Most helpful customer reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Applied theory, scientifical and literary, Jun 26 2004
I've been very slowly working my way through Jonathan Lethem's novel. Slowly in the sense of reading one or two per year, not as in reading the book slowly. In fact this novel only took about one day. Compared to the others I've read so far (Motherless, Amnesia, and Gun), ASCATT was more romantic and touching. It seems odd to say this as the novel occurs in the realm of academic science.You can get the main outlines of the plot from any of these other reviews, but I find myself drawn to think about Lethem's influences and references. As with Motherless Brooklyn, I found rather strong affinities to some of the work of Oliver Sacks here, particularly in the characters of the two blind men. An obvious refence is in the name of Alice's character. Is the hole that has been opened a door, a mirror, a dream or wish, or maybe a nightmare? I would also assume that the protagonist, Philip, is named for the late Mr Dick who was always trying to make sense of the concept of reality and explore some of the holes in the ways we think about it. I'd be curious to see what other references and influences others have picked up.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
physics, metaphysics, reality, perception, Love and Lack, Dec 3 2002
Professor Soft has created something spectacular at the physics department of his university. It has captivated the attention of the entire university, but grabbed one physics professor in particular - Alice Coombs. She lives with our narrator and her boyfriend, Professor of Anthropology Phillip Engstrand. Ironically, it is Phillip's job to study the interaction of people at a university. Lethem takes us through the story of the "Lack," what was first thought to be another universe but is now seen as something of a void. This Lack, though, seems to have a personality. When certain things are put into the Lack, the Lack seemingly absorbs them. Other things pass through and fall out on the other side of the table. A story unfolds in which Alice and Phillip's relationship is strained by her attention to the Lack. With the added twist of neurotic dyad Garth and Evan, two blind men that spend all their time together and in detailed conversation, the book is funny but also in a roundabout way introduces some important questions about the nature of reality and perception. Lethem brings us a funny story while at the same time exploring some important human condition questions and even a few questions about the nature of the universe. Whether it is a study in metaphysics, physics, or anthropology, As She Climbed Across the Table is a humorous exploration that was fun to read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Lethem does a great job with As She Climbed Across the Table, Nov 30 2002
Jonathan Lethem's As She Climbed Across the Table is a fast paced novel that begins by taking a look in to the world of physics. The novel takes place in the first semester of a college town; the main characters, Philip and Alice, are both college professors that have been dating each other for several months and are now living together. Philip is certain he is in love with Alice, but Alice is preoccupied with her colleagues developing a new universe in a college physics laboratory. As She Climbed Across the Table is a very unique twist of mind boggling science and a romantic love story. With Alice always working on the development and testing of Lack, the hole in the universe she has helped create, Philip becomes suspicious that she is cheating on him with another man and makes many false accusations before realizing that Alice has taken a new meaning to loving her work. Lethem gradually builds suspense with the conflicts between Alice, Philip, and Lack.
I enjoyed the novel from cover to cover as Lethem threw great humor in to the life of these two college professors. The conflicts they go through will get you worried about what is happening, everything surprisingly enough fits together in the end. This book will probably be enjoyed my most science fiction fans, physicists, and anyone stuck in between. The book makes you think about that part of science that can be studied and theorized about, but not measured or proved. Lethem stretches your mind into thinking about the unreal possibilities in science, love, and the love of science.
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by Jonathan Lethem
