Jonathan Franzen, author of The Corrections, apparently used monies from the book to buy himself an apartment on East 81st Street last year. Bully for him. But when a reporter from the Times of London stops by, it's clear that a 12.5% royalty structure is not the only perk of publishing stardom:
He makes me an espresso from an expensive gadget given to him for Christmas by his Italian publishers. Receiving it and, previously, the unexpected news that a publisher in Britain -- where his previous novel, Strong Motion, was rejected -- had paid lots for The Corrections were, he says, the only really joyful moments that he can recall surrounding the book's acclaim.An expensive gadget? That makes espresso? Someone alert Williams-Sonoma! There could be a lucrative new product category here!
· Franzen Sick of The Corrections [Maud Newton]
· Property record: Jonathan Franzen [acris.nyc.gov]
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