Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

This excellent book more frequently made me uncomfortable than anything I have read in a long time. The Berglund family and their relatives and friends are interesting and troubled - and their weaknesses and vanities are placed under the klieg lights of Franzen's simple but powerful prose. I identified at least a little with all the characters but one, so I felt uncomfortable in turn when the faults and troubles of these characters were highlighted. I identified least with the disaffected and cynical rocker Richard Katz, so I guess that's why I liked him the most - I didn't squirm when he was under the light! But there were many laugh out loud moments also.
In a way, the book seems like a well-crafted puzzle - though the narrative was composed largely of grim events afflicting not-so-likable people, these people all eventually and convincingly achieved some peace and the ending was moving and uplifting. Very interesting. Highly recommended.