The CorrectionsThe Corrections
Score Modern
What it's about
Enid Lambert wants her three grown children to come home to their Midwestern town for one last Christmas, while her husband Alfred is still well enough; he has Parkinson's and is slipping. But Gary, a depressed banker in Philadelphia, Chip, a fired professor caught up in a scheme in Lithuania, and Denise, a gifted chef with a complicated love life, each have their own messes.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award, hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Pulitzer finalist. It's a sharp, funny, sad portrait of an American family.
You'll love it if you liked
The Great Believers
American Pastoral
East of EdenGood to know
It's long, with many detours into each child's life. Alfred's decline is painful to read, and there's sexual content.
By the numbers
- Readers17 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics98 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #68 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #87 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #396 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #779 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Gripping, Moving
More by Jonathan Franzen
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Quick answers
Is The Corrections worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award, hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Pulitzer finalist. It ranks #779 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Corrections about?
Enid Lambert wants her three grown children to come home to their Midwestern town for one last Christmas, while her husband Alfred is still well enough; he has Parkinson's and is slipping. But Gary, a depressed banker in Philadelphia, Chip, a fired professor caught up in a scheme in Lithuania, and Denise, a gifted chef with a complicated love life, each have their own messes.
How long does it take to read The Corrections?
About 17 hours (676 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Corrections won?
National Book Award (Fiction) winner (2001).
What should I read after The Corrections?
If you liked it, try The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, American Pastoral by Philip Roth or East of Eden by John Steinbeck.