Jonathan Franzen's 'Purity' is a layered, ambitious novel diving into family secrets, complicated relationships, and the knotty truths of identity in the internet age. Fans of dark humor, sharp social commentary, and complex, (often) unlikeable characters will find a lot to chew on here. If you liked Franzen's earlier novels like 'The Corrections' or enjoy stories with interconnected plots and a touch of satire, this one will keep you turning the pages - especially if you appreciate psychological deep-dives and big, bold ideas.

Who May Not Like This Book:

If you need to love or sympathize with characters in order to enjoy a book, 'Purity' might not be for you - almost everyone here is flawed in major (sometimes maddening) ways. Some readers have found the structure overly long and convoluted, the timeline jumps confusing, and had issues with the didactic tone, repetitive themes, and abrasive sexual content. Franzen’s portrayal of women and family dynamics has also drawn criticism for being stereotypical or grating.

A smart, sprawling exploration of secrecy and dysfunction in the digital age - brilliant but often exhausting. You'll know pretty quickly if it's your kind of book.

About:

In "Purity" by Jonathan Franzen, the story follows a young woman named Purity 'Pip' Tyler who embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her parentage. Set in various locations including East Berlin, Bolivia, Denver, California, and New York, the novel delves into different timeframes and perspectives, weaving a complex narrative involving family secrets, internet leaks, and moral struggles. Through multiple character narrations, the reader is taken on a journey exploring themes of purity, identity, and the impact of past decisions on present lives.

The writing style in "Purity" is described as sprawling and detailed, with long chapters and multiple perspectives that offer insights into the inner lives of diverse and complex characters. Franzen's expert craftsmanship in handling dialogue, character perspectives, and pacing is evident, as he skillfully links the characters' lives to historical events and contemporary issues, creating a thought-provoking and engaging narrative.

Characters:

The characters are generally unlikable and deeply flawed, often showcasing dysfunction, especially in familial and romantic relationships.

Writing/Prose:

Franzen's writing style is characterized by elegant prose and keen satire, but some find it overly detailed and occasionally tedious.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Pip's quest to uncover her father's identity, exploring her connections with a cast of morally ambiguous characters and tackling themes of family and social dysfunction.

Setting:

The story takes place in diverse settings including East Germany and the United States, enhancing the themes of historical and personal conflict.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, with some portions dragging while others engage the reader effectively.

“Isn’t that everybody’s life?” the girl, Pip, said. She’d taken to calling her mother midway through her lunch break at Renewable Solutions. It brought her some relief from the feeling that she wasn’t...

Notes:

The main character, Pip, is searching for her father.

Pip has a complicated relationship with her mother, who is emotionally disturbed.

Franzen's novel explores themes of family dysfunction and identity.

The story features a mix of scandalous sexual behaviors and dark humor.

Several characters are involved in morally ambiguous situations, mirroring real-life issues like WikiLeaks.

Pip's journey reflects issues of student debt and young adult struggles.

The narrative shifts between different characters' points of view, making it complex and layered.

Franzen draws parallels between the characters and historical events, like life in East Germany.

The book has been described as having a mix of creative originality and tediousness.

Many readers found the characters unlikable and the language offensive at times.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are significant content warnings for themes of sexual violence, sexual predation, mental illness, and strong language.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, centered around complicated and often unhealthy relationships between characters.

From The Publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Notable Book

"So funny, so sage and above all so incandescently intelligent" (The Chicago Tribune), the New York Times bestseller Purity is a grand story of youthful idealism, extreme fidelity, and murder, a daring and penetrating book from "the most intelligent novelist of [his] generation" (The New Republic), Jonathan Franzen

Young Pip Tyler doesn't know who she is. She knows that her real name is Purity, that she's saddled with $130,000 in student debt, that she's squatting with anarchists in Oakland, and that her relationship with her mother-her only family-is hazardous. But she doesn't have a clue who her father is, why her mother chose to live as a recluse with an invented name, or how she'll ever have a normal life.

A glancing encounter with a German peace activist leads Pip to an internship in South America with the Sunlight Project, an organization that traffics in all the secrets of the world-including, Pip hopes, the secret of her origins. TSP is the brainchild of Andreas Wolf, a charismatic provocateur. Now on the lam in Bolivia, Andreas is drawn to Pip for reasons she doesn't understand, and she is equally conflicted about her attraction to him.

The author of The Corrections and Freedom has imagined a world of vividly original characters, and he follows their intertwining paths through landscapes as contemporary as the omnipresent Internet and as ancient as the war between the sexes.

September 2015

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609 pages

Ratings (9)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (4)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (19):

Read It (8)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (9)
Did Not Finish (1)

What can you read after
Purity?

See the list (29 books)

About the Author:

Jonathan Franzen is the author of novels such as The Corrections (2001), Freedom (2010), and Crossroads (2021), and works of nonfiction, including Farther Away (2012) and The End of the End of the Earth (2018), all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He lives in Santa Cruz, California.

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Purity

Jonathan Franzen

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