The Corrections
- 567 pages
- 20 hours of reading
Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction and nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award, this novel is a grandly entertaining family drama that spans from mid-century Midwest to the age of greed and globalism. It juxtaposes an old-time America of civic duty and tradition with modern absurdities like brain science and do-it-yourself mental healthcare. The story centers on Enid Lambert, who is deeply anxious about her husband Alfred, whose grip on reality is slipping due to Parkinson's medication and a growing negativity. As he retreats into the basement, Enid grapples with the turmoil in her children's lives. Her older son Gary, a banker, has become cruel and is trying to force his parents out of their home. The middle child, Chip, has abruptly quit his teaching job to pursue a questionable lifestyle in New York City. Meanwhile, Denise, the youngest, is struggling with a failed marriage and an affair with a married man. Despite her desire for a joyful family Christmas and a luxury cruise with Alfred, Enid's hopes are threatened by his decline. The Lamberts must confront their failures and buried secrets to make the necessary corrections in their lives.



