So I was skeptical about his next book Fortress of Solitude but Balgavy recommended it and I loved the cover so I gave it a shot. And I immediately loved it. I loved it so much that I was highly recommending it to people, comparing it favorably to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and proclaiming that I was enjoying it more than any other fiction book in recent memory.
I loved the Brooklyn that it evoked of the 70's. I loved that I knew the neighborhod that Lethem described. I loved how autobiographical it felt. I loved the characters and felt that Dylan Edbus and Mingus Rude were destined to be highly regarded literary creations to be referenced for years. I loved the comic book aspect of the magic ring. Was Mingus actually getting magic powers from the ring? Was he really aided by the ring in his crime fighting? I loved the shifting currents of their friendship, the tagging, the dynamics with their respective dads, their drifting apart as they got older, and the way that the music of the day influenced them to such a large degree. A wonderful first 300 pages.
But the last 200 pages reminded me why I shouldn't recommend a book to anyone until I've actually finished it. The second part of this book blows. For some reason, Lethem decided to shift the storytelling from the third person to the first person. Who does he think he is? Faulkner? Dylan has turned out to be an annoying music industry guy who namechecks the hippest bands he can think of. Mingus is in jail. And the ring? The ring turns out to be truly magical. Or does it? Who gives a fuck? The last 200 pages are so grating. If you read this book, I'd say stop after the first part.
6 comments:
the universal praise for motherless brooklyn is one of life's big mysteries. it was such a painful book to read. the characters and story were terrible and amateurish. tell me why you loved this book, please.
i didn't love the first 300 pages of FofS like you did, but thought it was the best thing i've read by Letham so far. too bad he decided to change voices in the next 200 pages.
"motherless brooklyn" sounds like the "source tags and codes" of literature.
Motherless Brooklyn did not "suck" It was a great character and idea in a suspect plot line. I personally loved being inside the head of someone with OCD/tuerettes. MB seems to really inspire strong emotions in people...Hot Tub Eric and Amie hated, Amy W (A DOCTOR OF LIT!) loved it, I liked it and think that the first half of it is a great character study....
I have also recently read FoS. I loved it, even the last 200 pages. Here at the MT&R the education staff is reading it for our book club.
Dan the whole point of the music industry stuff was he hated himself as well!!!! and I know MANY Music industry people and if Dylan was real he would instantly be towards the top of the list as "coolest", you always hate anyone in fiction involved in culture you like. You hate movies/books that are set in the music/youth culture realm ALWAYS. Maybe if he was in Iranian Music Indutry.....
So what about changing voice???
The college chapter was great I thought.....
Of course Mingus is in prison?!?!?! The whole message of the book is the diffrence in oppurtunity and expectation between white and black males!!!!!!!!
The ring IS magical....duh!
This said, and I could go on on....the first 300 pages were beter, but not the chasm that you suggest.
And why do we always attack the people who at least are attemptng to contribute something worthwhile, go compare MB and FoS to 90% of the drek, you may not like it, but it becomes harder to savage.
And I think outside of Gilmore Girls, I agree with your wife/youthlarge/Bibimbop on NOTHING.....except I had brunch at that joint near you she suggested and LOVED IT....so maybe a few things but she is WAY more a hater than me
The Lover,
HWL
Dan,
Yeah, I read Fortress Of Solitude...once I got past the fact that I like that Lethem likes the things I like, it depressed the crap out of me. That seems to be what he's best at--using pop stuff to just make you want to get a rope.
He has a brilliant, insightful, and heartbreaking essay in a recent New Yorker as well...read it under supervision and stay clear of bridges for a little while afterward.
are you serious about liking dylan as music industry guy? man, that dude was so unlikeable as an adult!
You may not like him as an adult, and as Queen Hater thats your perogative, but what "music industry" type stuff does he do that would not make him worse than most of those weasels? My wife, you and a handfull of other golden souls aside, the rest are sharks and star fuckers? Also I think many of you miss the point, which my boy Jeff hinted at, is that he is suppossed to be unlikable in a way because self loathing and self pity are badges he wears and in the book he begins to finally see that! Also I think he is just as "unlikable" as a kid and dont see that much diffrence.
Love the lit talk, Has anyone read the new John Grishom?
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