It's not surprising to see in my own work, looking back, and in the work of some of my peers, an attention to family. It's nice to write a book that does tend toward significance and meaning, and where else are you sure of finding it? Jonathan Franzen attentionbackbook 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
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
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
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
But as far as being popular, yeah, I think Dave Barry is really funny. Jonathan Franzen barrydavefunny Change image and share on social
's one of the perversities of the age: I'm embarrassed by its success, but I'm happy it's selling. Jonathan Franzen ageembarrasshappy Change image and share on social
It seems to me self-evident that if you have a life, things happen in it, and certain things do change; certain things end. People you know die. Jonathan Franzen changedieend Change image and share on social
The Mekons were kind of like the background music of my life. Jonathan Franzen backgroundkindlife Change image and share on social
