You Don't Love Me Yet

You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem

Category: Fiction Grade: C+

I first got started reading Lethem when Carolyn recommended a novel called Motherless Brooklyn. It was a mystery starring a detective with Tourette's Syndrome. It was strange, a little manic (as might be expected) and an exhilirating read. I've read a couple of other Lethem's since and one thing that's clear -- you can't really expect anything particular from his books. He doesn't have a distinctive style or voice and he loves to experiment.

This short novel is just strange. It focuses on a group of friends trying to make it in an "artsy" band. These definitely aren't rock stars with all kinds of insecurities and strange behaviour. Lucinda, the bass player, ends up going to work for a friend and former lover who is a performance artist, sort-of. He's created a fake office and posted signs all over town urging people to call his hot line to complain. Lucinda ends up in a strange, almost purely sexual, relationship with one of the callers. The whole book is just watching these off-kilter personalities interact with each other. Its well written but, at times, seems to really drag. Ultimately, I don't think Lethem ever convinced me to particularly care about these people.

Warning -- there's a fair amount of graphic sex in this book.