Girl in Landscape: A Novel

So, so bizarre, but a good read nonetheless.

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful, terrifying, weird stories of coming to age, and it takes place on a different planet.

Interesting read. I must admit, didn't really want to read it, but once I started, I couldn't stop. Filled with classic Lethem descriptions which don't tell you much allowing one's mind to fill in the blanks. Colorful characters and great imagination!

I was kind of hesitant to read Girl in Landscape. It was about a maturing girl moving to another planet, just like another book that I could never finish, a little book by everybody's favorite sci-fi author called Nemesis. I've started reading Nemesis three times I think, and I can never get past chapter three or four. Just not my kind of book I guess. Anyway, the point is Girl in Landscape was...more

I was kind of hesitant to read Girl in Landscape. It was about a maturing girl moving to another planet, just like another book that I could never finish, a little book by everybody's favorite sci-fi author called Nemesis. I've started reading Nemesis three times I think, and I can never get past chapter three or four. Just not my kind of book I guess. Anyway, the point is Girl in Landscape was kind of familiar in a frightening way. Of course, I would read it. Jonathan Lethem is continually excellent, and I've read and own all his books, so I really wasn't too afraid. And it was pretty good. Lethem's ability to move a novel, his smooth writing, and intelligent prose (what is this, a book review or something?) were all there, and so I finished Girl in Landscape in a very short period, as is usual. What's cool about this novel is that nothing really happens 'til the end, or at least there's very little action. The book is about these great characters that interact in highly readable ways. It's a book about people. The people are Pella Marsh, a thirteen year old girl, and her family, and the inhabitants of a small colony on the planet of the Archbuilders, where her family has just moved. The story is what happens to Pella and hers, and also features a perfectly paced introduction to all the characters and all their complicated intereactions therein (and I love being able to use 'therein'). My only disappointment from Girl in Landscape was that the action at the end felt awfully forced, like Lethem realized he had a pretty actionless book and so chocked the end full of events. For me, there was no build up to the action which takes place, and it therefore happens kind of blandly. I thought maybe a lack of any action would've been pretty cool, especially since the book was still quite good, action or no. Ah well, this is the usual Lethem page turner, but not quite as good as past efforts Amnesia Moon or As She Climbed Across the Table. It's kind of like a study, more a piece of artwork than a coherent story. That said, I'll admit that I'm not exactly sure what was meant by it. But I'll stand by it though, stick to my guns and all. Dammit. Review written in 1999.   hide

¨It would be to pretend a relation I do not have, to all the wrecked stuff.¨ ¨Lonely Dumptruck´s not done painting you, Martha,¨ said Bruce.

This novel has grad-school self-indulgence written all over it. Glad Lethem developed into the writer he is.

Lethem rules. 'Nuff said.

Take a hardcore, gritty western, the kind that is not about cowboys, but is about the struggle of living in the wild of the west ... and set that western on another planet, and you'll have "Girl in Landscape". It's beautiful, raw, sad, and powerful. A wonderful read.

Brought up some really interesting concepts, reminded me what I love about early Lethem books, which feel less bogged down by certain things than his later books. Not one of my favorites of his, though.