Reviews

Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem

emily_stimmel's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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ana_distracted's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

christiek's review against another edition

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I'm in a slump. Maybe the book is irritating, but maybe it's just me.

cbalaschak's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

3.75

lizzyloo9's review against another edition

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funny informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

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dark informative tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kateland85's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

starryeved's review against another edition

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3.0

This is a story about what nobody knows. It’s set in a place nobody doesn’t think they know. Yet nobody knows anything about this place, and they never did.

Sweeping and intricately crafted, Lethem's Brooklyn Crime Novel is a reflective story of memory and—dare I say—nostalgia amid community, gentrification, and other historical commentary. Atmospheric and tonally distinct with unnamed (but memorable) characters in the vein of People from my Neighborhood and saga-esque quality of Once Upon a Time in America and The French Dispatch.
Tend your secrets, tuck away your secret excesses.

Slow and at times pedantic, Lethem breaks down the human psyche and street "dance" of motherless Brooklyn: rife with detail, palpable writing style, and vivid stories.
Everything will be nothing like it was ever again.

devin_mainville's review against another edition

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Just not for me. I prefer more narrative and less geographical description.