, and delve into some personal discomfort – a bit of mine, and a whole hell of a lot of Franzen's. Rainy weekends always make me more reflective and melancholy, though in a good way. I enjoy this kind of blue, and I suppose Franzen does, too – in a really please stop doing that kind of way.

The book is relatively small (195 pages) and comprises 6 personal essays, two of which have previously been published in the New Yorker. I don't mind recycled writing, as long as it's good. (I still love the Peanuts essay, Two Ponies, but by God that self-indulgent mess My Bird Problem was just bloody awful. First time I've ever skipped paragraphs while reading Franzen, 'cuz it just hurt too much). Don't get me wrong, I still contend that Franzen is a very talented writer (his first essay in Discomfort, House For Sale, is a very touching piece), but where the hell he is going these days, is anyone's guess. (Some have suggested, that he is going straight up his own ass, and part of me is having a hard time refuting that argument). Why is he writing this stuff? Has he nothing else to say in fiction format? That's not to say, of course, that he writes bad essays. How to Be Alone was a fine collection. But Discomfort Zone should never have happened. Do I really need to know the details of how he lost his virginity? Do I care? Do I really want to read personal letters written to him by his emotionally suffocating mother? And sweet Jesus, do I really need to know that up until the age of 18, Franzen had apparently never masturbated? Well, I'm sure that this embarrassing mental jerk-off has sufficiently made up for his adolescent stupidity. I know. I'm being mean. But I'm not the only one who's disappointed, ok?

One thing in the book which pleased me: As I was re-reading his Peanuts essay, I came upon the 2nd last paragraph, and was astounded that I hadn't previously fully taken in the significance of Franzen's words:

And I wonder why "cartoonish" remains such a pejorative. It took me half my life to achieve seeing my parents as cartoons. And to become more perfectly a cartoon myself: what a victory that would be.

Well, here ya go, Franzen. 'Cuz I think you're gonna need all the victories you can get.

Comments

[Vanda]

Ermmm Karen, would you like some of the dark damnp days we're having having here in Suffolk? I woke up this morning thinking hubby had put the heat on.

Sorry to tell you this, but your little one is now second on my list of the cutest kidlets in the world. My brand new great granddaughter has taken first place;-))

[patricia]

Huh???

[R J Keefe]

I really liked "My Bird Problem." I actually clipped it from the magazine and re-read it. But I believe that you ought to have been asked to illustrate the new book - it's the very least that could have been done. ("Put a sock on it.")

[Slimbolala]

Nice cover, though.

[patricia]

Yes, I agree. Could be the best part of the book.