A Gambler's Anatomy

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A Gambler's Anatomy
Cover of first edition
AuthorJonathan Lethem
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherDoubleday
Publication date
2016

A Gambler's Anatomy (published as The Blot in the United Kingdom) is a 2016 novel by American author Jonathan Lethem. The plot concerns Alexander Bruno, a professional backgammon player with "psychic tendencies". The novel received mixed reviews and was compared negatively to other novels by Lethem.[1]

Plot[edit]

Alexander Bruno is a gambler who encounters a high school friend, Keith Stolarsky, who has made a fortune in real estate. After their meeting, Keith agrees to pay for an expensive surgery Bruno needs to survive, and later becomes Bruno's romantic rival.

Reception[edit]

The novel received mixed reviews,[2] with some praise for the caliber of his writing, and Lethem's ability to combine elements from multiple genres.[2][3] Dwight Garner referred to Lethem's naming conventions as "Pynchonian" and compared the central antagonist, Keith, to Maurice Conchis, from John Fowles's novel The Magus.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Semley, John (21 October 2016). "Review: Jonathan Lethem's A Gambler's Anatomy is a low-key meditation on identity". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b Charles, Ron (11 October 2016). "'A Gambler's Anatomy': Meet the James Bond of backgammon". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  3. ^ Chee, Alexander (21 October 2016). "Alexander Chee on Jonathan Lethem's 'A Gambler's Anatomy': 'Oceans 11' meets 'Escape to Witch Mountain' meets a meningioma". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ^ Garner, Dwight (11 October 2016). "In Jonathan Lethem's 'A Gambler's Anatomy,' a Hustler's Luck Turns Cold". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 January 2017.