From the Kingfisher's Review of Books

Books come and go on the shores of Gabriele Island.
This week the waves brought a copy of Le Correzioni/The corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
In this book , like in the more recent Freedom, Franzen narrates the lives of an American average family from the Midwest. He explores the present in connection with its past  so that, slowly, the reader is brought to explore the whys and hows the Lamberts are what they are today. You can perceive Enid (the mother) as a fastidious character all through the book, but somehow you will sympathize with her after you dig a little in her past - and understand what a poor sex life she had with her now demented husband.
The central theme of the book is "depression" as a disease permeating our society at different levels and degrees of intensity. Some characters are depressed and acknowledge it - like Gary; some others are depressed but hide it - mostly to themselves - under layers of protective shields (like Enid). Franzen has indeed dedicated much of his literary production to the theme of depression in our society.
The reader can easily find something of him/herself in one or more of the characters depicted. That's why the book is such a successful enterprise: it's not just about an American average family but it's kind of universal. At times you will feel like you are Chip as a kid, left alone sitting at the dinner table because he was  squeamish about his food; or like Denise, one unsuccessful relation after the other; or again, you will start thinking what it's like to get older or to see your loved ones get older and weaker.
The Kingfisher is now flying away, time for some good worms.