Reviews

The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster

fbroom's review against another edition

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Not my favorite Auster. This was different than The New York Trilogy or Moon Palace but Paul Auster nonetheless is a gifted storyteller. This is the story of Nathan Glass who had decided that he was done with life and who moved to Brooklyn after a failed unhealthy marriage, a past cancer illness and a long past career as a salesman.

He sees his nephew Tom in a bookstore. Tom was supposed to be academically bright, holding a PhD teaching at some college but that’s not what Nathan saw. Tom was in a distressed state, working as a cashier and has also gained a bunch of weight. Ever since that date Tom and Nathan became close spending a lot of time together and also joined by Tom’s manager Henry. Henry’s story is interesting on its won, his past art gallery, prison and moving to New York.

The story takes a turn when Tom’s niece Lucy shows up one day in Brooklyn. She doesn’t say where she came from. She doesn’t talk about her mom, Aurora. Tom and Nathan get worried about Aurora because of her past and because the last thing they knew of her was her marriage to some religious fanatic.

The stories continue and Paul Auster draws you to more and more interesting events, conversations and details. It’s never boring although I think I liked his earlier work better.

ueilalien's review against another edition

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1.0

مضيعة كبيرة للوقت.
سخيفة جدًا بكامل مافيها، والأسخف أنك طوال القراءة تشعر بالروح الأمريكية المبتدعة تجثم فوق صدرك.

tmathews0330's review against another edition

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5.0

Honest, aware, hopeful, haunting. It captures it all.

loujoseph's review against another edition

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3.0

i liked actually reading this, but it reminded me more of a jonathan ames novel that the paul auster stuff i really like, like the new york trilogy.

peter_gagne's review against another edition

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4.0

Excellent writing and interesting, well-developed characters. At times funny and other times dramatic, with an undercurrent of sadness.

yrsbrn's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gum1311by's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

saaraa96's review against another edition

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2.0

می‌دونم که قرار بود خوب بشه، متاسفانه ولی از اواسطش دیگه نتونستم بخونم.
شروعش تو همون خط اول خواننده رو شدید جذب می‌کنه ولی متاسفانه نمیتونه دیگه اون مدلی نگهت داره.
شاید اگه تا آخر می‌خوندم می‌ارزید ولی داشت اذیت میکرد.

myliege's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

richard1510's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0