The New York Trilogy: City of Glass, Ghosts and Locked Room
3 journalers for this copy...
Maybe I'm missing the obvious, but I couldn't make much of this book. There is no doubt that the New York Trilogy is excellently written by a true craftsman, yet it failed to touch me in any significant way.
All three parts are somber detective stories, told by narrators that invariably loose their identity as the tale unfolds. Some might argue that they don't loose it but that they simply evolve, but that wasn't my impression.
Identity appears to be an important issue of the book, and in this topic I found the most obvious proof of Auster's skillfulness. In a masterfull manner he plays with the various identities of the narrator, e.g. in "City of Glass", when an author assumes the identity of a private investigator (cheekily named Paul Auster) and then - in order not to give away this pretend identity to the object of his investigations - introduces himself with his true identity, which in turn becomes true and false, all at the same time.
The author is also very aware of the arbitrary aspects of things, especially language, which shows repeatedly.
Unfortunately I have to say that, despite the quality of Auster's work, I did not care for the stories.
All three parts are somber detective stories, told by narrators that invariably loose their identity as the tale unfolds. Some might argue that they don't loose it but that they simply evolve, but that wasn't my impression.
Identity appears to be an important issue of the book, and in this topic I found the most obvious proof of Auster's skillfulness. In a masterfull manner he plays with the various identities of the narrator, e.g. in "City of Glass", when an author assumes the identity of a private investigator (cheekily named Paul Auster) and then - in order not to give away this pretend identity to the object of his investigations - introduces himself with his true identity, which in turn becomes true and false, all at the same time.
The author is also very aware of the arbitrary aspects of things, especially language, which shows repeatedly.
Unfortunately I have to say that, despite the quality of Auster's work, I did not care for the stories.
Will be brought to tomorrow's meetup in Zurich
Got it at the Meet-Up, and Paul Auster was highly recommended by the-shoe-fits, so I will read this and pass it on to her.
I picked this up at Cafe Gloria at a "mini-meetup" with spy-there. I think, however, that my luggage is a bit overloaded, and I'll leave this in the book box at the youth hostel and check out a copy from the library when I get home.
Journal Entry 5 by Ramya at Youth Hostel in Mutchellenstrasse in Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Friday, October 20, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (10/20/2006 UTC) at Youth Hostel in Mutchellenstrasse in Zürich, Zürich Switzerland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught. If you are new to BookCrossing, when you register would you please indicate that you were referred by me, Ramya.
I hope that you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you are done reading. Then, when you are ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to someone you know, or make a release note if you are leaving it "in the wild" for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You'll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. And it's confidential (no one is ever given your e-mail address) and free.
Have fun with the BookCrossing experience!
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught. If you are new to BookCrossing, when you register would you please indicate that you were referred by me, Ramya.
I hope that you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you are done reading. Then, when you are ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to someone you know, or make a release note if you are leaving it "in the wild" for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You'll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. And it's confidential (no one is ever given your e-mail address) and free.
Have fun with the BookCrossing experience!