Episode · The Book Review · 2026-09-11
Taffy Brodesser-Akner on The Book Review: books mentioned (Sep 2026)
The Best Books of the 21st Century: Taffy Brodesser-Akner on ‘The Corrections’
If you were a reading adult in the early 2000s, you probably tackled, or at least heard about, “The Corrections,” Jonathan Franzen’s best-selling and much discussed book. The novel won the National Book Award, was a Pulitzer finalist, and an Oprah Book Club pick.
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Taffy Brodesser-Akner recommended Better Living Through Criticism by A. O. Scott, and discussed American Pastoral by Philip Roth.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Corrections
Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections is a sprawling, multi-generational novel that explores the complexities, dysfunction, and shifting fortunes of an American Midwestern family at the turn of the twenty-first century.
Discussed“That book is The Corrections by Jonathan Franson. The Corrections is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.”
Where to get it
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American Pastoral
American Pastoral is a critically acclaimed 1997 novel by Philip Roth that examines the disintegration of a successful American family during the turbulent social upheavals of the late twentieth century.
Discussed“Right before this I had read American Pastoral. Before that I was reading classics because I had gone to a yeshiva where I felt that we were not like prepared to go out into the world literature-wise.”
Where to get it
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Long Island Compromise
Taffy Brodesser-Akner's novel Long Island Compromise explores complex family dynamics and generational trauma against the backdrop of a kidnapping.
Discussed“You said that your most recent novel, Long Island Compromise, was very influenced by the corrections. How so?”
Where to get it
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Better Living Through Criticism
Better Living Through Criticism by A.
Recommended“And I think very often of our friend and colleague Ao Scott um if you've never read his book better living through criticism um I keep like 20 of them around and I give them to people. Um, and the way it starts is saying that all art is trying to photocopy and recreate the Garden of Eden.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (6) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“She is also the author of two novels herself, Flechman is in trouble and Long Island Compromise, the latter of which was deeply influenced by The Corrections.”
“She is also the author of two novels herself, Flechman is in trouble and Long Island Compromise, the latter of which was deeply influenced by The Corrections.”
“She is also the author of two novels herself, Flechman is in trouble and Long Island Compromise, the latter of which was deeply influenced by The Corrections.”
“every time I read this book and I told your producer I didn't know how many times because to tell you how many times and to tell you I still haven't read Middle March is to my great 20 this was this was the 20th”
“I love bleak house. Um, it was so depressing. So depressing.”
“they eventually ended up making up nine years later when she picked uh freedom. Freedom didn't stick. So, it was all fine.”