Jonathan Lethem eBooks

John Lethem, born on February 19, 1964 in New York City, led a somewhat alternative lifestyle from the beginning. His parents led a bohemian lifestyle, which he claims has helped him to be accepting of many cultures. Lethem’s father was an avant-garde painter and Lethem followed in his father’s footsteps. He was enrolled in the New York School of Music and Arts. Here he started to learn about painting but didn’t find much satisfaction in it. He was more interested in writing.

During his second year in college, Lethem realized that writing was his passion and dropped out of college. He hitchhiked across America, ending up in Berkeley, Calfornia. Here was the start of his writing career. When he was not working he spent most of his free time writing. Eventually he finished his first novel, Gun. The book did not garner much notice until a dazzling review appeared in Newsweek magazine. After that it took off and won awards and gained attention. This was followed by three more fictional novels.

In 1999, Lethem published Motherless Brooklyn. The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and after achieving mainstream success he was able to quit his job and work full time as a writer. His next novel, The Fortress of Solitude, became a national bestseller, which eventually led to him receiving the MacArthur Fellowship. 

Lethem currently resides in New York City with his third wife, Amy Barrett, and their son, Everett Barrett Lethem.