Family navigate 70s

Crossroads By Jonathan Franzen, HarperCollins, $35 .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. This is a lot to take in. Franzen does his usual detailed characterisations in this sweeping first novel in a trilogy, starting in the 1970s.

The Hildebrandt family — pastor Russ, wife Marion and their four children — are navigating the early 70s. Russ wants to leave his marriage, the eldest son, Clem is planning to drop out of college, daughter Becky is toying with taking part in a counter culture youth group, and younger brother Perry is selling drugs, while the youngest seems to be mostly ignored.

As usual, Franzen's characters are complex. Russ appears to be a rather un-Christian pastor, harbouring selacious thoughts about a widowed parishioner and wife Marion has secrets of her own.

It's a very big story, at times too long, but the next two parts should be worth pursuing.