Crossroads: A Novel

"People love to hate on Jonathan Franzen. He writes chick lit! He snubbed Oprah! What’s with all those essays about birds!? But even if you’re in it for the hate-read, you kind of have to admit the man knows novel writing. Crossroads explores the inner life of each member of the Hildebrandt family, beginning with Russ, the small-town Indiana pastor whose inner life is more angsty than those of the teens he preaches to; his wife, Marion; and their four kids. Every character makes bad decisions, each is wracked with insecurity, but they’re so richly drawn with delicious, gossipy backstories that it’s too much fun to pass up."