Book · 2015 · Fiction
Purity
A Novel
- mentions
- 8
- people
- 3
- podcasts
- 2
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 2
I’m reading Jonathan Franzen’s book, Purity, right now, which I enjoy. He draws you in.
What they say about it
- Comparison with other books“the one that preceded it”2
- Discussion of the novel's reception“extremely well reviewed”2
The best things said about it
And I also love Purity by Jonathan Franzen I thought it really got at some of some of the issues that we're grappling with as a culture as a society.
His 2015 novel Purity which was extremely well reviewed and I think very timely in its themes only sold around 250,000 copies.
I think when he moved away from families in Purity the novel that preceded Crossroads I think that was when he really in a way ran into trouble.
Where does this novel Crossroads fall for you in the kind of Pantheon of Jonathan France and novels it's a lot better than Purity the one that preceded it.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Why people recommend it
Purity by Jonathan Franzen is a sprawling contemporary novel that examines modern journalism, family secrets, global activism, and personal identity through an interconnected cast of characters. Alexandra Alter recommended the book on The Book Review, praising its ability to capture complex cultural and societal issues, and Dani Rodrik similarly named it as a favorite read on Conversations with Tyler. Alter also discussed the novel's publication history, noting its strong critical reception and timely themes alongside modest sales numbers compared to massive blockbusters. Thomas Mallon joined The Book Review for a retrospective career discussion on Franzen's major works, comparing Purity to earlier family-centered novels like The Corrections and Freedom, as well as his later novel Crossroads. Mallon critiqued Purity by arguing that Franzen encountered narrative difficulties when moving away from domestic family dynamics, whereas Alter and the podcast host frequently highlighted the novel as a major literary event leading up to its official release.
Every mention
Alexandra Alter and I also love Purity by Jonathan Franzen I thought it really got at some of some of the issues that we're… 3
“and then of course fall Jonathan franzen's next novel Purity”
“but his 2015 novel Purity which was extremely well reviewed and I think very timely in its themes only sold around 250,000 copies”
“and I also love Purity by Jonathan Franzen I thought it really got at some of some of the issues that we're grappling with as a culture as a society”
Dani Rodrik I like Ian McEwan a lot. I’m reading Jonathan Franzen’s book, Purity, right now, which I enjoy. He draws yo… 1
“I like Ian McEwan a lot. I’m reading Jonathan Franzen’s book, Purity, right now, which I enjoy. He draws you in.”
Thomas Mallon tried to review this new novel in the context of these big books from the corrections on the corrections Fr… 3
“tried to review this new novel in the context of these big books from the corrections on the corrections Freedom Purity and now Crossroads the books that people have really I think been aware of”
“I think when he moved away from families in Purity the novel that preceded Crossroads I think that was when he really in a way ran into trouble”
“where does this novel Crossroads fall for you in the kind of Pantheon of Jonathan France and novels it's a lot better than Purity the one that preceded it”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“the other novel that people were um snapping up on the floor was Jonathan fransen's Purity which is coming out this September”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“there was of course its role in purity Jonathan”
“then uh at number two Jonathan Franzen returns to the list with his latest novel Purity”