THIS SHAPE WE'RE IN
Jonathan Lethem
McSweeney's Books, 55 pp.
OK, a short review for a short book. This Shape We're In is a relentlessly scatological, deliriously lighthearted, deadly serious, drunkenly sobering, metaphorically literal romp through… well, a body. A "shape" which turns out to be a body. No, you see, the characters live inside the body. No, they're not parasites. They're probably not parasites. They're a drunken ex-general and a stumbling boob, and they go off through the "shape" in search of the ex-general's son, who's gone off to be a guru – claims he's found the eye. The eye. You know, the eye of the "shape" – the body – which I guess is sort of a spiritual thing, it's…. But then it turns out to be completely not what you thought and I don't want to spoil the ending for you. It's just so... so…. It's just galvanizing. Look, you have to read it. No, I won't lend you mine. It's a hardcover, and it's only 12 bucks! Go buy it already. Go!
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