I just read Lev Grossman’s profile of Franzen and he talked about how Franzen gerrymandered his laptop’s ethernet input so that he could never connect to the internet (too much of a distraction). So an online discussion with him will be brilliant!
I get back to school September 6th. Will take the T to Brookline Booksmith and get my copy of Freedom, then join.
So, Kindle versions will be ineligible, right? If so, I’m out! I have to say it makes me grumpy, as a lifelong buyer of thousands of books (a big percentage of them bought before Amazon, BN and Borders ever existed, because I’m that old)–and an active supporter of independent bookstores (have even worked in a few) to see people excluded from a discussion of literature based on where they purchase the book. I’m living light these days–money-wise and in terms of just owning fewer objects–and I prefer owning and reading books in electronic format when they are available as such. This reminds me unpleasantly of that thing they’re doing over at Tin House where they want writers to prove they’ve purchased a book before submitting work, and if it’s an e-book they have to explain why. It all feels very manipulative, and judgmental, and privileged and just–icky on so many levels. And, sadly, it probably won’t save independent booksellers.
Damn! Stephen, I just pre-ordered “Freedom” from Amazon this morning. May I have any special consideration? I’m already a Rumpus member and would love to join the One-Off. Franzen’s one of my double literary delights…I channel Foster Wallace through him, too.
Now I get it. Mr. Elliot’s decision to exclude the participation of those purchasing books from Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon is an allusion to the war Walter and Patty Berglund engage in against their fascist neighbors. Like his vision of Barrie’s children with shadows attached to their feet, Mr. Elliot once again impresses.
Someday, the only places we can buy things from will be online retailers, because instead of kicking in the few extra bucks to grab things from the local store, we all flocked to virtual big box stores like Amazon. I hope at that point that commenters who complain about these policies will remember this conversation.
Incidentally, I usually get my hardcover “doorstoppers” from the library, myself, but I still fully support and actually enjoy the thought that if I’d like to be a part of this privileged discussion with a literary giant, I’ll have to either support one of the best websites out there or y’know, walk into a store and buy a book from a clerk who makes a living in one of the toughest markets out there. Hell, I bet there are other books in those stores too–maybe even books that I’ll like! The world is crazy like that.
I work in a library and get most of my books there. Ordering an extra is going to strap me for cash this month since we don’t make much. I got a 51 cent raise this year!! I’m still debating. Ugh.
I agree (Jim and Luke), my comment was rude, and I sincerely apologize for that. But you know Luke, you’re writing off a gesture (actually two) in support of independent booksellers, and asking for special consideration just because you have a Kindle and (apparently) merely planned to buy the book on it. Seriously? That doesn’t even come close to meeting this gesture halfway, I’m sorry, and that offended me.
It is surprising to me that they ran that review almost two weeks before the publication date. Especially for a book like this that has an embargo on it.
I am interested in taking part in this book club, but I also manage a local Borders where we happened to sell a ton of copies of ‘The Adderall Diaries’. While I understand the sentiment behind you not wanting people to go to Amazon, Borders, or B&N, I find it a bit hypocritical that I can’t buy this book from a store you depend on to sell copies of your book.
I really enjoy the Rumpus, but this rule you have established is disappointing. I would have bought the book straight from you, but now I am thinking twice about participating or stocking your book in my store.
It’s not as though Stephen has self-published and has chosen to distribute in these larger stores. If you want to quibble, take it up with the publisher. Publishers want to stay in business, so they sell/distribute their books where they will make money. Authors and publishers do not always have to agree on principle in order to have a working relationship.
No worries. The store I work for wants to promote Stephen and other local authors (I live in SF), and will continue to do so. I just think a somewhat hypocritical stance is being taken here (though I do understand both sides of the conversation).
Actually, I think it should be entirely up to Borders (I don’t know how decisions are made in terms of what they carry, i.e. is it done at corporate level or locally) whether Stephen’s book is stocked or not. For a ginormous organization like Amazon, Borders, B&N, etc to shut out an author has huge impact to the author because of economies of scale involved, but that is ultimately their choice, even if one doesn’t like what goes into making that decision.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of indy bookstores and indy record stores because of the quirks of their buyers! Favorite bookstore: Grolier’s in Cambridge, MA, though I haven’t checked to see if they’re still alive.
Does anyone else remember when Borders was just a little old indie bookstore in Ann Arbor? I’ve never really internalized that they’re Big Bad Borders now.
from Wikipedia:
The original Borders bookstore was located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it was founded in 1971[3] by brothers Tom and Louis Borders during their undergraduate and graduate years at the University of Michigan. The Borders brothers’ inventory system tailored each store’s offerings to its community. A sister company, Book Inventory Systems (1976–1994), was founded to serve as a wholesaler for and provide the brothers’ custom inventory system to regional independent bookstores such as John Rollins, Thackeray’s, Schuler Books, and Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Until Borders Superstore expansion occurred in the early 1990s, BIS serviced more independent stores than Borders stores. Former Hickory Farms president Robert F. DiRomualdo was hired in 1989 to expand the company.
The first Borders bookshop, with a meager stock of used books, was located in two rooms above 209 State Street, north of the State Theater; curiously, these rooms’ previous renter was one James “Iggy” Osterberg, who went on to become punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop. From there the brothers soon moved, briefly, to a tiny ground floor + mezzanine operation in the Maynard House apartment building, on the southwest corner of William and Maynard Streets. In 1981 they bought out the stock of Wahr’s, an 80-year-old bookstore that was ending business at 316 South State, and moved into that location. Wahr’s had been mainly a textbook and school supplies vendor, but the brothers did not deal in textbooks. Soon after the move back to State Street, they switched entirely from selling used books to new ones, and then leapt at the chance to occupy much larger quarters that had become available across State Street, in the former location of the Wagner & Son men’s clothing store.
For some people the only book-buying option IS a borders/B&N or online retailer (fist-up, Loredo, TX). I dont think it’s very nice or fair to corner someone into buying from you if they dont have another option. And what if they preordered it and dont find out about the book club until they already have the book? That’d be sad, man.
You can suggest that someone buy from an independent store, you can urge, beseech, and even beg… but to say that these 3 retailers aren’t an option? It seems a bit petty. They all have their place. I mean, I dont know a non-specialized indie in the country that would pass on stocking the Franzen book but you KNOW it’s going to be at one of the other big stores. and discounted. So the big chains aren’t making much from the sale anyway.
How about this–if you must buy from a big bookstore (and shit, readers and writers would really be SOL if they all went outta business) just dont buy anything else. Get the Franzen book and run for it!
If you buy from a big bookstore, you’ll be supporting a company that provides its employees health insurance. Or at least the option of health insurance.
Until we get universal health care (ha! jokes people, jokes!)… I mean, it’s not SO BAD, is it? They’re still book stores. They sell books. We like books! Books=good! Big bad Borders, well, they’re kind of obnoxious and devote too much space to greeting cards and specialty calendars but otherwise, they sell the books. Yay books n stuff!
(That was always my argument re: starbucks versus local indie coffee shop. The health insurance. Works here too, IMO. Nothing wrong with having a few choices in life. Indeed, that’s all we really have. #faux-losophy)
Well, I understand the desire to support smaller bookstores, as many local bookstores are some of my favorites in the world. Books Inc. is a local store here in SF, but they have multiple locations. Does a receipt from their store count? And what of Books-A-Million? Or iBooks?
By the same logic of “you can buy a book at any store you choose,” can’t this book club be anything its organizer(s) want it to be? Stephen/the rumpus should have the option to create any kind of book club they want. they can make the rules that guide the book club anything they want. If you don’t agree with their rules, you can express your displeasure here, choose not to participate and, if you have the power this border’s manager has, you can even retaliate in response to those rules. But you don’t have the right to change the rules to suit your own desires. If you don’t like it, go find another book club or start your own.
For people complaining about not having direct access to an indie – powells.com is an excellent resource, y’know, and a lot of small bookstores are integrating sales into their sites to expand their reach. A few of my local / formerly local bookstores definitely do this (brooklinebooksmith.com, newtonvillebooks.com, bookpeople.com…). And to those complaining that this is somehow discrimination – well, suck it up, guys. This is a book club, you are not being forced to join, and if you choose to, it’s likely that you are the type who would have no problem understanding that supporting small, local businesses is a very nice thing to do for a whole bunch of reasons. Stephen / The Rumpus is COMPLETELY within his / it’s right to attempt to use their influence to do something wonderful. Yeah, it costs a little more, but artists are making less and less, and if you’d like to be able to keep reading excellent books, then maybe it’s worth spending a few extra dollars to ensure that talented people can keep doing their thing.
How is this not some kind of elitism at work? Why are independent bookstores better for readers or for authors than big chains or Amazon?
The big ‘uns stock more books, add less of a markup/book and still have readings and recommendation and clubs and all of that.
Isn’t it just that you don’t want the common folks — you know, the kinds of people who buy books at Borders and coffee at Starbucks — to get stank on you?
Ceolaf – Do big chains tend to stock titles from small presses? Emphatically not. Does price-slashing inherently affect publisher’s returns and thus the amount of money they are able to pay authors? Yup! Do indies have a strong history of supporting authors, not merely cutting prices to drive sales, by booking events, running book clubs, having strong knowledge of titles and forming close relationships with customers to enhance their reading experience, and keep them loving books? Sure do! Shopping at big chains, where more often than not employees have little to no knowledge of their titles, or through big chain sites, that are entirely impersonal, aren’t really the same to a lot of us who value what smaller stores and specialized staffs can offer. Clearly, some people feel differently, but that doesn’t make us assholes for preferring a certain kind of retail experience.
Also I think the big point here is, you can buy the book anywhere you damn please. If you want to talk about it with a bunch of like-minded people, then do it this way. If you think this way is stupid, then you probably wouldn’t get a whole lot out of discussing things with people who totally support it, so why bother complaining?
I wanted to discuss Franzen’s novel here because I thought everyone would have unique, individualized opinions and contributions. I had no idea you were all like-minded people.
Don’t think anything I said implied that every person who supports independent bookstores automatically has the same exact responses and opinions about a certain book, but thanks for the non-helpful sarcasm!
Seriously, though, I want to participate in this book club partly because I have always found you all to be like-minded individuals.
It just seems kind of absurd that someone can’t buy Franzen’s book for Stephen’s book club at a bookstore that actively sells Stephen’s books (which we don’t sell at a discount). That was my point.
I’m not sure if Borders will be selling Freedom at an immediate discount or not. Either way, I don’t suspect the price payed to the publisher is any different.
Who cares where one buys books? What is important is that one is reading a book after making the choice to spend their entertainment dollar on words.
I shop at independent bookstores, big box bookstores, used bookstores, the internet, and my friend’s trunks; I beg for free galleys, borrow books, steal books, and buy books from authors who read in my house.
What is important is that I am reading these books. If what the daily rumpus suggests is true, that literature will survive as long as the words continue to be written, then where and how the words are procured should not matter.
Leave the success or failure of bookstores and small business to capitalism, and just be happy people are reading.
As someone who works 2 blocks from the original Borders and shops there from time to time (I always check Dawn Treader down the street first, though), I guess I really don’t understand the distinction between Borders and Powell’s. They’re both previously indie stores that have made a lot of money and expanded. Perhaps Powell’s just has better taste?
Borders is about to go out of business, too. Is a world without Borders better or worse than the world we have now?
Even if you don’t live near an independent book store, you can still buy Freedom from the Rumpus. It’s not like anyone’s being hung out to dry with this project. Book clubs have conditions, even one-off ones. Nobody complains about the Rumpus supplying books for their regular book club, so why should people complain now? If you can’t spring for the cover price (buying from the Rumpus) over whatever sale price Borders or Amazon is selling it at, then you don’t really want that desperately to be part of this.
I completely agree that the rules and requirements of a Rumpus book club are their’s to make and whether you choose to participate or not is your discretion.
For the sake of argument though, what do you think the reaction would be if the situation were flipped and another literary community’s requirement was that the book must be purchased from a big box store, Amazon or in e-book format? I’m willing to bet that the ardent defenders of this policy would have some harsh words for the organizers of said club.
“Obama — wearing a polo shirt and ball cap — emerged from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore carrying a brown paper bag [...] Inside the bag was “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen, aides reported. The novel portrays a family of urban homesteaders in St. Paul, Minn., who decamp to the nation’s capital. It’s not on sale yet, but the store gave him an advance copy.”
‘Gave him’ makes it sound like he didn’t – financially at least – support the (independent) Bunch of Grapes. From their website:
“The Bunch of Grapes has been Martha’s Vineyard’s year-round, independent, locally-owned bookstore for over 40 years.”
That’s hilarious. He may not have paid his $26 bucks or whatever, but I’m guessing Bunch of Grapes doesn’t have to worry about staying afloat after that visit.
Not to feed the trolls or anything, but here’s my 2¢: I have a Kindle. I sometimes buy magazines and gum at Borders. But seriously, if it’s just one book, and you have to pre-order it anyway, is it really such a monumental undertaking to get it from an independent local? Or from Powells.com? Or from The Rumpus? I mean, Jesus.
On twitter, @RonHogan points out that in principle of you get this book at Walmart and Target, is it ok to join? But not if you check it out at the library?
K Yee that’s not actually true K Yee. Just because we didn’t name Walmart or Target doesn’t mean we would accept a receipt from them. In fact, we wouldn’t. I think saying the book needs to be purchased from an independent bookstore is pretty clear.
Just pre-ordered from my local indie bookstore – http://www.lyonbooks.com – a super ace little joint that I hope will survive the way Franzen hopes a love of good serious fiction will survive, but, how to prove I’ve gotten it from them? Do I need to scan in a copy of my receipt? Have them e-mail you? I am feeling a fit of neo-ludditism coming on in hitting this wall of tech-life-living and my sheer stupidity at how to handle little tasks like this.
Those are both good options. They can email us or you can scan the receipt and email it to admin AT therumpus.net, or they can email you a receipt which you can forward to us.
In the Philippines, I’d have no hope of purchasing this book from an indie bookstore. If I’m able to find it at all, I’ll only be able to find it from National Bookstore, or Power Books. Would you accept a receipt from them?
I applaud Stephen and his team for trying to help the independent bookstores.
The debate between independent bookstores and more corporate forms of bookselling is not about discounts on books. It’s a debate about power. Bigger companies have more power, and powerful companies have a tendency to abuse or misuse that power. I can’t give a better example of such abuse than fellow commenter J., manager of a local Borders bookstore, threatening Stephen with his comment above – “I am thinking twice about … stocking your book in my store.” That is a clear abuse of his power simply because J. doesn’t like Stephen’s ideological stand to support little bookstores.
Imagine if the manager of one Borders store behaves like this, what kind of power is held by the central buyer at Borders or B&N who is making stocking decisions for hundreds of superstores around the country and how can that power be abused.
The reality is we’ve lost a lot of independent bookstores. Some to being undercut by Border’s & Barnes & Noble.
And many that survived that era went under because of Amazon.
Some stores are still in danger. Modern Times in San Francisco sent out an email asking people to buy books or they might make it through the summer to the fall when their sales usually increase.
Once upon a time, there were multiple readings by authors each night in San Francisco. But some of the stores with the most readings jave closed including Cody’s, A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books, and Stacey’s.
Threatening to not carry Stephen’s books should get you fired (and not just because you already sold a lot of copies in hard cover & can sell even more in paperback).
One of the best articles in Stephen Brill’s Content magazine was about the power of the main buyer for Barnes & Noble.
And yes, Border’s will discount Freedom. If not the moment it goes on sale, then when it is on the New York Times bestseller list.
And the whole point of those huge discounts is Border’s doesn’t have to make much (or any money) on them. But independent bookstores can’t match those deep discounts, and they lose sales.
So, did I miss a resolution to the library question? That is, if I were to borrow a copy from my local library, would I be eligible to participate in this book club and discussion?
Generally I avoid Comments sections like the plague (exercises in futility or whatever). That being said, I’m at risk of being drawn into the rabble depending on the legitimacy of a library book.
The answer, I’m afraid, is no. To participate in the discussion with Franzen you have to have bought the book.
Though, we could put together a discussion with a different author that was open to everyone, whether they had bought the book or not. I think that would be fun to do, maybe with Josh Mohr, author of Termite Parade. I’m sure he’d be into it.
It’s kind of sad how we’ve been Wal-Martized into just wanting the cheapest price on things, without caring that someone working in a developed country with a living wages and benefits lost that job to someone in a developing country who is working for pennies a day making those things. Except the argument can and will be made that by making things for pennies a day in a developing country, those people are actually lifting themselves out of a mean, subsistence life and creating a middle class where we now have none. Who will then want to buy cars and stuff. And then outsource jobs to the next level down on the development ladder (like the maqulladoras went to China, and, now, some labor is shifting to place like Viet Nam for ever-cheaper goods).
What’s the answer? Is it obvious? Do you have the answer? I sure don’t.
Nobody wants to pay the “real cost” for anything – first and foremost for oil and food.
I buy my book club books from the Rumpus to help the Rumpus. Where I buy all my other books is nobody’s damn bidness – it’s between me and my conscience/pocketbook.
ps: And I buy a ton of books. What our household spends on magazines, “small magazines,” books, etc. every year is probably equal to the annual salaries of a lot of people here. Not bragging, just sayin.
I bought Freedom from the Rumpus to support the Rumpus, cringing slightly that I missed out on the very welcome 45% staff discount I would have received had I bought it through the library I work at, but that money would have gone to the middle man we use to purchase our books.
I rarely take advantage of that perk because I buy almost all of my books used, at yard sales or used book stores. I looked at this as a donation to something I value, and as a treat to myself, but I live paycheck to paycheck and I didn’t get a raise this year, so I admit I have a divided citizen/consumer mind about where I shop. (See also: Supercapitalism by Robert Reich)
I love what The Rumpus is doing and I gladly forked over the extra cash so that I could be a part of this; reading Freedom with amazingly intelligent people and having wonderful discussions with them about it. I bought this from The Rumpus. I hate paying hard cover price for things when I can get them so much cheaper from Amazon, but my love for The Rumpus, Franzen, and the book club is greater than my love of eating something other than mac and cheese for a week. I’m sorry if you can’t participate if you spend $10-$15 on your Kindle edition, or buy the discounted book from a huge retailer, but if I can fork over the extra cash I’m sure you can. I scrape by from paycheck to paycheck, my parents buy me groceries sometimes. Amazon usually makes my money last a little bit longer because I don’t have to pay list price for books. So yeah, spending the extra cash on Freedom forces me to eat mac and cheese for a few days instead of a well-balanced meal but, to me, this is worth it.
Yeah, I agree with supporting the Rumpus/Indie Bookstores. I was just a bit disappointed because I made Stephen’s book my “Staff Pick” at Borders and handsold a bunch of them personally to people who otherwise wouldn’t have known or heard of the book, so I guess I just took it a bit personally when it was stated that folks couldn’t buy the book from my store.
No worries, though. Good luck with your book club.
You can’t be in the book club if you get the book from a library? That’s just wrong. Libraries need support as much as indie bookstores do. I wouldn’t want either to go under, but libraries support reader habits of millions of people that can’t afford to buy, and you can’t say that about any bookstores. Don’t buy from the big chains? Check. Don’t borrow from a library? Fie I say.
I never doubted it, Stephen. And I do get and agree with wanting to support independent bookstores. But the book club sounds like so much fun, why limit the fun to people who can afford a new hardcover? Even if it is a one-off.
I read “The Corrections” three times when it first appeared, and plan to read it again before taking on “Freedom.” “The Corrections” was a book full of the justifiable anger of the Baby Boom generation (mine and Franzen’s) that were promised the world by their affluent living parents, who vested in their children a sense of entitlement that their adult world did not live up to. Like many, Franzen understands that the only free people in American are those who are white, heterosexual, and conform to what society expects of them, like being dumb. The rest ( and this includes many heterosexuals I know, who just happen to be very smart) be damned. I look forward to “Freedom” as I do to anything by Franzen, whose voice is expressive and whose awareness of the wrongs of our society are so right on target. The only thing I will say about the Jennifer Weiner debacle is–I find it interesting that such high powered literary women like Jane Smiley, Jona Didion, or A.S.Byatt, to name a few, have not come out in Weiner’s favor. I say hats off to Mr. Franzen, the sage chronicler of our times! Give me “Freedom!” ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re a independent bookstore in Santa Cruz, California (where Mr. Franzen lives part of the year) and are super lucky that we’ll have signed first editions of Freedom available on the release date (August 31st). You can pre-order a copy through our website: http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/product/jonathan-franzens-freedom-signed-edition
We really appreciate The Rumpus’ support of independent bookstores (and our employees have health insurance!). Thanks!
Hey, a question: I’d really like to do this and even called my favorite indie store to find out when they will have the book in (next Tuesday). I was planning on photographing the receipt and emailing it in. But just now you said on Twitter that you are only accepting members for a few more days–does this mean I have to get it from you or pre-order (wasn’t planning on that since they said they will have a ton on Tuesday and even pre-orders get them then) in order to participate?
I’m a little big confused about the shipping situation: Is the shipping only available to people living within the US, or is FREE shipping only available to people living within the US, and you can still pay to get it shipped internationally? I live in Paris, and I’m considering braving the shipping process as I’m worried the indie stores here won’t get it in time.
That’s right Elliot. It’s free shipping in the U.S. but you can pay $14 extra and we’ll ship to Paris. You pay $14 extra by going to the donation page.
A few years ago a great little film came out that some of you may find interesting: Indies Under Fire. As a small publisher myself, I am chagrined that to keep my authors happy I have to sell their books on Amazon.com. I do so, but when I order online I use Powells.com. Mostly, though, I like to shop at my local independent store. It loves to host readings for my authors, and it displays their books nicely without requiring me to pay them to do so well to boot. RE Barnes Ignoble, I had to fight them for over six months to get paid for a reading an author had done six months prior to that, and never got paid by another branch for books sold there, and I could go on and on. I agree with Sarah that we’ve largely been “Wal-Martized” into wanting the lowest price on goods, regardless of the human cost. I’m heartened by Stephen’s stand and look forward to the discussion of Freedom (besides this one . Is there a link to it yet?
I remember when independent bookstores were the only game in town. The sun was always warm, the moon a mystery only you understood.
I remember when I was the only Sarah. Where did you all come from? Are your parents hippies? Zealots?
Will the discussion be visible to the poor and wretched who cannot as of this writing afford our Freedom? (Though we hold Franzen in disdain we have every intention of reading the book.)
Darlings, people hold Franzen in disdain because be speaks truths that are too difficult for them to face–namely how screwed up, dehumanized, and dumbed down our culutre has become thanks to the sense of entitlement bred into the baby boomer generation. Of which I happen to be a member, but proudly outside of these aforementioned norms. For one thing, I read books. For another, I make use of technology, but it does not dictate how I live. People who disdain Franzen either have not read him, are too dumb to, or too ignorant to understand what they do read because their prejudices block whatever knowledge might be let in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is it OK to begin talking specifics about the book yet? I finished Freedom and really enjoyed it. I am trying to remember exactly what Stephen wrote about it in relation to 2666 (I erased that email, alas–), but my thought is that Freedom and 2666 mirror each other, that together they make “a” great American novel (I really resist the definite article in great-American-novel discussions). North of the border, the dream; south of it, the nightmare. One wouldn’t exist without the other. I found Freedom easier to read, not surprisingly, but I am not so sure it will mark my psyche as indelibly over the long haul.
One thing that mystified me about Freedom was the quality of the writing in Patty’s autobiography. I tried to suspend my disbelief, but it didn’t work; every time she referred to herself as ‘the autobiographer’ I remembered that Franzen had given her this excellent voice. She had been a jock pretty much her whole life, didn’t ever refer to books or having taken a writing class, and yet her prose was a pro’s. Also, her degree of self-disclosure was stunning. I had a hard time believing ‘her.’ Would like to hear others’ thoughts on this.
I agree with this. But wait, aren’t you in the email discussion group? That’s where we’re really talking about the book. If you’re a member you should join it.
I guess I’m not–the last time I checked where I thought it was there was just the announcement of JF chiming in on 9/23. I’ll check back there again–but let me know if that’s not the right place. Thanks!
So is this closed even if you’re buying it from an independent bookstore? There’s only one near me and the owner has been trying to get some in for weeks now.
Issac, if you see this, could you please send me an email or a link to the Franzen discussion of 9/23 that I missed? I’m sure I got the original email but I can’t find it now; I purge my inbox pretty viciously. Thank you.
Podcast
Rumpus Events
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Update: SOLD OUT. SORRY 
August 14th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I just read Lev Grossman’s profile of Franzen and he talked about how Franzen gerrymandered his laptop’s ethernet input so that he could never connect to the internet (too much of a distraction). So an online discussion with him will be brilliant!
I get back to school September 6th. Will take the T to Brookline Booksmith and get my copy of Freedom, then join.
August 14th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Buy a book and save the donations for the pigeons.
http://mtbs.com/weneedyourhelp.html
August 15th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
“Books purchased from Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon are ineligible.”
I’m in!
August 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Hell, if even Michiko likes it …
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/books/16book.html
August 15th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
So, Kindle versions will be ineligible, right? If so, I’m out! I have to say it makes me grumpy, as a lifelong buyer of thousands of books (a big percentage of them bought before Amazon, BN and Borders ever existed, because I’m that old)–and an active supporter of independent bookstores (have even worked in a few) to see people excluded from a discussion of literature based on where they purchase the book. I’m living light these days–money-wise and in terms of just owning fewer objects–and I prefer owning and reading books in electronic format when they are available as such. This reminds me unpleasantly of that thing they’re doing over at Tin House where they want writers to prove they’ve purchased a book before submitting work, and if it’s an e-book they have to explain why. It all feels very manipulative, and judgmental, and privileged and just–icky on so many levels. And, sadly, it probably won’t save independent booksellers.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Luke for president.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Of a free America
That doesn’t exist
And never did
August 16th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Damn! Stephen, I just pre-ordered “Freedom” from Amazon this morning. May I have any special consideration? I’m already a Rumpus member and would love to join the One-Off. Franzen’s one of my double literary delights…I channel Foster Wallace through him, too.
August 16th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
You can cancel the pre-order
August 16th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Now I get it. Mr. Elliot’s decision to exclude the participation of those purchasing books from Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon is an allusion to the war Walter and Patty Berglund engage in against their fascist neighbors. Like his vision of Barrie’s children with shadows attached to their feet, Mr. Elliot once again impresses.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Dear Luke:
Get a clue.
Best regards.
August 16th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Dear Jeremy:
Thank you for your articulate, well-reasoned, and courteous response. You have utterly convinced me. Really, what was I thinking?
Best regards.
August 17th, 2010 at 6:25 am
Wow, Jeremy. How douchey. (I’m all for subtlety, too.)
Best regards backatcha.
August 17th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Someday, the only places we can buy things from will be online retailers, because instead of kicking in the few extra bucks to grab things from the local store, we all flocked to virtual big box stores like Amazon. I hope at that point that commenters who complain about these policies will remember this conversation.
Incidentally, I usually get my hardcover “doorstoppers” from the library, myself, but I still fully support and actually enjoy the thought that if I’d like to be a part of this privileged discussion with a literary giant, I’ll have to either support one of the best websites out there or y’know, walk into a store and buy a book from a clerk who makes a living in one of the toughest markets out there. Hell, I bet there are other books in those stores too–maybe even books that I’ll like! The world is crazy like that.
August 17th, 2010 at 8:57 am
The Rumpus:
I did not think it was possible for you to make me happier.
But here, you’ve done it.
August 17th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I work in a library and get most of my books there. Ordering an extra is going to strap me for cash this month since we don’t make much. I got a 51 cent raise this year!! I’m still debating. Ugh.
August 17th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Julia, we want to make you happier still.
August 17th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
okay so i’m going to buy it, but why am i such a dufus with paypal? i can’t make it work…
August 17th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Just read the two page excerpt from the times. Now I am not happy about having to wait. It seems like something I am not going to want to put down.
August 17th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
I agree (Jim and Luke), my comment was rude, and I sincerely apologize for that. But you know Luke, you’re writing off a gesture (actually two) in support of independent booksellers, and asking for special consideration just because you have a Kindle and (apparently) merely planned to buy the book on it. Seriously? That doesn’t even come close to meeting this gesture halfway, I’m sorry, and that offended me.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:47 am
It is surprising to me that they ran that review almost two weeks before the publication date. Especially for a book like this that has an embargo on it.
August 18th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Hilary, you can do it over the phone by calling (215) 589-4131.
August 19th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Hi!
I am interested in taking part in this book club, but I also manage a local Borders where we happened to sell a ton of copies of ‘The Adderall Diaries’. While I understand the sentiment behind you not wanting people to go to Amazon, Borders, or B&N, I find it a bit hypocritical that I can’t buy this book from a store you depend on to sell copies of your book.
I really enjoy the Rumpus, but this rule you have established is disappointing. I would have bought the book straight from you, but now I am thinking twice about participating or stocking your book in my store.
–J.
August 19th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
It’s not as though Stephen has self-published and has chosen to distribute in these larger stores. If you want to quibble, take it up with the publisher. Publishers want to stay in business, so they sell/distribute their books where they will make money. Authors and publishers do not always have to agree on principle in order to have a working relationship.
August 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Neil/Sarah,
No worries. The store I work for wants to promote Stephen and other local authors (I live in SF), and will continue to do so. I just think a somewhat hypocritical stance is being taken here (though I do understand both sides of the conversation).
August 19th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
And sorry for the misspelling of your name, Sara.
August 19th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Well, you know we Sara(h)s can be particular about that… ha.
August 19th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Actually, I think it should be entirely up to Borders (I don’t know how decisions are made in terms of what they carry, i.e. is it done at corporate level or locally) whether Stephen’s book is stocked or not. For a ginormous organization like Amazon, Borders, B&N, etc to shut out an author has huge impact to the author because of economies of scale involved, but that is ultimately their choice, even if one doesn’t like what goes into making that decision.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of indy bookstores and indy record stores because of the quirks of their buyers! Favorite bookstore: Grolier’s in Cambridge, MA, though I haven’t checked to see if they’re still alive.
August 19th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Does anyone else remember when Borders was just a little old indie bookstore in Ann Arbor? I’ve never really internalized that they’re Big Bad Borders now.
from Wikipedia:
The original Borders bookstore was located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it was founded in 1971[3] by brothers Tom and Louis Borders during their undergraduate and graduate years at the University of Michigan. The Borders brothers’ inventory system tailored each store’s offerings to its community. A sister company, Book Inventory Systems (1976–1994), was founded to serve as a wholesaler for and provide the brothers’ custom inventory system to regional independent bookstores such as John Rollins, Thackeray’s, Schuler Books, and Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Until Borders Superstore expansion occurred in the early 1990s, BIS serviced more independent stores than Borders stores. Former Hickory Farms president Robert F. DiRomualdo was hired in 1989 to expand the company.
The first Borders bookshop, with a meager stock of used books, was located in two rooms above 209 State Street, north of the State Theater; curiously, these rooms’ previous renter was one James “Iggy” Osterberg, who went on to become punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop. From there the brothers soon moved, briefly, to a tiny ground floor + mezzanine operation in the Maynard House apartment building, on the southwest corner of William and Maynard Streets. In 1981 they bought out the stock of Wahr’s, an 80-year-old bookstore that was ending business at 316 South State, and moved into that location. Wahr’s had been mainly a textbook and school supplies vendor, but the brothers did not deal in textbooks. Soon after the move back to State Street, they switched entirely from selling used books to new ones, and then leapt at the chance to occupy much larger quarters that had become available across State Street, in the former location of the Wagner & Son men’s clothing store.
August 19th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
For some people the only book-buying option IS a borders/B&N or online retailer (fist-up, Loredo, TX). I dont think it’s very nice or fair to corner someone into buying from you if they dont have another option. And what if they preordered it and dont find out about the book club until they already have the book? That’d be sad, man.
You can suggest that someone buy from an independent store, you can urge, beseech, and even beg… but to say that these 3 retailers aren’t an option? It seems a bit petty. They all have their place. I mean, I dont know a non-specialized indie in the country that would pass on stocking the Franzen book but you KNOW it’s going to be at one of the other big stores. and discounted. So the big chains aren’t making much from the sale anyway.
How about this–if you must buy from a big bookstore (and shit, readers and writers would really be SOL if they all went outta business) just dont buy anything else. Get the Franzen book and run for it!
August 19th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
one more thing.
If you buy from a big bookstore, you’ll be supporting a company that provides its employees health insurance. Or at least the option of health insurance.
Until we get universal health care (ha! jokes people, jokes!)… I mean, it’s not SO BAD, is it? They’re still book stores. They sell books. We like books! Books=good! Big bad Borders, well, they’re kind of obnoxious and devote too much space to greeting cards and specialty calendars but otherwise, they sell the books. Yay books n stuff!
(That was always my argument re: starbucks versus local indie coffee shop. The health insurance. Works here too, IMO. Nothing wrong with having a few choices in life. Indeed, that’s all we really have. #faux-losophy)
August 19th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Well, I understand the desire to support smaller bookstores, as many local bookstores are some of my favorites in the world. Books Inc. is a local store here in SF, but they have multiple locations. Does a receipt from their store count? And what of Books-A-Million? Or iBooks?
August 19th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
By the same logic of “you can buy a book at any store you choose,” can’t this book club be anything its organizer(s) want it to be? Stephen/the rumpus should have the option to create any kind of book club they want. they can make the rules that guide the book club anything they want. If you don’t agree with their rules, you can express your displeasure here, choose not to participate and, if you have the power this border’s manager has, you can even retaliate in response to those rules. But you don’t have the right to change the rules to suit your own desires. If you don’t like it, go find another book club or start your own.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
For people complaining about not having direct access to an indie – powells.com is an excellent resource, y’know, and a lot of small bookstores are integrating sales into their sites to expand their reach. A few of my local / formerly local bookstores definitely do this (brooklinebooksmith.com, newtonvillebooks.com, bookpeople.com…). And to those complaining that this is somehow discrimination – well, suck it up, guys. This is a book club, you are not being forced to join, and if you choose to, it’s likely that you are the type who would have no problem understanding that supporting small, local businesses is a very nice thing to do for a whole bunch of reasons. Stephen / The Rumpus is COMPLETELY within his / it’s right to attempt to use their influence to do something wonderful. Yeah, it costs a little more, but artists are making less and less, and if you’d like to be able to keep reading excellent books, then maybe it’s worth spending a few extra dollars to ensure that talented people can keep doing their thing.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
How is this not some kind of elitism at work? Why are independent bookstores better for readers or for authors than big chains or Amazon?
The big ‘uns stock more books, add less of a markup/book and still have readings and recommendation and clubs and all of that.
Isn’t it just that you don’t want the common folks — you know, the kinds of people who buy books at Borders and coffee at Starbucks — to get stank on you?
August 19th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Ceolaf – Do big chains tend to stock titles from small presses? Emphatically not. Does price-slashing inherently affect publisher’s returns and thus the amount of money they are able to pay authors? Yup! Do indies have a strong history of supporting authors, not merely cutting prices to drive sales, by booking events, running book clubs, having strong knowledge of titles and forming close relationships with customers to enhance their reading experience, and keep them loving books? Sure do! Shopping at big chains, where more often than not employees have little to no knowledge of their titles, or through big chain sites, that are entirely impersonal, aren’t really the same to a lot of us who value what smaller stores and specialized staffs can offer. Clearly, some people feel differently, but that doesn’t make us assholes for preferring a certain kind of retail experience.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Also I think the big point here is, you can buy the book anywhere you damn please. If you want to talk about it with a bunch of like-minded people, then do it this way. If you think this way is stupid, then you probably wouldn’t get a whole lot out of discussing things with people who totally support it, so why bother complaining?
August 19th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I wanted to discuss Franzen’s novel here because I thought everyone would have unique, individualized opinions and contributions. I had no idea you were all like-minded people.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I kid…
August 19th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Don’t think anything I said implied that every person who supports independent bookstores automatically has the same exact responses and opinions about a certain book, but thanks for the non-helpful sarcasm!
August 19th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I don’t think that, Samantha. I was only joking.
Seriously, though, I want to participate in this book club partly because I have always found you all to be like-minded individuals.
It just seems kind of absurd that someone can’t buy Franzen’s book for Stephen’s book club at a bookstore that actively sells Stephen’s books (which we don’t sell at a discount). That was my point.
I’m not sure if Borders will be selling Freedom at an immediate discount or not. Either way, I don’t suspect the price payed to the publisher is any different.
August 20th, 2010 at 3:46 am
Who cares where one buys books? What is important is that one is reading a book after making the choice to spend their entertainment dollar on words.
I shop at independent bookstores, big box bookstores, used bookstores, the internet, and my friend’s trunks; I beg for free galleys, borrow books, steal books, and buy books from authors who read in my house.
What is important is that I am reading these books. If what the daily rumpus suggests is true, that literature will survive as long as the words continue to be written, then where and how the words are procured should not matter.
Leave the success or failure of bookstores and small business to capitalism, and just be happy people are reading.
August 20th, 2010 at 5:32 am
As someone who works 2 blocks from the original Borders and shops there from time to time (I always check Dawn Treader down the street first, though), I guess I really don’t understand the distinction between Borders and Powell’s. They’re both previously indie stores that have made a lot of money and expanded. Perhaps Powell’s just has better taste?
Borders is about to go out of business, too. Is a world without Borders better or worse than the world we have now?
August 20th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Even if you don’t live near an independent book store, you can still buy Freedom from the Rumpus. It’s not like anyone’s being hung out to dry with this project. Book clubs have conditions, even one-off ones. Nobody complains about the Rumpus supplying books for their regular book club, so why should people complain now? If you can’t spring for the cover price (buying from the Rumpus) over whatever sale price Borders or Amazon is selling it at, then you don’t really want that desperately to be part of this.
August 20th, 2010 at 7:15 am
It’s not exclusionary, it’s just kind of noble.
August 20th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
I completely agree that the rules and requirements of a Rumpus book club are their’s to make and whether you choose to participate or not is your discretion.
For the sake of argument though, what do you think the reaction would be if the situation were flipped and another literary community’s requirement was that the book must be purchased from a big box store, Amazon or in e-book format? I’m willing to bet that the ardent defenders of this policy would have some harsh words for the organizers of said club.
August 20th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Just found you a new member: http://theday.com/article/20100820/NWS13/100829931/1047
“Obama — wearing a polo shirt and ball cap — emerged from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore carrying a brown paper bag [...] Inside the bag was “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen, aides reported. The novel portrays a family of urban homesteaders in St. Paul, Minn., who decamp to the nation’s capital. It’s not on sale yet, but the store gave him an advance copy.”
‘Gave him’ makes it sound like he didn’t – financially at least – support the (independent) Bunch of Grapes. From their website:
“The Bunch of Grapes has been Martha’s Vineyard’s year-round, independent, locally-owned bookstore for over 40 years.”
August 20th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
John,
That’s hilarious. He may not have paid his $26 bucks or whatever, but I’m guessing Bunch of Grapes doesn’t have to worry about staying afloat after that visit.
Not to feed the trolls or anything, but here’s my 2¢: I have a Kindle. I sometimes buy magazines and gum at Borders. But seriously, if it’s just one book, and you have to pre-order it anyway, is it really such a monumental undertaking to get it from an independent local? Or from Powells.com? Or from The Rumpus? I mean, Jesus.
Your commander-in-chief would want you to.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
On twitter, @RonHogan points out that in principle of you get this book at Walmart and Target, is it ok to join? But not if you check it out at the library?
August 20th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
K Yee that’s not actually true K Yee. Just because we didn’t name Walmart or Target doesn’t mean we would accept a receipt from them. In fact, we wouldn’t. I think saying the book needs to be purchased from an independent bookstore is pretty clear.
You have to be careful with Ron Hogan, he’s wily.
August 20th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I’m a huge fan of Ron’s wiliness, actually!
August 20th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
This is great. I love The Rumpus!
August 20th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Just pre-ordered from my local indie bookstore – http://www.lyonbooks.com – a super ace little joint that I hope will survive the way Franzen hopes a love of good serious fiction will survive, but, how to prove I’ve gotten it from them? Do I need to scan in a copy of my receipt? Have them e-mail you? I am feeling a fit of neo-ludditism coming on in hitting this wall of tech-life-living and my sheer stupidity at how to handle little tasks like this.
August 21st, 2010 at 9:25 am
Those are both good options. They can email us or you can scan the receipt and email it to admin AT therumpus.net, or they can email you a receipt which you can forward to us.
August 21st, 2010 at 11:38 pm
In the Philippines, I’d have no hope of purchasing this book from an indie bookstore. If I’m able to find it at all, I’ll only be able to find it from National Bookstore, or Power Books. Would you accept a receipt from them?
August 21st, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I applaud Stephen and his team for trying to help the independent bookstores.
The debate between independent bookstores and more corporate forms of bookselling is not about discounts on books. It’s a debate about power. Bigger companies have more power, and powerful companies have a tendency to abuse or misuse that power. I can’t give a better example of such abuse than fellow commenter J., manager of a local Borders bookstore, threatening Stephen with his comment above – “I am thinking twice about … stocking your book in my store.” That is a clear abuse of his power simply because J. doesn’t like Stephen’s ideological stand to support little bookstores.
Imagine if the manager of one Borders store behaves like this, what kind of power is held by the central buyer at Borders or B&N who is making stocking decisions for hundreds of superstores around the country and how can that power be abused.
August 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 am
The reality is we’ve lost a lot of independent bookstores. Some to being undercut by Border’s & Barnes & Noble.
And many that survived that era went under because of Amazon.
Some stores are still in danger. Modern Times in San Francisco sent out an email asking people to buy books or they might make it through the summer to the fall when their sales usually increase.
Once upon a time, there were multiple readings by authors each night in San Francisco. But some of the stores with the most readings jave closed including Cody’s, A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books, and Stacey’s.
Threatening to not carry Stephen’s books should get you fired (and not just because you already sold a lot of copies in hard cover & can sell even more in paperback).
One of the best articles in Stephen Brill’s Content magazine was about the power of the main buyer for Barnes & Noble.
And yes, Border’s will discount Freedom. If not the moment it goes on sale, then when it is on the New York Times bestseller list.
And the whole point of those huge discounts is Border’s doesn’t have to make much (or any money) on them. But independent bookstores can’t match those deep discounts, and they lose sales.
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:59 pm
So, did I miss a resolution to the library question? That is, if I were to borrow a copy from my local library, would I be eligible to participate in this book club and discussion?
Generally I avoid Comments sections like the plague (exercises in futility or whatever). That being said, I’m at risk of being drawn into the rabble depending on the legitimacy of a library book.
August 22nd, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Hi Ellie,
The answer, I’m afraid, is no. To participate in the discussion with Franzen you have to have bought the book.
Though, we could put together a discussion with a different author that was open to everyone, whether they had bought the book or not. I think that would be fun to do, maybe with Josh Mohr, author of Termite Parade. I’m sure he’d be into it.
Stephen
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:53 am
It’s kind of sad how we’ve been Wal-Martized into just wanting the cheapest price on things, without caring that someone working in a developed country with a living wages and benefits lost that job to someone in a developing country who is working for pennies a day making those things. Except the argument can and will be made that by making things for pennies a day in a developing country, those people are actually lifting themselves out of a mean, subsistence life and creating a middle class where we now have none. Who will then want to buy cars and stuff. And then outsource jobs to the next level down on the development ladder (like the maqulladoras went to China, and, now, some labor is shifting to place like Viet Nam for ever-cheaper goods).
What’s the answer? Is it obvious? Do you have the answer? I sure don’t.
Nobody wants to pay the “real cost” for anything – first and foremost for oil and food.
I buy my book club books from the Rumpus to help the Rumpus. Where I buy all my other books is nobody’s damn bidness – it’s between me and my conscience/pocketbook.
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:58 am
ps: And I buy a ton of books. What our household spends on magazines, “small magazines,” books, etc. every year is probably equal to the annual salaries of a lot of people here. Not bragging, just sayin.
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 am
I bought Freedom from the Rumpus to support the Rumpus, cringing slightly that I missed out on the very welcome 45% staff discount I would have received had I bought it through the library I work at, but that money would have gone to the middle man we use to purchase our books.
I rarely take advantage of that perk because I buy almost all of my books used, at yard sales or used book stores. I looked at this as a donation to something I value, and as a treat to myself, but I live paycheck to paycheck and I didn’t get a raise this year, so I admit I have a divided citizen/consumer mind about where I shop. (See also: Supercapitalism by Robert Reich)
August 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 am
I love what The Rumpus is doing and I gladly forked over the extra cash so that I could be a part of this; reading Freedom with amazingly intelligent people and having wonderful discussions with them about it. I bought this from The Rumpus. I hate paying hard cover price for things when I can get them so much cheaper from Amazon, but my love for The Rumpus, Franzen, and the book club is greater than my love of eating something other than mac and cheese for a week. I’m sorry if you can’t participate if you spend $10-$15 on your Kindle edition, or buy the discounted book from a huge retailer, but if I can fork over the extra cash I’m sure you can. I scrape by from paycheck to paycheck, my parents buy me groceries sometimes. Amazon usually makes my money last a little bit longer because I don’t have to pay list price for books. So yeah, spending the extra cash on Freedom forces me to eat mac and cheese for a few days instead of a well-balanced meal but, to me, this is worth it.
August 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hi,
Yeah, I agree with supporting the Rumpus/Indie Bookstores. I was just a bit disappointed because I made Stephen’s book my “Staff Pick” at Borders and handsold a bunch of them personally to people who otherwise wouldn’t have known or heard of the book, so I guess I just took it a bit personally when it was stated that folks couldn’t buy the book from my store.
No worries, though. Good luck with your book club.
August 23rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I’m just wondering if the people who are worried about independent booksellers get most of their music “free.”
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:32 pm
You can’t be in the book club if you get the book from a library? That’s just wrong. Libraries need support as much as indie bookstores do. I wouldn’t want either to go under, but libraries support reader habits of millions of people that can’t afford to buy, and you can’t say that about any bookstores. Don’t buy from the big chains? Check. Don’t borrow from a library? Fie I say.
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:45 pm
We strongly support borrowing books from libraries.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I never doubted it, Stephen. And I do get and agree with wanting to support independent bookstores. But the book club sounds like so much fun, why limit the fun to people who can afford a new hardcover? Even if it is a one-off.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:35 pm
@Gladiator: In my city we have honkytonks but I’m usually home….. reading.
Hyperlexia runs in my family.
August 24th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Trapeze squeeze???
August 24th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Jay Dee, is that you?
Not to change the subject, but: Seth Godin.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I read “The Corrections” three times when it first appeared, and plan to read it again before taking on “Freedom.” “The Corrections” was a book full of the justifiable anger of the Baby Boom generation (mine and Franzen’s) that were promised the world by their affluent living parents, who vested in their children a sense of entitlement that their adult world did not live up to. Like many, Franzen understands that the only free people in American are those who are white, heterosexual, and conform to what society expects of them, like being dumb. The rest ( and this includes many heterosexuals I know, who just happen to be very smart) be damned. I look forward to “Freedom” as I do to anything by Franzen, whose voice is expressive and whose awareness of the wrongs of our society are so right on target. The only thing I will say about the Jennifer Weiner debacle is–I find it interesting that such high powered literary women like Jane Smiley, Jona Didion, or A.S.Byatt, to name a few, have not come out in Weiner’s favor. I say hats off to Mr. Franzen, the sage chronicler of our times! Give me “Freedom!” ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 25th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
We’re a independent bookstore in Santa Cruz, California (where Mr. Franzen lives part of the year) and are super lucky that we’ll have signed first editions of Freedom available on the release date (August 31st). You can pre-order a copy through our website: http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/product/jonathan-franzens-freedom-signed-edition
We really appreciate The Rumpus’ support of independent bookstores (and our employees have health insurance!). Thanks!
August 25th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Bookshop Santa Cruz is a great place to purchase Freedom online. You can then forward the email receipt to participate in the book club.
August 25th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Whoah, racist, classist contentiousness. Who’d'a’thunit, on the Rumpus????
August 26th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Hey, a question: I’d really like to do this and even called my favorite indie store to find out when they will have the book in (next Tuesday). I was planning on photographing the receipt and emailing it in. But just now you said on Twitter that you are only accepting members for a few more days–does this mean I have to get it from you or pre-order (wasn’t planning on that since they said they will have a ton on Tuesday and even pre-orders get them then) in order to participate?
August 26th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
You’ll be OK. We’ll definitely give a chance for the book to arrive in bookstores.
August 28th, 2010 at 4:37 am
I’m a little big confused about the shipping situation: Is the shipping only available to people living within the US, or is FREE shipping only available to people living within the US, and you can still pay to get it shipped internationally? I live in Paris, and I’m considering braving the shipping process as I’m worried the indie stores here won’t get it in time.
August 28th, 2010 at 7:14 am
That’s right Elliot. It’s free shipping in the U.S. but you can pay $14 extra and we’ll ship to Paris. You pay $14 extra by going to the donation page.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:01 am
That’s perfect, thanks. I’ve done both of those things, but I made it a clean $20 so that the change can go towards keeping the site going.
September 4th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
A few years ago a great little film came out that some of you may find interesting: Indies Under Fire. As a small publisher myself, I am chagrined that to keep my authors happy I have to sell their books on Amazon.com. I do so, but when I order online I use Powells.com. Mostly, though, I like to shop at my local independent store. It loves to host readings for my authors, and it displays their books nicely without requiring me to pay them to do so well to boot. RE Barnes Ignoble, I had to fight them for over six months to get paid for a reading an author had done six months prior to that, and never got paid by another branch for books sold there, and I could go on and on. I agree with Sarah that we’ve largely been “Wal-Martized” into wanting the lowest price on goods, regardless of the human cost. I’m heartened by Stephen’s stand and look forward to the discussion of Freedom (besides this one
. Is there a link to it yet?
September 4th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
The discussion with Franzen happens on September 23.
September 6th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
(And perhaps a Sarah above all Sarahs)
I remember when independent bookstores were the only game in town. The sun was always warm, the moon a mystery only you understood.
I remember when I was the only Sarah. Where did you all come from? Are your parents hippies? Zealots?
Will the discussion be visible to the poor and wretched who cannot as of this writing afford our Freedom? (Though we hold Franzen in disdain we have every intention of reading the book.)
September 7th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Why the disdain? Please elaborate …
September 7th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Darlings, people hold Franzen in disdain because be speaks truths that are too difficult for them to face–namely how screwed up, dehumanized, and dumbed down our culutre has become thanks to the sense of entitlement bred into the baby boomer generation. Of which I happen to be a member, but proudly outside of these aforementioned norms. For one thing, I read books. For another, I make use of technology, but it does not dictate how I live. People who disdain Franzen either have not read him, are too dumb to, or too ignorant to understand what they do read because their prejudices block whatever knowledge might be let in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Is it OK to begin talking specifics about the book yet? I finished Freedom and really enjoyed it. I am trying to remember exactly what Stephen wrote about it in relation to 2666 (I erased that email, alas–), but my thought is that Freedom and 2666 mirror each other, that together they make “a” great American novel (I really resist the definite article in great-American-novel discussions). North of the border, the dream; south of it, the nightmare. One wouldn’t exist without the other. I found Freedom easier to read, not surprisingly, but I am not so sure it will mark my psyche as indelibly over the long haul.
September 11th, 2010 at 7:33 am
One thing that mystified me about Freedom was the quality of the writing in Patty’s autobiography. I tried to suspend my disbelief, but it didn’t work; every time she referred to herself as ‘the autobiographer’ I remembered that Franzen had given her this excellent voice. She had been a jock pretty much her whole life, didn’t ever refer to books or having taken a writing class, and yet her prose was a pro’s. Also, her degree of self-disclosure was stunning. I had a hard time believing ‘her.’ Would like to hear others’ thoughts on this.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I agree with this. But wait, aren’t you in the email discussion group? That’s where we’re really talking about the book. If you’re a member you should join it.
September 11th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I guess I’m not–the last time I checked where I thought it was there was just the announcement of JF chiming in on 9/23. I’ll check back there again–but let me know if that’s not the right place. Thanks!
September 12th, 2010 at 9:35 am
can you post the link to the email discussion group or send it to me privately? i’ve lost that email. thanks!
September 16th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Will Oprah announcing FREEDOM as her final book club selection change The Rumpus Book Club in any way?
September 20th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I bought the book from The Rumpus but don’t think I was invited to any email discussion group. How do we join that?
September 20th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Hi Zoe! I sent you and email with the details. Thanks!
September 21st, 2010 at 6:43 pm
So is this closed even if you’re buying it from an independent bookstore? There’s only one near me and the owner has been trying to get some in for weeks now.
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Afraid so. The discussion with Franzen is tomorrow.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Tomorrow, when, where and how.
The google thing doesn’t like me, why can’t I access it here??
pretty please
and hope you are feeling better!
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
here are my missing question marks:
???
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Shit. I could have bought this at Barnes and Nobel weeks ago, Stephen. Not that I would have, but I could have.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Oh and thanks for all the wonderful things on the rumpus, so as not to sound ungrateful.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:02 am
Are you saying you bought this at an independent bookstore already and read it and want to join the discussion today?
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:05 am
Suzy, send an email to Isaac AT TheRumpus.net.
September 30th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Issac, if you see this, could you please send me an email or a link to the Franzen discussion of 9/23 that I missed? I’m sure I got the original email but I can’t find it now; I purge my inbox pretty viciously. Thank you.