Reviews

The Arrest by Jonathan Lethem

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frasersimons's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This story is really elegant. Focusing on a man simply ascribed as Journeyman, in an isolated rural community post-event disabling all tech from working, save for a strange nuclear drill, we follow a simple moral dilemma. An outsider enters the otherwise well community and entangles himself in the personal life of the MC. Fallout ensues.

It’s just executed really, really well, though. Characterization is great. I have always enjoyed ideologues done well. Here it is the crux of the well turning plot. It’s also hard to pin down. It’s weird enough that you’re never completely sure about anything, so it’s mysterious, which in turn whets the appetite for more information about the world building, done organically. It’s easy to picture the strange world, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

angus_mckeogh's review

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4.0

Dystopian novel about the world after “The Arrest” of progress. One of his recent books that I actually enjoyed quite a bit. Before this effort my feeling was that Lethem had stumbled upon a bit of a dry spell and I was doubting his ability to return to prominence.

cherese's review

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

From the very start, it's clear this isn't going to be a straightforward story with all the pieces fitting together neatly. No sir, Lethem's crafted this deliciously bizarre, dreamlike world that just pulls you in and doesn't let go, even if you're scratching your head half the time.

Rather than feeling frustrated by the obscurities, I think you just have to surrender yourself to the ominous, haunting mood Lethem evokes so vividly. It's more about experiencing the book's eccentric poetry and vivid absurdism than necessarily finding rational explanations.

For readers wanting a clear, buttoned-up story, The Arrest will probably drive you nuts. But if you're game for a mesmerizing descent into the baffling unknown, this strange, haunting literary fever dream is an experience unlike any other. Even if I have no earthly idea what it was truly about!