The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

"The human species was given dominion over the earth and took the opportunity to exterminate other species and warm the atmosphere and generally ruin things in its own image, but it paid this price for its privileges: that the finite and specific animal body of this species contained a brain capable of conceiving the infinite and wishing to be infinite itself."

The Corrections is intense, well written and although more than 600 pages, it is so compelling that it becomes a fairly quick read. This book has been reviewed twice by both Brent Waggoner and

Chris Chilton, each making references to Carlton. I don't have anything further to add to their reviews, except that I enjoyed the book and was only occasionally made uncomfortable by the numerous sexual situations. Wikipedia has this to say about the book, and the drama surronding its fame, "The Corrections soon became one of the decade's best-selling works of literary fiction."

""So, what, you got cigarette burns, too?" Gitanes said. Chip showed his palm, "It's
nothing." "Self-inflicted. You pathetic American." "Different kind of prison" Chip said. "