Crossroads- Book Review

Crossroads is essentially a family saga set in the early 1970s America, authored by Jonathan Franzen- a New York Times Bestselling author and essayist. It is a masterfully crafted work of fiction that offers a basis for reflection on the workings of a family. The majority of the story unfolds in a single winter day centered on the Hildebrandt’s.

The narrative opens with a discord: an associate minister’s inappropriate feelings towards a widowed parishioner and then unravels into the wife’s secret traumatic past. All the while the children struggle to find themselves colored by mental health disruptions, religion, morality, and socialization.

Jonathan expertly develops and distinguishes each character’s voice not only in dialogue but also in the expression of internal thoughts. He establishes their personalities and inhabits each one fully. He captures their fears, insecurities, hopes, and dreams and contextualizes their motivations. It is easy to flow between narrators and while the reader is initially tempted to take sides based on experiences and biases, one ends up cultivating empathy towards each character.

Being intimate and empathetic with each member of the Hildebrandt family does not insulate from disappointments because while Crossroads is a work of fiction, its plot and structure resemble creative nonfiction in that there isn’t a transformative resolution, only oscillations between “progress” and “setbacks”. Typical of life.

The complexity of Hildebrandt’s family dynamics gives the book a tense undertone; the paradox being that what is supposed to be a safe haven and a primary support system can also curtail freedom and alienate while triggering insecurities, anxieties, and depression.

Crossroads is the first of a projected trilogy; however, it stands on its own and comes highly recommended.