Meanwhile , the Berglunds ' estranged son , Joey , now studies at the University of Virginia . He initially finds his new life unsatisfactory compared to his younger years in Minnesota ; he blames the September 11 attacks and its effects on the people around him . His attempts to break away from his childhood sweetheart Connie fails when he finds himself seeking their intimacy . Joey spends a Thanksgiving at his roommate Jonathan 's family in the D.C. suburbs , where he meets Jonathan 's exceptionally beautiful but mischievous sister Jenna , and is exposed to their father 's Zionist politics . Joey , who is of partly Jewish heritage through his mother 's family , impresses Jonathan 's father . Joey 's increasing involvement with the neoconservatives further estranges him from his liberal father
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Freedom (Franzen novel)