A review by sr_marshrat
As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

I almost wonder if my utter outrage reading this book about an insufferable male narrator pining over his girlfriend means I should give it a higher rating. The book absolutely made me feel a certain way. I don't think the author was trying for a commentary on unhealthy relationships and attachments, though, and his portrayal of women in STEM was downright offensive. A male researcher asking the boyfriend of a female colleague to, essentially, babysit her because she's too attached to her work? Absolutely GROSS. Maybe this book just hit too close to home, so I missed some kind of ironic social commentary. Honestly, though, if you've ever run into a glass ceiling in your life, you're more likely to find this book triggering than clever.