Crossroads

Why do you think Franzen chooses not to include Judson’s point of view, unlike all the other Hildebrandt family members?

The sections of the novel that explore Russ’s and Marion’s pasts are the longest, most in-depth sections of the book. Think about the placement of each of these sections. How is your perception of these characters influenced by the point in the narrative at which you find out about their pasts?

All of the Hildebrandts change from the beginning to the end of the book, but which one do you think shows the most growth? Who changes for the better the most, and why?