416 pages. First published July 30, 2024 by ZE Books.
I’m currently on a Lethem jag… Which is to say, I’ve read two new things from Lethem this year; this, and The Collapsing Frontier x Jonathan Lethem (DRC). I’m kind of glad I’m reading “around” Lethem before actually reading his regular fiction (I never have), because his brain is so interesting.
Cellophane Bricks is about the road Lethem didn’t travel (sort of); he’s the son of a visual artist, and was deeply immersed in the scene from toddlerhood. He even went to art school. But somewhere along the line, he branched off into using words as his expressive tool (maybe by convincing himself he wasn’t good enough—which, with a famous artist father, seems expected). What’s interesting is that Lethem didn’t actually leave the world of visual art at all; by his description, he’s lingered on the fringes, writing about and for the visual artworks his friends have continued to create, in addition to his other fiction writing. So, this book is a collection of his fiction about and for this visual art, and thoughts and musings relating to this journey. It’s as fascinating as Lethem’s mind must be.
I enjoyed this foray into his thoughts, and lovers of visual art and essays will too. The fact that much of this is fiction shouldn’t put you off; in Cellophane Bricks Lethem has created an intriguing crossover between visual art and literature, and a new genre somewhere between essays and fiction. It’s a wonderful read.
Many thanks to ZE Books and to NetGalley for early access.
Harare Review of Books 
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