A review by tonythep
A Gambler's Anatomy by Jonathan Lethem

3.0

After being disappointed by "Dissident Gardens," perhaps for not being quirky enough, and then being encouraged by "Lucky Alan" with all it's quirkiness, I was excited to read the first few chapters of this new novel. I loved Bruno's faded, shabby glamour, the elegance of backgammon combined with the danger of a card shark on the edge of losing it all. Berlin and Singapore kept my interest. I was on board with going back to Berkley, with the side trip into the surgeon's point of view, dealing with one's image of one's self, identity, roots, etc. But somewhere in there things started to unravel. Too many plot threads went nowhere. Ultimately I didn't care about either of the potential romantic interests (although Madchen's story might have made for a more interesting novel.) So I guess I learned that quirkiness alone is not enough. I won't give up on Lethem; he's far too talented. But not this time.