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In this week's audio book club,  DoubleX's Emily Bazelon and Hanna Rosin,  along with The New Yorker'sMargaret Talbot, discuss the literary event that is Joanathan Franzen's new novel, Freedom.The novel follows Patty and Walter Berglund as their marriage falls apart and lays claim to broad social commentary on the way we live now. Margaret Talbot is slightly suspicious of Franzen's dissection of his characters, while Hanna Rosin defends his compassion. Emily Bazelon is deeply moved by the moment of grace at the end.

We  mention a Fresh Air interview with Jonathan Franzen.
The Slate review of the novel by Judith Shulevitz.
DoubleX's discussion of the Franzenfreude controversy.
A critical review of Freedom in the Atlantic.