I have read almost all his books. He’s my favorite author and “Moon Palace” is my book of his. I just love the way he tells a story, how he comes up with different characters and how hazard can change the life of a person. I’m about to read “Baumgartner”.

@marcoscia7765

4 ай бұрын

I'm a huge fan as well. I can recommend 'About the Author' by John Colapinto, give it a try: I found it similar to Auster's books; very mysterious and a page turner. Do you have some recommendations? similar authors or books?

@linusjazz

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the recommendation, I'll put it on my list! I'm always searching for similar books as well. One that got pretty close is "Let the great world spin" by Colum McCann. @@marcoscia7765

@birotomodachi

Ай бұрын

Another big lost a fan for at least 35 years. Have read pretty much everything and get my hands on Leviathan and moon palace, might be my favourite - at least most re-read. Just finished reading Baumgartner this morning.

I’ve read and love all of his stuff. Truly a great writer. He doesn’t fit in with a lot of his contemporaries. His books range from earthy, solemn stories to the edge of absurd. At any moment, something can fly into the ether and just as you’ve gotten comfortable there, you’re solidly back on the steps of a brownstone in Brooklyn. A true original

@xx-aa

5 ай бұрын

absolutely agree

I read “Invisible” years ago and enjoyed it immensely.Just finished “Baumgartner.” I loved this book. Gorgeous writing passages throughout the novel.

Thank you for the video. I'm currently reading Sunset Park, and intrigued to hear how other people feel about Paul Auster. Your video is about the only one I can find on KZread. I came across his name in a bookshop in Japan a few years ago (It was 4 3 2 1), and was interested by the idea of how one life can be vastly different in many ways. I did not buy it, however, and got Sunset Park instead. I recently finished The invention of solitude, a non-fiction of his, and I hated that lol. I thought I should give Auster another try and started Sunset Park, and now I'm utterly in love with this book. The writing feels very nostalgic and beautifully poetic. It's like I am sucked into this literary bubble. I don't think many contemporary authors can do that.

@GuiltyFeat

5 ай бұрын

How fabulous to return to an author you have had a less positive experience with and find yourself so drawn in!

In spanish language, I don't know why, he is very famous. He sells more books in spanish than in his original language and many times his novel are published in spain before than in America. An awesome and dark author.

Paul Auster is my favourite writer. I love his novels and non fiction works. I recommend The Book of Illusions, In the Country of Last Things, Leviathan, Moon Palace, Music of Chance, Invisible, and The Brooklyn Follies. I've read all his work, even his biography of Stephen Crane, and I have loved most of it. His memoirs, Invention of Solitude, Winter Journal, Hand to Mouth, The Red Notebook, and Report from the Interior are also essential. His work is unique and takes the reader away to another place. And yes, Smoke is brilliant. I wrote a book on the film and interviewed Auster himself for it. Great video BTW.

@GuiltyFeat

10 ай бұрын

Ooh, lots of stuff to get to. I think I'm more likely to pick up one of his non-fiction works if I came across it. Great to meet another Smoke fan. Sometimes I think I dreamed that film. How fantastic that you got to correspond with Paul Auster. Thanks so much for sharing!

@marcoscia7765

10 ай бұрын

Auster is also MY favorite writer but I’ve already read all his books. By any chance can you recommend a similar writer who gave you Auster’s vibes? Of Auster I particularly like the straightforward prose full of mysterious insights ; and his ability to immediately swallow the reader after the first page and never let him go until the end

@wisdomtwins

10 ай бұрын

Hi. I actually can't think of any writer who gives me similar vibes. I think Auster is truly unique. He crafts perfect, beautiful, mysterious stories without any sensationalism. It's really hard to define what makes them so appealing. My other favourite living author is Will Self, the English novelist. His work has Burroughs and Ballard vibes, but it's totally unique in most ways. @@marcoscia7765

I've read most of his books, he's my favourite author. He can write about anything and make it interesting. He dwelves so well into characters and writes often about chance, relationships, family... I would recommend you to read 'Oracle Night' and 'Man in the Dark'.

@GuiltyFeat

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I am more likely to try some of his nonfiction at some point.

the bad thing is that publishers seem to portray the new york triology as a detective story, whereas its not at all; i would have never read it if i had assumed it was just that; i think it is sad to portray this book as such because it is much more complex than that; in my opinion i even think it has elements of a psychological thriller with highly philosophical themes; i did not need much before i realised that pauls auster is much more educated for this to be just a detectives story

Love love love Paul Auster down here in Australia..my fav so far is Follies..couldn't put it down..didn't want it to end..talk about crisp prose..also love Invisible and Oracle Night..just started Baumgartner..loving it..his writing reminds me of De Lillo..

@GuiltyFeat

3 ай бұрын

I've had some great and some less great experiences with DeLillo.

We read Moon Palace in our English class in high school in Germany. Later on I read the Trilogy, Man in the Dark and The Brooklyn Follies. I must admit I don’t remember much except bits of Moon Palace which we all really liked in my class. And I remember not liking Man in the Dark very much but I don’t remember what it was that put me off. I just stopped reading him after Man in the Dark. I think that he was huge 15-20 years ago. At least that’s what I remember with his new publications always being talked about. Maybe he has fallen out of time meanwhile.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

There seems to be a pattern forming... thanks.

The Music of Chance is one of my favourite novels.😊

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

That's the only one I may go back and read still.

Is it Oster or Awster? I agree he is everyone’s accidental author. You feel you should. You do. You do again. You’re not certain it’s worth doing again. Oh go on then. One more time. Right, it’s the same as the other two…

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I think "Awster". What did I say in the video? I'm so confused!

also brooklyn follies

4-5 and my current book. he is one of my favorites.

Years ago I randomly picked up one of his books because it was on a “bookseller recommends” table in the Strand. Travels in the Scriptorium. It was short, bizarre and pretty good!

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Would you consider reading more?

Hah I have 4321 and New York Trilogy on the shelf, yet to try either. You’ve had quite the author roller coaster/carousel experiences.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

My whole aim with the #accidentalauthor thing is to interrogate my own reading habits where I am more likely to continue with an author, even after a mediocre experience, that try out a new-to-me author. There are clearly pros and cons to this way of curating my reading, but it may be too late for me to change things up.

I do. I love him.

@GuiltyFeat

9 ай бұрын

Fabulous!

Yes! I’ve read, I think, seven of his novels and a number of his autobiographical works. I might recommend “Timbuktu” if you want to try another of his more accessible novels. Nice video by the way, thanks for making it.

@GuiltyFeat

2 ай бұрын

Cheers Danny. I don't know if I will go back and read more Auster, but if I do I will remember your recommendation.

I've only read the NY Trilogy and 4321. I read 4321 when it came out and enjoyed it enormously. One of my books of that year. I think tried the NY Trilogy and didn't get it at all.. I'm keen to read the book he has coming out later this year.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I seem to be more aligned with your reading tastes than some of the others commenting here who seemed to really enjoy The New York Trilogy.

I’ve read them all. He’s a master craftsman and 4321 is his masterpiece. Smoke is great too.

@GuiltyFeat

2 ай бұрын

I think I agree about 4321.

I read The Invention of Solitude and thought it was very good. I really enjoyed it and got more of his books after that, but haven't read them yet.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

No pressure. I've made real inroads with my TBR this year, so there is always a chance that you'll get to it.

I think you can say you’ve read 8 books by him! Like you I struggled with the NY trilogy and after a short break tried Music of Chance which I enjoyed. I seem to have stopped at those 4, although Book of Illusions is an unread hardback on the shelf, so maybe one day . . .

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Thanks. I use Goodreads to determine how many books I've read so if I read the trilogy in a single volume, it counts as one for me.

@MagicSamaritan

9 ай бұрын

Since you already own "Book of Illusions" I'd like to offer a suggestion. Read the first 5 to 10 pages. If it doesn't hook you, it's not your cup of tea. If it does, you'll love most of it. However, I have to admit that it does get quite weird near the end.

i have read the first book in the new york trilogy and i thought it was interesting but assumed i'd understand more if/when i read the next two books but other books have gotten in the way low these many years by other people including two by siri hustvedt, and have no desire to pick them up now. i do love those faber covers.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I can't recommend the New York Trilogy, but I've had a good time with some of his later novels.

I read two of his book ages ago and wasn't really keen to read more. I prefer the books by his wife Siri Hustvedt.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I should giver her a chance. Thanks.

Yes many times over

I've read a few books by him, but the only one I even remotely cared for was "The Book of Illusions," which I remember as notably breaking from his usual pomo literary schtick.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I think that was one of my favourites, also.

Loved NY Trilogy, read a couple that followed -can't even remember their names now they were that insipid and then read 4-3-2-1 which I absolutely hated as the most middle-class self-indulgence. So for me, the guy wrote one great book, though obviously I haven't read everything by him. But I'm not going back

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I could probably have predicted that we would like different aspects of Auster's oevre.

Yes. I think in late 90s-early 00s, he was popular when I was in uni. Read Leviathan, New York Trilogy and 4321 for sure. This was before I switched to reading much more women. Liked all 3 novels.

@zehrazaidi4293

11 ай бұрын

I loved those Faber covers

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Yes. He seems to have fallen completely out of fashion.

Yes l do.

Hi Chris here. I read every Paul Auster up to Winter Journal which I threw across the room. Have tried to reread him but the sex always gets in the way. Nevertheless Smoke and its companion piece Blue in the Face, starring Lou Reed's glasses, were great films

@GuiltyFeat

10 ай бұрын

Hey Chris. I too hate it when sex gets in the way. Cheers!

“.......a bookshop, in Edgeware, in England which no longer exists......” Truly, an epic fragment 😂😂

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

To be clear, Edgware still exists, but the book shop, Two Jays, is sadly no more.

No, but I've read and really enjoyed books by his wife, Siri Hustvedt. I was intrigued by 4321 when it came out, but the size put me off. I have never heard of The book of illusions but it sounds interesting so I might start there instead.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Yes. 4321 is intimidating. The Book of Illusions is a great place to start.

Paul Auster is a favourite of mine. Music of Chance is great

@GuiltyFeat

9 ай бұрын

Good recommendation, thanks!

Who is, in your opinion, a similar author ? Someone who has similar prose and themes

@joniheisenberg

5 ай бұрын

As someone who loves Philip Roth’s writing and bemoaned his retirement and death, I find Auster’s books echo his themes. In my opinion Roth was the master of insightfulness into the human condition of existence,longing and grief. I just finished “Baumgartner” and it is exceptional.

In a word. No. Now Collene Hoover? Unfortunately that is a different story.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

I have yet to sample the delights of Ms Hoover.

I tried 4321 a few years ago and quickly decided it wasn't for me.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Shame, I thought it was a good example of maximalist novel writing.

I read the New York Trilogy and had the same experience. It's been a while, 12 years, from what I recall, I found it pretentious, didn't get "the point" and also didn't enjoy his take on gender. Decided I won't pick him up again. Very few authors I've felt this way about. I'd reconsider if there weren't so many authors I do enjoy. Maybe I'll revisit in the future. (To each his own, don't want to insult anyone that enjoys him, maybe I just don't get it).

@GuiltyFeat

9 ай бұрын

I think yours is a totally legitimate take. Thanks!

Absolutely adore Paul Auster. 4 3 2 1 is a masterpiece. Probably his best book. Other favorites: Winter Journal, The Red Notebook, The Book of Illusions, House of Glass, Man in the Dark. Looking forward to reading his new one. He’s definitely underrated in America-but very popular in Europe. He has a French sensibility and a poet’s vision. He’s a great reader of his own work, great supporter of the arts, and promotes a lot of great translated literature. He’s much more interesting than Roth or DeLillo. People complain that he repeats himself too much from book to book, but I enjoy how some of his books overlap, collide, etc. He has created his own universe. I don’t think the NY Trilogy is his best work, but it’s a decent place to start. For anyone new to Auster, I’d just as soon say to start with The Red Notebook of Book of Illusions.

@GuiltyFeat

2 ай бұрын

Good advice. I haven't read The Red Notebook, but that intrigues me. Thanks!

Auster

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely.

The NY Trilogy is good; everything else is a hard pass for me.

@GuiltyFeat

11 ай бұрын

So interesting how many people have had the exact opposite response as I did to that trilogy. Thanks for commenting!