A Key to All Mythologies

Jonathan Franzen

In the turbulent 1970s, the Hildebrandt family grapples with the seismic shifts of their era, both personally and spiritually. Centered around the "Crossroads" youth group at a liberal suburban church, this novel delves into the complex lives of its members as they navigate faith, desire, and the search for meaning. As associate pastor Russ Hildebrandt contemplates a life beyond his stifling marriage, the family's carefully constructed world begins to unravel, revealing hidden desires and profound moral quandaries. Franzen masterfully explores themes of liberation, disillusionment, and the enduring, often painful, quest for connection in a rapidly changing world.