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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Returned the book. This was a 37 hour audio book. I listened, rewound, listened, rewound for a good week. Sorry, but it simply was not for me. It was one of those books with various life choices- in this case 4 different lives that the main character lives. The first time I rewound it, thinking, but he just stepped in front of a cab and died...then finally simply gave it up. I couldn't keep the different lives straight and no longer cared to try.
The prose is lovely. The story- if I could winnow it down to one or 2 of them... worked- but 4... nope.
The prose is lovely. The story- if I could winnow it down to one or 2 of them... worked- but 4... nope.
...and I am OUT at the halfway point. If you like all the words, all the stories, all the ideas one person can barf out on paper, this is for you. Me, I'm just exhausted by it. (I gave it an extra star because it is well written, just so very much of it. So much of it.)
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Uno no puede evitar amar la narrativa de Auster, el tipo es un genio, intimista, complicado y sencillo a la vez, amo su forma de escribir y eso deleita a la hora de leerse un libro de esta envergadura. Después de leer varios libros de este magnifico autor, esperaba, no se, algo que me atrajera como mosca a la miel, pero tengo que decir que me ha costado demasiado leerme este libro, la historia es buena, pero "demasiado Ferguson" para mí, no se si odie al personaje o leerme casi 900 paginas dedicadas a él fue demasiado, la cosa es que si bien es verdad que ver como la vida de una persona puede cambiar con decisiones pequeñas puede resultar en algo interesante, eso no quita que el libro se me haya hecho cuesta arriba y por supuesto también aceptar que el titulo del libro es ni pintado a la historia y disfrutar de un estilo de escritura fuera de serie pero, tengo que decir que no es lo mejor que he leído de Auster.
This was an amazingly dense book.
The premise sounds complicated but is actually very easy to follow: what if a person's life diverged?
What if it diverged and the person was able to simultaneously live both lives?
If that could happen, then why not live 4 lives?
4,3,2,1 does just that: tells all four stories of AI Ferguson's life concurrently.
In exquisite detail.
Set against the 50's., 60's, and 70's.
I enjoyed it, was frustrated with it, and invested in it.
Although it was on the short list of the Man Booker Prize for 2017, I haven't found anyone else that's read it.
have you?
The premise sounds complicated but is actually very easy to follow: what if a person's life diverged?
What if it diverged and the person was able to simultaneously live both lives?
If that could happen, then why not live 4 lives?
4,3,2,1 does just that: tells all four stories of AI Ferguson's life concurrently.
In exquisite detail.
Set against the 50's., 60's, and 70's.
I enjoyed it, was frustrated with it, and invested in it.
Although it was on the short list of the Man Booker Prize for 2017, I haven't found anyone else that's read it.
have you?
Ever since I read Ted Chiang’s Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom I felt that this idea deserves a novel-length narrative. Paul Auster might or might not have been of that opinion but I like to think of 4321 as exactly that. In a parallel reality, a different , slightly divergent me might have given the novel 5 stars for the creative energy and perseverance with which he tried to carve a path into uncharted narrative territory , but in this reality, I settled on 4.25 because I couldn’t get over its lack of brevity.
But nonetheless, it’s a real Auster: a masterfully woven intricate narrative on the existential depths of identity, the power of storytelling, and how small choices can change everything in a life‘s trajectory. Almost as good as Chiang‘s story but not quite
But nonetheless, it’s a real Auster: a masterfully woven intricate narrative on the existential depths of identity, the power of storytelling, and how small choices can change everything in a life‘s trajectory. Almost as good as Chiang‘s story but not quite
So many thoughts, all leading to an inconclusive feeling toward this novel. Even as I’m typing, I’m changing the rating back and forth from 3 to 4 stars.
I fell in love with this book so quickly, but as you work your way through, it fails to deliver on that excellent potential. The prologue is so gripping in its own gentle way, introducing you to this cast of characters that actually aren’t the protagonist(s). Then, launching into the concept itself is really interesting, though continually confusing. Even in the final chapters, I’m trying to remember which events and characters belong to which timeline, and the different Ferguson’s aren’t as distinct in mind as I thought they would be. The book is so long, and without question a bit more rigorous editing could have slimmed it down to something marginally more manageable. The lists of novels or films Ferguson engages with alone probably takes up a couple of percent of the word count, and doesn’t help keep the story(ies) moving along. However, some passages of are beautifully written, particularly striking are the moments leading up to the death of a character. When it’s good, it’s really good.
The ending is helpful in that it places into context some of the choices made throughout the novel, and certainly impacts on the way I felt in evaluating the story. I suppose the main thought I have is that this is literature; designed to make you think and question and wonder as good art should. But asking you to do that for nearly 1000 pages is a lot.
I fell in love with this book so quickly, but as you work your way through, it fails to deliver on that excellent potential. The prologue is so gripping in its own gentle way, introducing you to this cast of characters that actually aren’t the protagonist(s). Then, launching into the concept itself is really interesting, though continually confusing. Even in the final chapters, I’m trying to remember which events and characters belong to which timeline, and the different Ferguson’s aren’t as distinct in mind as I thought they would be. The book is so long, and without question a bit more rigorous editing could have slimmed it down to something marginally more manageable. The lists of novels or films Ferguson engages with alone probably takes up a couple of percent of the word count, and doesn’t help keep the story(ies) moving along. However, some passages of are beautifully written, particularly striking are the moments leading up to the death of a character. When it’s good, it’s really good.
The ending is helpful in that it places into context some of the choices made throughout the novel, and certainly impacts on the way I felt in evaluating the story. I suppose the main thought I have is that this is literature; designed to make you think and question and wonder as good art should. But asking you to do that for nearly 1000 pages is a lot.