Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
So it turns out that the Lithuanian government wasn't exactly pleased with the way they were portrayed in The Corrections. The consul general of Lithuania formally responded to Franzen after the novel's publication and invited him to see the country for himself. First Oprah, then Lithuania—Franzen sure knows how to ruffle people's feathers. (Source.)
Franzen's got so much beef that he should become a rapper—well, either that or open a burger joint. Franzen landed himself in hot water with the Queen of Cable™ over The Corrections' selection in "Oprah's Book Club." These two titans eventually made peace, but not before Franzen released the hit track "Oprah? More Like Nope-rah! (ft. Juicy J and Drake)." Great heavens, how we wish that last part were true... (Source.)
During a promotional tour for his novel Freedom, Franzen was the victim of the best-planned heist this side of Ocean's 11. The prize? Franzen's fabled black-framed glasses. The fearless thief plucked the spectacles right off of Franzen's face mid-speech, leaving behind a ransom note for $100,000. So why did he do it? Click on to hear from the criminal mastermind himself. (Source.)
When he isn't writing novels, Franzen indulges himself in his favorite hobby—bird watching. Although he considers himself an amateur, Franzen has written several essays on the subject and was even featured in the HBO documentary Birders: The Central Park Effect. What a nerd. (Source.)