I wrote two plotted books, got some of the fundamentals of storytelling down, then... it's sort of like taking the training wheels off, trying to write a book that's fun in the same way without relying on quite such mechanical or external beats. Jonathan Franzen beatbookexternal share on social
I look at my father, who was in many ways an unhappy person, but who, not long before he got sick, said that the greatest source of satisfaction in his life had been going to work in the company of other workers. Jonathan Franzen companyfathergreat share on social
It's just a matter of writing the kind of book I enjoy reading. Something better be happening at the beginning, and then on every page after, or I get irritated. Jonathan Franzen beginbookenjoy Change image and share on social
When I finally gave up any hope of doing anything representative of the American family, I actually seemed to have tapped into other people's weirdness in that way. Jonathan Franzen americanfamilyfinally Change image and share on social
We may freak out globally, but we suffer locally. Jonathan Franzen freakgloballylocally Change image and share on social
I was unwise enough to actually mention this in public a few times, and in fact to point out that there were two versions of the book now. One of them had somebody else's name on the cover, one had my name on the cover. Jonathan Franzen bookcoverfact share on social
And Silence of the Lambs is a really smart book. Jonathan Franzen booklambsilence Change image and share on social
The real pleasure in writing this, for me, was discovering how little you need. Jonathan Franzen discoverpleasurereal Change image and share on social
But as far as being popular, yeah, I think Dave Barry is really funny. Jonathan Franzen barrydavefunny Change image and share on social
