THE DISAPPOINTMENT ARTIST Selected Unabridged Essays

Jonathan Lethem is the ideal narrator for these unusual, deeply smart essays, which amount to an intellectual and psychological portrait of the artist as a young man. His voice is appealing, and his diction clear but personal, a little rushed, but never to the disservice of the text. Since the writing is so engagingly honest about Lethem's past obsessions (comic book art, STAR WARS Stanley Kubrick, Philip K. Dick), especially the ones he has been changed by but outgrown, it is particularly satisfying not to have the scrim of a trained actor's voice between you and the author. Anyone who enjoys his marvelous novels (this reviewer particularly loves MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN) should be charmed and moved by this production. B.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]