I try not to compare author's books because, generally, they're not the same. Obviously. And for someone who's so highly admired in today's literary world, there's a certain standard we expect from Franzen. But I'll say one word of comparison: In The Corrections, the characters were a bunch of idiots, but well-written and something I wanted to read. In Freedom, they're just a bunch of idiots. 
 There's not one character in this book I liked. And it doesn't feel intentional--I've read books with unlikeable characters, and found the books brilliant. But there was nothing endearing about anyone in here at all. They all pissed me off, excuse the phrase. Patty is the miserable housewife who drinks too much, Walter her doting husband, and their spoiled children that do whatever they want. Patty is supposedly a good, modern housewife, taking care of the children, but, quite frankly, she sucks as a mother. Richard is the aging rock star and Walter's best college friend, who Patty actually had feelings for back then. Yeah, we see where this is going. 
 I simply didn't care. They all acted like a bunch of spoiled middle-aged, middle-class children. And it's chocked full of cheating partners, clashing political views, and questionable means of income. And thinking about cheating on partners. And even more sexual relations. Have I mentioned the sex? 
 The only part I truly enjoyed was Patty's time in college which was, regrettably, near the beginning. How she befriended a drug-addict, how Richard & Walter came into the picture. They had personalities then, and you actually had a feel for who they were. But once they graduated I honestly couldn't have cared less. Their personalities changed so much and with little explanation. I still don't know what happened to Patty that turned her into an alcoholic housewife. 
 According to the book description, this is "an indelible and deeply moving portrait of our time." Please God, I hope not. I had little hope for society to begin with.