I read a number of the reviews about this book after I'd gotten 3/4 of the way through it. I was surprised by the range of emotions that the reviews reflected. In short, it strikes that one either really likes this book or can't stand it. Put me in the former group. It's the first Franzen book for me and that may have helped my opinion of it. I also don't know anything about the author's politics. That said, I like the way he centered the story around Purity and built immense subplots focused on the various characters who ultimately proved to have significant involvement in her life.