Thank you, Mr Franzen.

Just finished Freedom by Jonathan Franzen of oh, dear I've lost my glasses and can we pull the first edition because they are four too many commas fame.  Well, that was the hype.  And the greater the hype the less inclined I am to want to read the book, go to the show, see the film, look at the view.  But. In this case.  Bugger the hype. It is brilliant. I finished it yesterday and I  I want to read it again. Now. 
Okay there are big hints he sees himself scrapping with the big boys this time, in particular Tolstoy, to whom there are more than a couple of references, which could be seen as hubris, except that he pulls it off.  Real passion. Real skill.  Thank you, Mr Franzen.