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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
No graphic violence; Alfred's dementia causes some disturbing behavior
Language
A lot
Strong adult language throughout, including frequent profanity
Sexual Content
A lot
Frank sexual content in multiple storylines, including an extramarital affair and unsettling scenes involving Alfred's dementia
Substance Use
Barely any
Recreational drug use; prescription medication misuse; social drinking
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Alzheimer's and cognitive decline depicted in harrowing detail; depression, suicidal ideation, family dysfunction throughout
What this book is about
The Lambert family—aging patriarch Alfred, whose Parkinson's and dementia are advancing; his wife Enid, determined to force one final family Christmas; and their three adult children each adrift in their own failures—are the subject of Franzen's sprawling, brilliant, and deeply uncomfortable third novel. Moving between St. Jude, New York, and Philadelphia across decades, The Corrections is at once a savage satire of American optimism and a genuinely affecting portrait of a family coming apart. One of the defining American novels of the twenty-first century.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Graphic portrayal of Alzheimer's and dementia
Explicit sexual content in adult storylines
Heavy themes of depression and dysfunction
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