Rating: 
Summary: Now this is a GREAT BOOK!
Review: Wow, what a fun read! The Tourettes thing is so well written that you really do begin to feel it! I thought I was going to have trouble reading it but I found that reading it (aloud even) just rolled and I felt like a character in the story! Our book group read it and all 8 of us thought it was marvelous. I hear the movie has already been cast!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I normally don't read detective novels, but this wasn't a typical who-done-it. The murder mystery was a mere backdrop for a compelling portrait of a man living with Tourette's Syndrome. I personally live with two people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it was helpful to be reminded how ever-present these types of conditions are, and how hard one must work just to stand still. I enjoyed a positive portrayal of a man who found a place in the world where he can function and even thrive, despite the epithet of "freakshow." The only part that seemed unrealistic is the lack of embarrassment Lionel Essrog seemed to experience. Even the most stoic of individuals with Tourette's go through moments of exteme embarrassment and feelings of shame, and frustration at their lack of control over their ticcing behaviors.
Rating: 
Summary: A tough slog
Review: There were a few moments when I thought this book was going to get good. That never happened. Despite some clever sentences, I never got to the point where I was enjoying the book. I read through hoping for a payoff at the end. When the end came, I said to myself, "This book wasn't very good. I should write a negative review on Amazon.com". This is that review.
Rating:
Summary: Why Not?
Review: Why can't more authors write like Lethem? He's that rare combination of storyteller and prose turner that keeps us coming back for more. We laugh and cry. This is one of my desert island books, along with Klim's Jesus Lives in Trenton and Palahniuk's Fight Club. Take them if you will.
Rating:
Summary: A Teriffic Story: The Mob, Tourettes, Zen....
Review: I loved reading every word of Jonathan Letham's Motherless Brooklyn. First, I must confess that I'm biased because a good portion of the story takes place in my neighborhood, however, with that said, Brooklyn is merely the backdrop for this mystery that unfolds, twists and turns with every page.The story is seen through the eyes of Lionel Essrog, an orphan with tourettes, who works for a low level Brooklyn Mobster. Lionel, gets caught up in the murder of his boss and takes it upon himself to solve the crime...which is the work of some old time Brooklyn mobsters. Throughout the novel, Letham is brilliant at creating a world where the reader understands Lionel's tourettes and is able to quickly understand his actions yet sympathize as a victim. Letham also does a teriffic job of developing all of the supportint characters as well. All of which, are uniquely pathetic. This novel, is one of the liveliest reads I've had in some time and is strongly recommended if you're looking for a great whodunnit, that is also a great study in character.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous Book
Review: This is an incredible work of hardboiled fiction featuring an ambitious, but wildly successful characteristic that allows it to stand out from the crowd of private investigator mysteries. As fascinating as it is sobering, Tourette's Syndrome is spotlighted as we view the world from Tourette's suffering Lionel Essrog's perspective as he carries out an investigation into the murder of his boss and mentor while held under the spell of his illness. Although the book features an engrossing murder investigation complete with mob-ties and conspiracy theories, it's the battle going on inside Lionel's head that holds the most interest. At times his outbursts are presented humorously, but we are always reminded how hard he's working just to appear normal. It's a book full of stark reminders of the frailty of the human condition and how things and, in particular people, aren't always as they seem on the surface. This is a book that will stay with you long after you close the cover on the last page.
Rating:
Summary: Surrounded by a sea..
Review: of words, Lionel Essrog is a prisoner of the obsessiveness that binds those with Tourette's Syndrome. Jonathan Lethem introduces us to one of the most interesting characters I have come across in some time in his novel Motherless Brooklyn. As an orphan in Brooklyn, Lionel has no idea what causes his own strange behavior until Frank Minna, a local mobster takes Lionel and some of his buddies from the orphanage under his wing. Minna frees Lionel, by not only giving him some purpose in life but by identifying the cause for his strange behavior. Lionel is no longer just a "freak show" as he is affectionately called, he is one of Frank Minna's, Minna Men or detectives for want of a better word. All is going well for Lionel until the day Frank Minna disappears into the building called Zendo and is later retrieved by Lionel from a dumpster. At that point Lionel's life as a Minna Man is forever changed. He finds the world he has built coming under assault. It is great fun for the reader to bounce around Brooklyn with Lionel hunting for clues. We are immersed in his strange sea of words, an uncontrollable stream of consciousness which refuses to be shut down. "Alibi hullabaloo gullible bellyflop smellafish, sang my brain, obliterating speech." This is a sampling of the steady river of words flowing through in Essrog's brain and spalshing off the pages of Motherless Brooklyn. He is an entertaining character that can go nowhere quietly or unobtrusively, but some how he manages to find his way to the depth of the mystery that destroyed his mentor. Jonathan Lethem skilled writing, entertaining storytelling and engaging characterizations make Motherless Brooklyn an excellent mystery and one that is truly hard to put down. I just couldn't get enough of Lionel and when I finished the book I sadly and reluctantly said goodbye to him.
Rating:
Summary: Unique and Funny Book
Review: Lionel Essrog is a bumbling detective suffering from Tourette's syndrome. Readers are treated to his hilarious encounters as he tries to solve the mystery behind his boss's murder. Author, Jonathan Lethem, has written an interesting and thoroughly engaging story full of quirky (and loveable) characters. This is one of my favorite books. Lionel Essrog's telling of his tale made me laugh out loud. I found this book truly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Like walking through knee high MUD
Review: This book was very hard for me to keep in my hands and I only finished it because it was recomended by a friend. It may be the fact that I am not from NY and don't understand the neighborhood references or just I am too compasionate for the main character. I thought this was a really a bad book. I would not reccomend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Unique equals fabulous
Review: I loved this book. I crave books which have unique storylines and characters and follow that with clever writing and an engaging plot. This book meets those wishes and more. The writing is clever, the characters are three dimensional with funky personalites and personal histories. I highly recommend this part detective novel/part love story/part character study for anyone who craves a highly unique and entertaining read.
| 
