will read soon

I think what I like most about reading Auster is that its a little like exploring a mysterious maze-- & you're never sure if you know for certain what the hell just happened---- totally amazing!





from back-
An old man awakens, disoriented, in an unfamiliar chamber. With no memory of who he is or how he has arrived there, he pores over the relics on the desk, examining the circumstances of his confinement and searching his own hazy mind for clues. Determining that he is locked in, the man-identified only as Mr. Blank-begins reading a manuscript he finds on the desk, the story of another prisoner, set in an alternate world. As the day passes, various characters call on Mr. Blank in his cell, and each brings frustrating hints of his forgotten identity and his past.

*******BOOKRAY!!!*******

Trekwoman- IL - US
JenKazoo - Louisiana - US
snapdragongirl -TX - US/CAN
NMReader- NM - intl
spy-there - Switzerland
Cocojo - Switzerland
lilifin - Germany
Fifna - Netherlands - intl
mrbaggins1 - Africa

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

off to trekwoman

This arrived in the afternoon post. I'll begin reading it tonight and think I'll be through with it by Thursday.

I began reading this book last night when I woke from my nap. Since it's now four in the morning, I should go to bed soon. However, reading Auster's novel was giving me a headache. I frankly didn't care for it, and that is disappointing to me, because I really thought I'd like it quite a lot.

Elements of the story (as were probably intended) reminded me of: the Holocaust, David Brin's novel of life in a post- electrical apocalyptic world (The Postman, -- now that's an excellent book), episodes of M*A*S*H* (when Col. Potter would dream about his childhood). All in all, I felt disjointed and unsettled, just like Mr. Blank did, and wanted answers, and felt antsy when they were slow in forthcoming, if indeed they came at all. Finally I just flipped to book's end and read that.

I do appreciate having been included in the ring, thanks. Otherwise I'd have wondered if I were missing something really great. This will be mailed to JenKazoo tomorrow afternoon.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending this through the postal system to JenKazoo in Louisiana.

Look what was waiting for me in the mail today! I can't wait to start reading it! It looks great!

Well, I am going to have to agree with Trekwoman on this one. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It reminded me of a few movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or maybe even Vanilla Sky, except much less interesting. I think it had some potential but fell short in the middle. The beginning and end were the best parts.

I still like Auster and will be reading more of his books. I have several on my TBR list.

Recieved book in mail today. I'll read it as soon as possible, but it may take awhile. It is the only book I'm reading at the moment, but I have so much else going on in my life that reading for enjoyment has taken a backseat. I've made a goal to finish it by the end of November. If I don't make it I'll send it on anyway.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to next person.

It is here but is buried under the numberous books that arrived before it. I will try and get to it quickly

Just a quick update started this on the plane. I am about 35 pages into the book and am intrigued

I agree it was disturbing and unsettling but I think that i part of its charm - it is a written Twilight Zone or Tale of the Unexpected.

I enjoyed the book and will try to mail over lunch today.

Thanks for including me

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Hope to mail over lunch

Customs Form # LC451488115US

what a SURPRISE - Auster's mystical horse manifested in my mail box today! Thank you very much for the shipment, NMreader.
... and it comes so on time - I just finished another ring =^+^=

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The magical horse from the cover sheet was most unfortunately nowhere to be found. Instead I found myself trapped with an elderly guinea pig in striped pajamas who suffered from amnesia. I attempted to read on through this postmodern maze without getting too much claustrophobic. Tedious? Not really. But does there exist attraction within a nursing home?

I was touched by the scene when Anna gives Mr. Blank the „generous treatment". The small, intimate habits of an old man are always revealed with an endearing sensitivity. Mr. Blank is described with love ... and at the same time dissected with the merciless sharp language of research laboratories.

As his name suggests Mr. Blank is a joker card. He can be placed where ever you think he would fit. Mr. Blank’s foggy memory doesn’t reveal much of a story. He was some kind of supervisor, probably during a war. He could be a bad guy who wantonly sent people to deathly missions. Or he could be a fatherly figure who cared for his subordinates - their bad luck not being entirely his fault. Mr. Blank could represent the authour himself, foreseeing his own psychical and physical decay of old age. It’s all very metaphorical. Or metafictional due the appearance of some well known figures from other Auster-novels.

The Scriptorium is actually a memorial for Siri Hustvedt’s father Lloyd who died 2004. Hence I ponder whether I should see this brief tale as a private exorcism never really intended for publication ...
But an Auster is an Auster is an Auster; and of course this a typical one with pearls of wording and lurking uncertainty. Compared to other novels (e.g. to the New York Trilogy, whose encrypted pictures were enthralling novelty) the Scriptorium might appear a little dusty - in spite of its clean, clinical setting ;)

Thanks for setting up the ray, Scoobs-buddy. It was by all means interesting to read, though not a story I would be tempted to read twice. On the other hand ... there is now a strong urge to inhale also Siri Hustvedt’s memorial «The Sorrows of an American» ...
=^t^=

It's in the letter-box of Cocojo.

June, 2. 2010: frankly ... I am a bit speechless.
But it's me to blame, I guess. I should have explained Cocojo the rules of a Bookray. I should have nudged her earlier for the delay ;_;
Please do apologize our stupid stalling of the stallion. I already asked for lilifin's address.

caught it - am curious about the book

oops, too many books to read and not enough time to do so. Will hand book back to spy-there. Thanks to spy-there for the reminder.

Arrived yesterday and is being read at the moment.

Arrived safely, thanks lilifin!

You really do never know what you're going to get with Auster. I've enjoyed all I've read of his so far, and this is no exception. Thank you for sharing, Scoobs-buddy. Mrbaggins1 has already acquired a copy, so we've come to the end of the line. I will put it with my availables for now.

Taking it to the meet-up.

Took it with me from the meeting. A traveled and experienced book I see. I thought the backtext was really intriguing and that's why I took it. (It reminds me a bit of After dark van Haruki Murakami.)

This was a strange book. Shovelmonkey's review does way more justice/explanation to this book, than I could possibly do. His review gave me more depth to what the book was really about. You can read it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/159397171?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I have taken this book home with me as one of the very few ones. I like to read English books, especially if that is the original language it was written in.

I've never read anything by Paul Auster before. As I work in a second-hand book-store I've come across some of his books before, such as the New York Trilogy. Maybe if this book touches me I will give that one (a classic) a try as well.

I chose this book because the description intrigued me; I like a bit of mystery.

I've just finished this book. My first 'Auster'. I am not quite sure what to make of it all, but that seems to be the point.

I think it is a well worked out plot with a lot of thought and care gone into the description of the old man and the people that he encounters in his room. I personally do not care much for Mr. Blank. But in all ways he seems to be an old man suffering from from dementia. He's obstinate, dis-oriented, ashamed, child-like, but also a bit of a pervert, other than that he is really a blank person, a mere character in the here and now without a past or a foreseeable future. During the story I was wondering how things were going to enfold.
Nearing the end of the book Mr. Blank seems to have gained somewhat in lucidity and I must say I found it amusing how he decides the written account of Graf should end. His pleasure in doing so was funny, for it reminds me of the way writers can be exhilarated to have finished a book precisely the way they intended it to.

The last few pages took a bit of a weird turn, when Quinn enters the story being introduced as Mr. Blanks attorney. I never saw that one coming. Nor that Mr. Blank seems to trust him and all he says, and accepts his role as 'the bad-guy'.

But a bigger surprise happens in the very last pages of the book, when Mr. Blank picks up another manuscript that was placed on the desk in his room. It is called 'Travels in the Scriptorium' written by N.R. Fanshawe. This Fanshawe was one of the illustrious names Mr. Blank has come to know: the vanished writer. Mr. Blank literally says:"That's more like it. Maybe we're finally getting somewhere, after all."
And indeed we do. The twist is a very cunning one, much to my liking. The story doesn't end here, the plot only thickens and the possibilities are endless.

From time to time this book was a bit of a bore, but never so much to stop me from reading it. Now that I have finished, I am glad I've kept on reading. Auster has delivered a clever story.

Happy reading!

Took this with me from the meeting. Nice to see that it is such a well traveled book! Sounds intriguing. Thanks everyone for sharing the book.

Not sure what to think about this one. I like the writing style, but the story was rather strange and confusing, I had no idea where it was going until the end. Guess it wasn't the best book of Auster to start with, but since I enjoyed his style, I will look for more of his writing.

Left in the bookcase of the reception room of this beautiful B&B. Happy travels little book!