Motherless Brooklyn.Jonathan Lethem. 1999/2001. 7 tapes 10 hrs. Recorded Books. 0-7887-5183-2. $63.00. Vinyl binder binder: see combine. An earlier Microsoft Office workbook file that let users combine related documents from different Office applications. The documents could be viewed, saved, opened, e-mailed and printed as a group. ; plot notes. SA * A well-written coming-of-age story and mystery about four orphan orphan: see adoption; foundling hospital; guardian and ward. See widow & orphan. Orphan See also Abandonment. Adverse, Anthony finally, at middle age, discovers origins. [Am. Lit. boys in Brooklyn who are befriended as young teens by minor mob criminal Frank Minna. The central character, Lionel Essrog (fondly nicknamed the "Human Freakshow" by Minna), has Tourette's syndrome Tou·rette's syndrome or Tou·rette syndrome n. A severe neurological disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics, usually beginning in childhood or adolescence and often accompanied by grunts and compulsive utterances, as of and annoys and alienates anyone around him with his uncontrollable outbursts of odd noises,: obscenities, and insults. Minna tolerates him, gives him a book about Tourette's, and mentors all four boys as they become "Minna Men" until he goes to jail. The boys cope until he returns years later and hires them all for his "cab" company (i.e., detective agency Noun 1. detective agency - an agency that makes inquiries for its clients agency - a business that serves other businesses ). When Minna is murdered Essrog is the detective who solves the crime. Muller's reading is nothing short of genius; he does all accents (lots of Brooklynese) plus Essrog's relentless Tourette's. Though Essrog is quick and intelligent, no matter what he does he cannot control his Tourette's. At turns poignant, coarse, graphic and screamingly funny (for which the listener might feel guilt) all listeners will learn enough about Tourette's disease (as Essrog/Muller graphically demonstrate) to feel incredible compassion. An unusual, quirky quirk n. 1. A peculiarity of behavior; an idiosyncrasy: "Every man had his own quirks and twists" Harriet Beecher Stowe. 2. story that will grab older teens immediately. A brilliant book; a brilliant reading. Jean Palmer, KLIATT |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion