"Great Expectations." That's what I had for this book. As some people know, I abandoned it briefly and then took it up again.

I wonder if Franzen read "The Goldfinch" before he wrote this. There are lots of parallels: a mystery, Dickens references, etc. The mystery kept me going, plus the thought that there might be something like the brilliant thread that kept me going through "Freedom:" which is more important--our individuality and freedom to make choices, or the greater good of a society? Songbirds, or cats able to wander outdoors?

Meh. Didn't like any of the characters or even find them interesting; they seemed flat. Ending was so boring after the "mystery" was solved. Not a lot of insight into the world of internet hacking/spying/global surveillance. Super disturbing passages involving gruesome stuff made me not want to read this at night. If you're going to disturb me, say something interesting!