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Book Review The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster I gave some thought a week ago or so to stop writing book reviews. I thought It was becoming a pointless exercise. Everyone writes a book review, mine weren’t any different, they’re actually kind of time consuming and I felt if no one was reading them then why was I writing them. Well that all changed after reading The Book of Illusions. Here’s why. It’s one of the finest books I’ve read. Sure I’ve said that before. But I have an even bigger motive to writing book reviews now. If one person following my tumblr picks this book up and enjoys it because they read a few words I said about it here, I have done something special.  Paul Auster has now written two of my favorite books ever. The New York Trilogy opened my mind and my heart, into something I hadn’t really been involved in before. That being GREAT literature. Not a book for entertainment but a book introducing me to a different type of writing and a different type of writer. The Book of Illusions is no different. To call Paul Auster flat and void of emotion is wrong, very wrong. I completely jumped inside this book. David Zimmer loses both his wife and two sons in a plane crash. He spends the first months after their death doing what every man would do after losing his family, drink himself to death. Well doing so David Zimmer happens upon a scene that makes him laugh, a scene involving the silent film star Hector Mann. It’s that scene that stirs David into life again and what ensues is a story of love, lose, and regret. Subject matters I flock to when it comes to the books I read and love. Paul Auster is not for everyone. He’s not flashy, using words you’ve never heard of and tricks you wished stayed in a movie theater. He’s from the same mold as Beckett and writes with a very stright forward prose that pulls you straight into it’s pages. I haven’t read half of his work but will make it my life mission to read all of it. Every book he’s ever written will one day be on my library shelves. I just loved this book, I’m gushing as I write this. I really can’t say enough good things about it so I’m going to stop trying.  Sidenote: I understand that this really isn’t a review it’s more my thoughts on Paul Auster the writer. If you’d like to know more about this book feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be happy to tell you even more.

Book Review

The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster

I gave some thought a week ago or so to stop writing book reviews. I thought It was becoming a pointless exercise. Everyone writes a book review, mine weren’t any different, they’re actually kind of time consuming and I felt if no one was reading them then why was I writing them.

Well that all changed after reading The Book of Illusions. Here’s why. It’s one of the finest books I’ve read. Sure I’ve said that before. But I have an even bigger motive to writing book reviews now. If one person following my tumblr picks this book up and enjoys it because they read a few words I said about it here, I have done something special. 

Paul Auster has now written two of my favorite books ever. The New York Trilogy opened my mind and my heart, into something I hadn’t really been involved in before. That being GREAT literature. Not a book for entertainment but a book introducing me to a different type of writing and a different type of writer. The Book of Illusions is no different. To call Paul Auster flat and void of emotion is wrong, very wrong. I completely jumped inside this book.

David Zimmer loses both his wife and two sons in a plane crash. He spends the first months after their death doing what every man would do after losing his family, drink himself to death. Well doing so David Zimmer happens upon a scene that makes him laugh, a scene involving the silent film star Hector Mann. It’s that scene that stirs David into life again and what ensues is a story of love, lose, and regret. Subject matters I flock to when it comes to the books I read and love.

Paul Auster is not for everyone. He’s not flashy, using words you’ve never heard of and tricks you wished stayed in a movie theater. He’s from the same mold as Beckett and writes with a very stright forward prose that pulls you straight into it’s pages. I haven’t read half of his work but will make it my life mission to read all of it. Every book he’s ever written will one day be on my library shelves. I just loved this book, I’m gushing as I write this. I really can’t say enough good things about it so I’m going to stop trying. 

Sidenote: I understand that this really isn’t a review it’s more my thoughts on Paul Auster the writer. If you’d like to know more about this book feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be happy to tell you even more.

Tags: Book Review Paul Auster The Book of Illusions
49 notes
  1. craiga reblogged this from walkwhilereading and added:
    stumbled across, written by fellow Tumblrer walkwhilereading:...couldn’t agree more.
  2. booklover said: You should also read Moon Palace and Vertigo.
  3. littledidiknow said: Your review of The New York Trilogy put this guy on my radar and this review pushed him high on my list. Don’t stop reviewing! i love hearing what you have to say about books.
  4. victoriajean said: Have you read Invisible by him yet? I read that recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s the only Auster book I’ve read so far. I’m going to have to pick this one up too!
  5. 1093ade reblogged this from walkwhilereading
  6. ameberry said: Please don’t stop writing reviews! They’ve helped me discover some great books!
  7. makimau reblogged this from walkwhilereading
  8. onabeautifulday said: Thank you for the review! The title itself really drew me in but your rave on the author seems good reason enough to go pick up a copy. I must know though, is this book tear inducing?
  9. johncandy said: This book swallowed me whole.
  10. walkwhilereading posted this