Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem

The thing I repeatedly kept noticing was the subtle ways in which the "Minna Men" were trying to replicate the mannerisms and behavior of Frank Minna after his death. It seems strange that they would literally want to become someone else, but then upon further inspection it is not so far-fetched after all. Minna is the only person that has ever showed a sort of interest in these boys/men and is the only one that ever takes them under his wing. He is, in a way, a father figure for them. Here are some of the moments in which they try to replicate him:
(Simon Says...)

• "I dressed in my best suit, donned Minna's watch instead of my own, and clipped his beeper to my hip... I was Minna's successor and avenger..." (132).
• "'Tony, it's me,' I said. 'Essrog.' That was how Minna always started a phone call: Lionel, it's Minna. You're the first name, I'm the last. In other words: You're the jerk and I'm the jerk's boss" (153).
• "'Name? Who's calling, sir?' I took out one of Minna's cards. 'Frank Minna,' I said. The name came easily, and I didn't feel any need to distort it the way I would my own" (158). Having Frank's name makes him feel more comfortable than having his own!
• "... collar up against the cold like Minna, unshaven like Minna now, too..." (226).
• Danny starts driving the Caddy, the car Minna liked to drive (239).
• Checking the time on Minna's watch as if it is his own (249).

There is a parallel between the fork he steals from the house of Matricardi and Rockaforte and Kimmery. He says of the fork just as he says of Kimmery: "... I imagined that if I had it in my pocket I might never need to tic aloud again" (63). What do the fork and Kimmery have in common? They are both, in a way, forbidden. Niether of them stop him from ticcing, though, as he originally surmises.

Interesting tidbit: The cat in this book has a "Hitler mustache". Remind you of some other text we've come across in ENG 445?



Prince - Kiss by cdipre