Sometimes Bone King cannot go through doors. He has no physical impairment, but at times his brain and muscles simply can’t recall how to walk him through them. Perhaps it has something to do with his being distracted thinking about grammar and etymology all the time, or maybe it’s anxiety that his wife is having an affair with the yardman.
But then renowned neurologist Arthur Limongello offers a diagnosis as peculiar as the ailment: Bone’s self is starting to dislodge from his brain. The treatment is a series of therapeutic tasks; Bone must compliment a stranger each day, do good deeds without being asked, and remind himself each morning, that “Today is a good day!”
But first, as a temporary measure, he also suggests Bone simply try to dance through the doorways. And for a time, Bone’s square dancing, the only kind of dance he knows how to do, seems to more or less work.
Bone’s condition begins to improve, but then his wife leaves him, and after a harrowing ordeal during which he nearly loses his life, Bone makes an astounding discovery about the man who has been calling himself Dr. Limongello.
Is Limongello’s remedy the product of a deranged imagination or the cure for a modern epidemic threatening the very self?
Industry Reviews
"Man Martin is one of the most wildly inventive writers to come my way in years. I could invoke various names--Barry Hannah and Padgett Powell come to mind--but really, he's got his own voice, and it's one you won't forget." - Steve Yarbrough
"It's the rare novel that can achieve this perfect mix of whimsical and smart. In The Lemon Jell-O Syndrome, a wry, warm-hearted tale of medical mystery, Man Martin offers a diagnosis and a cure for the ills of the modern age, one that will make readers look more deeply into their own lives and disconnections." - Sheri Joseph
"An exceptional book: smart, funny, and clever. Martin has a deft and subtle touch when commenting upon the human condition, and I see a little of myself in each of his characters. The bar for good fiction has once again been raised." --Raymond L. Atkins
"Cleverly exuberant and exuberantly clever, The Lemon Jell-O Syndrome mixes satire, slapstick, and surreal hilarity into an improbable stew of human frailty and Kafkaesque charm. A delightful romp full of heart and humor." --Dinty W. Moore
"A ...charming, gravely loopy bit of whimsy equally likely to appeal to amateur etymologists, untenured academics, spouses who fear cuckolding, and anyone who's ever woken up with the feeling that they aren't quite themselves." --Kirkus Reviews
"In his third novel, Martin celebrates language, absurdity, and human connection . . . Martin's offbeat humor and sharp wit call to mind Thomas McGuane, while the charmingly hapless Bone is a singular joy to encounter." -Jonathan Fullmar,Booklist
"an intelligent, whimsical gem of a novel . . . laugh-out-loud funny . . . infused with touching moments . . . Humorous plays on words, shrewd turns of phrases, oxymorons, and paradoxes: there are enough literary techniques employed in The Lemon Jell-O Syndrome to delight any word lover. Coupled with a funny and touching storyline, they make for a winning combination within a truly unique and gratifying reading experience." --Foreword
