- Paperback: 181 pages
- Publisher: Picador USA; Reprint edition (May 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312263996
- ISBN-13: 978-0312263997
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.7 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,269,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Timbuktu
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Amazon.co.uk Review
"What was a poor dog to do?": This story of contemporary America--from the poet- wanderer's life on the streets to the world of "two-car garages, home-improvement loans, and neo-Renaissance shopping malls"--is told from the point of view of a "four-leg", Mr. Bones.
Following his critically acclaimed The New York Trilogy and The Invention of Solitude, Paul Auster's new novel is a sad and witty saga of a dog's life. With the imminent demise of his first master, Willy G. Christmas--on his way to "Timbuktu"--Mr Bones faces an uncertain future as a "lost" dog, an ownerless dog, a homeless dog.
Timbuktu is a tale of what happens, before and after Willy's death: the dilemmas of ethics and affection, of a man and a dog in search of love and friendship. In Mr Bones' dreams, Willy comes back, exhorting, advising, allegorising: "People get treated like dogs, too, my friend, and sometimes they have to sleep in barns and meadows because there's nowhere else for them to go." Like Mom-san, Willy's mother, "hunted ... down like a dog" in Warsaw. The connection is crucial to the novel; its sustained, but discreet, reflection on the vicissitudes of human--and canine--love and hate. --Vicky Lebeau --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"'A howling success.' Mail on Sunday 'Few novels are as delightful as this... this joy of a book... is as sensitive as it is daring.' Irish Times"
--This text refers to an alternate
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of America's greatest living writers. Another superb offering from Auster. This is shorter than some of his other books. His depiction of the relationship between man and dog is heart rendering and full of compassion. Auster is just so clever with his fable-type ideas and is certainly up there with Mr Vertigo and Music of Chance. If you are looking for an intelligent read, full of creativity and sensitivity then Auster really is your man. He really does understand the complexity of story telling.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't like books written with animal voices. They are invariably trite and sentimental. This book has changed my mind. The prose is beautifully crafted and you really begin to care about the dog "speaking". Much of the story is irksome, but then I suspect it is meant to be, I could't put it down and, whilst I would not wish to spoil the ending I had to hide a tear from the other passengers on the bus!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What do you get when you read a Paul Auster book? Prose to die for, great character studies and a plot line which causes a dilemma, as you want to read on but then you don't want the book to end. With Timbuktu you get all of the above. Even though the narrator is a dog called Mr. Bones, you become attached to him and through him his master Willy G Christmas (read the book to see why). Auster gives us in this short novel all that humanity desires, love, friendship and happiness. Genius.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Auster's Enchanting Tale
Paul Auster's 1999 short (185-page) novel Timbuktu is an enchanting fantasy based on the life of Mr Bones, canine companion to one Willy G. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Keith M
Got the book quick and clean
I didn't wait as long as I had imagined. The book arrived only few days after I ordered it. Even though I do not really like the library stamps on it, it's new and cheap enough for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joy
Always expect the unexpected
The first novel I read by Paul Auster was the New York Trilogy. How different Timbuktu is, but there again, every novel by Paul Auster is completely different, except to say that... Read more
Published 6 months ago by zebedee
A dog's life.
If you've ever owned or loved a dog you will certainly love this wonderful little book. It manages to cram more depth, emotion and pathos into its few pages than much longer works... Read more
Published 9 months ago by jack ralph
A brief but wonderful read.
I really enjoyed this book. It's pretty short but Auster manages to make you really believe in this dog. Read more
Published 11 months ago by cp1
One for dog lovers
This is a beautiful book, written with simplicity and soul. To me, it captures the dual innocence and wisdom of dogs. Read more
Published 18 months ago by PurpleCat
Lovely doggie tale
i read this in two sittings (thats good for me) to begin with i thought this was going to be slow and i was wondering is this book for me BUT i loved it in the end! Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by Marie Judd
Wonderful story, fresh perspective
I thought this book was charming, heart rending and fresh. It's a book about love and devotion, innate intelligence and mental ill health. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Samantha Street
Great book...
I love this book. A refreshingly original approach having a canine narrator. I think it's brilliant how Mr Bones describes his owner and gives us an unusual take on human... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by Dawn Reader
Disappointing
I am a big Auster fan. However I did not really enjoy this book. The story is told by a dog, mr Bones. Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by French reader
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