Strong Motion

Strong Motion is Jonathan Franzen's second novel. Written in 1992 and set in Boston, it follows a large cast of characters and multiple storylines dealing with a bout of earthquakes, a family struggle over a large inheritance, corporate corruption, religious fervour and abortion.

The novel provides examples of the following tropes:

 * Activist Fundamentalist Antics
 * Big Screwed Up Family: The Hollands.
 * Coming of Age Story: For Louis.
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive: Sweeting-Aldren management.
 * Dysfunction Junction: Every character.
 * Earn Your Happy Ending: Louis and Renee
 * Good Girls Avoid Abortion: Averted.
 * May December Romance: Sort of. Renee being 7 years older than Louis is very evident in their differing levels of maturity, especially at the start of the book.
 * The Slacker: Louis Holland is a sympathetic variant.