You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem [book]

You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem [book]

New York : Doubleday, c2007
223 p. ; 22 cm
ISBN: 038551218X

Plot Summary:
Lucinda is in her early twenties, living in L.A. and the bassist in an ultra cool band that hasn't been discovered... yet. Practicing and being in the band is what is most important to the members and work does not seem to appeal to Lucinda. When she feels the need to get a job Lucinda goes to a friend that works in an art gallery, Falmouth is his name, and he gives her a job answering calls in his newest artistic endeavor: the complaint line. All day Lucinda answers the phone and listens to complaints, while jotting down the summary and imagining who is on the other line until a particularly interesting complainer catches her attention. His name is Carl and he is an older, sloppy man that intrigues her enough that she starts a relationship with him that consumes her even takes her slightly away from her band. During the novel the lead singer of the band, Matthew (and Lucinda's ex) steals a kangaroo from the zoo that he works at and keeps it in his house until he is caught by Lucinda and then deems it time to take it back.
Towards the end of the book the band plays at an ultra selective hip party that Falmouth puts on and is met with adoring praise and offers of record deals to which the band becomes confused and disheartened. In a strange twist of events the manager of the zoo inadvertently becomes that manager of the band and her and Carl start a relationship which leaves Lucinda broken hearted and alone. At the end of the novel Lucinda tells the guitarist of the band, Bedwin, that she likes him out of loneliness and confusion and this causes a rift in the band and ultimately leads to their destruction. In the end Lucinda and Matthew are semi in a relationship and Falmouth is one of her closest allies.

Critical Evaluation:
As I read this book I felt that the language that was used the characters blase attitudes were too hip for a normal reader. However, at the end of the book I thought the characters so unique, the plot so interesting, and the ending so open that I could not stop thinking about it. It delved into questions about why people fall for one another, the confusing emotions that people have as they get older in relationships, and the interesting world of performance art and living an artistic lifestyle in L.A. The characters' names are all so far- fetched and plot outlandish that one could only read it for entertainment and see the story ended. I thought it was a fun read, but not too heavy.

Reader's Annotation:
Lucinda is the epitome of cool, playing in a band and living in L.A. but she needs a job so she starts to work for a complaint line and falls into an odd relationship with one the complainers on the line.

Websites to look Into:
http://jonathanlethem.com/

The Author
Apparently the New York Times thinks that Lethem is "something of a hipster celebrity," due to all of his books and their scene and genre blending.

Similar Books:
"Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block
"Girl in Landscape: a Novel" by Jonathan Lethem
"As She Climbed Across the Table: a Novel" by Jonathan Lethem

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing the book to other "hip" novels about music and friends
Using the names of the characters for a display or art piece because they are so unique

Genre:
Adult Crossover/ Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Sexuality & Language
Lucinda does engage in sexual intercourse in this book with a much older man, but it is in relation to her feelings for him and it is an obscure side story of the novel. I would combat this with the fact that I think it could appeal to older teens and it talks about sex in a frank manner in which young adults might be interested in to know about. The language is that of young adults living in L.A. in a hip scene, it is frequent enough to cause a stir but it is not profane.

Why this Book?
I read this book without a thought of what kind of book it was, and when I was through with it I thought that I could understand appeal that it would have to a young adult audience. It was cool and hip and I thought that older teens would enjoy knowing that they could take an interest in it.