Reviews
The audio version of Freedom , read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard., Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel...Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout., Freedom is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it., [A] magisterial account. Exhaustively researched and engagingly written, this marvelous book tells an epic story. It paints on a broad canvas, yet simultaneously limns detailed and fascinating miniatures of compelling people and places. It deserves a spot on the bookshelf alongside David Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Freedom From Fear" as the definitive rendering of the World War II home front., Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word., "Its 25 hours of nonstop audio brilliance that has won [David] Ledoux the Audio File award for best reading of the year...Make no mistake: "Freedom" is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it." - The Winston-Salem Journal "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." - AudioFile, winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Pattywith her anxious whinny of a laughand their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." - Publishers Weekly "The audio version of Freedom, read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." - Eric Alterman, The Nation "Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel...Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout." BookPage, Audio of the Month "The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections(2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it." - Library Journal "These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to" 5MinutesforBooks.com "Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard." SoundCommentary.com "Oprah's newest book-club pick is a natural fit for audio...Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners." Booklist, Starred Review, Editors' Choice List 2010, These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to, "[A] magisterial account. Exhaustively researched and engagingly written, this marvelous book tells an epic story. It paints on a broad canvas, yet simultaneously limns detailed and fascinating miniatures of compelling people and places. It deserves a spot on the bookshelf alongside David Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Freedom From Fear" as the definitive rendering of the World War II home front." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." -- AudioFile, winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Patty--with her anxious whinny of a laugh--and their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." -- Publishers Weekly "The audio version of Freedom , read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." -- Eric Alterman, The Nation "Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel...Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout." -- BookPage, Audio of the Month "The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections (2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it." -- Library Journal "These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to" -- 5MinutesforBooks.com "Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard." -- SoundCommentary.com "Oprah's newest book-club pick is a natural fit for audio...Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners." -- Booklist, Starred Review, Editors' Choice List 2010 "Freedom is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it." -- Dale M. Pollock, Winston Salem Journal, Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard., "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." - AudioFile , winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Pattywith her anxious whinny of a laughand their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." - Publishers Weekly "The audio version of Freedom , read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." - Eric Alterman, The Nation "Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel...Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout." BookPage , Audio of the Month "The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections (2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it." - Library Journal "These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to" 5MinutesforBooks.com "Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard." SoundCommentary.com "Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners." Booklist , Starred Review, "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." -AudioFile, winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Pattywith her anxious whinny of a laughand their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." -Publishers Weekly "The audio version ofFreedom, read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." - Eric Alterman,The Nation, "Its 25 hours of nonstop audio brilliance that has won [David] Ledoux the Audio File award for best reading of the year...Make no mistake: "Freedom" is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it." - The Winston-Salem Journal "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." - AudioFile , winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Patty-with her anxious whinny of a laugh-and their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." - Publishers Weekly "The audio version of Freedom , read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." - Eric Alterman, The Nation "Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel…Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout." BookPage , Audio of the Month "The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections (2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it." - Library Journal "These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to" 5MinutesforBooks.com "Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard." SoundCommentary.com "Oprah's newest book-club pick is a natural fit for audio…Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners." Booklist , Starred Review, Editors' Choice List 2010, David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Patty--with her anxious whinny of a laugh--and their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard., "Its 25 hours of nonstop audio brilliance that has won [David] Ledoux the Audio File award for best reading of the year...Make no mistake: "Freedom" is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it." - The Winston-Salem Journal "Masterful describes not only Jonathan Franzen's latest novel but also David Ledoux's reading of the book... The listener is drawn deeper into the story, experiencing every moment with the Berglunds as they try to cope with the changes in the world and in their home. FREEDOM demonstrates the power of both the written and spoken word." - AudioFile , winner of an Earphones Award "David LeDoux's masterly narration is powerful and well paced, comic and poignant. He expertly captures Walter and Patty-with her anxious whinny of a laugh-and their family life with its satisfactions and histrionics. LeDoux also deftly renders the gossiping of the Berglund's disingenuous neighbors; the frenetic rants of the drug addled Eliza; and the weary, disaffected drawl of sleazy musician Richard." - Publishers Weekly "The audio version of Freedom , read by David LeDoux, is perhaps the best read audio book I've ever heard." - Eric Alterman, The Nation "Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, is a big, brilliantly evoked novel…Freedom's strongly articulated characters will draw you in, and David LeDoux's intelligent performance maintains the right narrative pace throughout." BookPage , Audio of the Month "The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections (2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it." - Library Journal "These CDs were over 19 hours long, but the narrator David LeDoux did an excellent job nuancing each of the characters' voices. I think this is one of the best-read single-narrator novels that I've listened to" 5MinutesforBooks.com "Narrator David LeDoux does an excellent job with this long and many-charactered novel; he is equally adept at capturing the angst of Walter's teenage daughter as the cigarette-smoking, hard-living Richard." SoundCommentary.com "Oprah's newest book-club pick is a natural fit for audio…Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners." Booklist , Starred Review, Editors' Choice List 2010 "Freedom is one of the best-read audio books of recent years, and well worth the time and emotional involvement that's needed to enjoy it." Dale M. Pollock, Winston Salem Journal, The highly anticipated follow-up to the National Book Award winner The Corrections (2001) lives up to the hype with Franzen's ability to capture the twists and turns of U.S. culture and history while weaving them into the lives of flawed but fully developed characters...If you have a patron wanting one of the most heralded books of this year or decade, this is it., Oprah's newest book-club pick is a natural fit for audio...Narrator Ledoux does a terrific job making this massive novel accessible to listeners.
