A review by jexjthomas
In the Country of Last Things by Paul Auster

4.0

At first, I had a hard time finding much substantial here. The writing was great, to be sure, but the story didn't really hook me until about 3/4ths of the way through, and, unlike Auster's other works, didn't seem packed to the brim with novel ideas. I had a very difficult time engaging with these characters or their circumstances emotionally as well, but I don't really feel like this took away from my appreciation of the book: like many of Auster's novels, this is something of an intellectual exercise as well, and in the end gives the reader much to consider vis a vis the fleeting nature of art, the meaning of the written word if it is never read, the ephemeral quality not only of art and literature but of all things.