As She Climbed Across the Table A Novel
As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem is a reprint novel published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on February 24, 1998. This 224-page work explores the complex dynamics of love and rivalry through the lens of speculative fiction, focusing on Alice Coombs, a particle physicist who becomes enamored with a void they have created, referred to as Lack. The narrative unfolds as her boyfriend, Philip Engstrand, grapples with the challenge of competing for her affection against an entity that possesses no flaws due to its lack of qualities.
Readers will find a unique blend of romance and science fiction in this story, which delves into themes of desire and existential inquiry. The plot centers on Alice’s fascination with Lack, which exhibits a peculiar selectivity in its interactions with objects, creating a humorous yet thought-provoking scenario. As Philip confronts the implications of Alice’s attachment to this enigmatic void, the novel raises questions about the nature of love and the boundaries of reality. This edition offers a fresh perspective on Lethem’s inventive storytelling, appealing to fans of contemporary fiction and those intrigued by the intersections of science and romance.
Official synopsis Publisher
Anna Karenina left her husband for a dashing officer. Lady Chatterley left hers for the gamekeeper. Now Alice Coombs has her boyfriend for nothing … nothing at all. Just how that should have come to pass and what Philip Engstrand, Alice’s spurned boyfriend, can do about it is the premise for this vertiginous speculative romance by the acclaimed author of Gun, with Occasional Music.
Alice Coombs is a particle physicist, and she and her colleagues have created a void, a hole in the universe, that they have taken to calling Lack. But Lack is a nullity with taste—tastes; it absorbs a pomegranate, light bulbs, an argyle sock; it disdains a bow tie, an ice ax, and a scrambled duck egg. To Alice, this selectivity translates as an irresistible personality. To Philip, it makes Lack an unbeatable rival, for how can he win Alice back from something that has no flaws—because it has no qualities? Ingenious, hilarious, and genuinely mind-expanding, As She Climbed Across the Table is the best boy-meets-girl-meets-void story ever written.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “As She Climbed Across the Table A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “As She Climbed Across the Table A Novel”?
When was “As She Climbed Across the Table A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “As She Climbed Across the Table A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
