- Hardcover: 488 pages
- Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (Jan 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0786248688
- ISBN-13: 978-0786248681
- Product Dimensions: 22.7 x 16.6 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,209,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Jonathan Lethem
'An elegant and enthralling new summit in Paul Auster's art.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'An elegant and enthralling new summit in Paul Auster's art.' Jonathan Lethem
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
David Zimmer, the protagonist in Paul Auster's compelling and elegant new novel, The Book of Illusions, finds solace from the grief of losing his wife and two sons in a plane crash by immersing himself in the films of silent comedy star, Hector Mann. An academic by profession, David writes a critical study of Mann's films, but, as the book is published, he is contacted by sources who claim that Hector Mann, who hasn't been seen for almost sixty years and is presumed dead, is alive and living in New Mexico. Fuelled by the desire to resolve the puzzle of Hector's missing years, David travels to the ranch where Hector now lives and where he and his wife have spent the last six decades making mysterious films that have never been screened in public.
The unswerving compulsion to unearth, and ultimately understand, another person's identity is a theme that Auster returns to frequently in his work, in novels such as New York Trilogy and Leviathan, and yet here it is more brilliantly realised than ever. The story-within-a-story motif is ever-present but the different strands are so ingeniously interwoven that this familiar technique never seems predictable or tired. Also present is Auster's continuing fascination with the medium of film - he has written several successful screenplays for films such as Smoke and Blue in the Face - and he provides exquisitely detailed descriptions of several of Hector Mann's films.
Brimming with plot twists and turns, The Book of Illusions is a gripping, page-turning literary mystery story, but it is also a complex and genuinely moving meditation on the nature of identity and how any attempt to live vicariously through another's life will always be doomed to failure. It also questions whether art can or should ever be truly immortal and whether or not an artist relinquishes all moral rights to their work once they are gone. This is a stunning summation of Auster's literary vision that thrills on the first read, but offers more than enough depth to satisfy numerous re-readings.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm a firm fan of Auster's novels - Leviathan is my favorite. While I enjoyed this, his latest, and have been interested to see it described by some critics as his best - for me this was a slight disappointment.
The premise is interesting, the characters are well drawn and during some sections (notably the story of Hector Mann's disappearing act) I sped through it fast. Ultimatley, however, I didn't really feel Auster was offering me anything new here. Perhaps the scope was not large enough, perhaps the themes were a little too familiar, or maybe having read some of his other novels my expectations have become a little high. Of course (and I hate to admit it) maybe I just missed something!
Make no mistake, this is a good novel, and very well written, but compared to some of his others I found myself strangley uninvolved. I would recommend Leviathan or Moon Palace over this.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Auster has done it again. An intricate story line of parallel life experiences interwined with the stange world of coincidence.
He leads you through back alleys, which you are sure to think are dead ends. Then as the last few pages are read the mist rises.
There is little point of going into names, plot, blar, blar, blar... just read it!
Not a 5 rating because this is reserved for the Auster's best, which has to be The New York Triology, but a delightful read with the unmistakable Auster formula (that I can't get enough of!)...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
To read and re-read!
The book of illusions is definitely my favourite Paul Auster novel so far (even though I find them all complete and faultless works of art). Read more
Published 5 months ago by steelo
A beautifully simple (but complex) story
This is my second Auster book (after the NY trilogy) and I really enjoyed the simplicity and sharpness of the realities and illusions that he has crafted in the beautiful and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by aus_books
Book of Illusions
I was highly recommended this book and, as always, looked it up on
Amazon. It arrived quickly and in good condition.
Amazon. It arrived quickly and in good condition.
Published 8 months ago by Judy Mendel
better than an American cup of tea but not so good as a cup of...
This is the third or fourth Auster novel I've read; this one, like the others, sounded exactly my cup of tea and like the others it left no impression save one of mild... Read more
Published 10 months ago by monica
Auster at his very best
Auster is one of the most critically acclaimed modern novelists of the United States. His novels are always complex and erudite and he loves modern American history and culture... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Richard Milton
Elegantly written mystery novel
David Zimmer is a professor recovering from the horrific deaths of his wife and children in a plane crash, he lurches from alcoholism into deep and destructive self pity. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2010 by Victor Ward
Book of Illusions
I'm doing an MA in Contemporary Literature and this book is part of the course. However, unlike some of the books featured, which are experimental and harder to get your teeth... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by LC Hughes
Reality into fiction via fantasy back to fact
Paul Auster's The Book Of Illusions offers the reader pretty much what the title promises. It's a book and there are illusions! Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by Philip Spires
It's all been stated before!
Pretentious? May be. Literary? Yes, I think so. It is embarrassing to admit that this is my first Auster but, having said that, I did enjoy it; indeed, at times it was... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2009 by G. D. Busby
Clever, moving, entertaining
I first came to Paul Auster via the New York Trilogy and since then, while enjoying his novels, I have been vaguely disappointed that nothing quite lived up to that first thrill. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009 by P. G. Harris
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