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Summary: Applied theory, scientifical and literary
Review: 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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Summary: Reach Richard Powers instead
Review: If you want smart writing about scientists, read Richard Powers's 'The Gold Bug Variations'. If you want to read someone who is a wizard with words, read David Wallace. But don't read this one. It's a real dog.
Rating:
Summary: It isn't hard science fiction by any stretch....
Review: In fact, if those who thought that it was science fiction would just take the word "science" out of their preconceived notions of this short novel, then perhaps they might not have been so disappointed. This book is a comical flight of whimsy. The prose is finely tuned, the humor wry, and the science... well, as I said, let's forget about the science. It isn't the "deepest" novel you'll ever read, but it can be one of the best short reads you'll have in a long, long time.
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Summary: Perhaps the most inventive author around these days
Review: Is this novel "science fiction"? Maybe, maybe not. But then, in this author's world of the university campus, almost everything comes in twos -- interdisciplinary anthropologist Philip Engstand and particle physicist Alice Coombs, with whom he is deeply in love; the black-and-white blind men, Evan and Garth; competitive academics Soft, the resident Nobel laureate, and Braxia, the visiting Italian physicist; outside temptors Cynthia Jalter, a specialist in dual cognitive systems and obsessive coupling, and the Lack -- with whom (or which) almost everyone wants to pair up. Especially Alice, who has transferred her love away from Philip. But Lack, created in one of Soft's experiments, is defined only by his choices of what objects to accept in his field. Argyle socks and light bulbs, yes; bow ties and scrambled duck's eggs, no. This sounds confusing (as most of Lethem's novels do when you attempt to describe them), but he has the knack of leading the reader neatly through the most bizarre settings and action while strewing the path with quirky, witty dialogue and sneakily astute observations. Each of his books is different from all the earlier ones, and each is difinitely worth the time-investment.
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Summary: Is there anything between the covers of this book
Review: It is utterly incomprehensible how this book became published.It is simply an armature of arbitrary infantile charicatures -the main narrator is a dreadfully needy and smug male weight which calls up no relatable personification it simply exudes a constant obnoxiousness as a series of written phrases belieing the authors lack of talent and colossal laziness which as I said really makes me wonder what sort of publishing scam this is.Astoundingly dreadful as are many productions of the generation of the maximized self-esteem.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost 'pataphysique
Review: It wasn't awful; it had it's good points: some striking metaphors, a couple of really fresh and interesting characters. But overall, it was shallow and full of holes. The "physics" were mythical to say the least -- but not whimsical enough to be jarryesque. The semiotics were downright dumb. The psychology was glib. And the characters were mostly flat and as dull as a good deal of the prose. Oh well. There were the two blind co-dependants who captured the heart and the imagination and who would have made a good book in themselves. And, like I said, Lethem does show off a talent for metaphor. But that's the trouble with so much contemporary fiction: the authors show very specialized talent and no respect for their own higher sensibilities.
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Summary: A bizzare, yet strangely touching, love story
Review: It's been a while since I read a book that at once struck me as so bizzare and wonderful at once. The strangeness of the premise - boy meets girl, girl meets void, boy loses girl - is well compensated by the charm of the characters. I found myself amused by the wordplay and captivated by the story. I highly reccomend this.
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Summary: Makes Reading Fun
Review: It's been too long since reading a novel has actually been fun. Lethem rakes everyone in Academe, and they all deserve it. Especially enjoy his language and sheer joy with words. This is the first of his novels I've read. Hopefully, Gun with Occasional Music will be just as fun.
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Summary: Lethem does a great job with As She Climbed Across the Table
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Lethem does a great job with As She Climbed Across the Table
Review: 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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