The Book of Illusions

Paul Auster, the author of innumerable literary works of fiction and non-fiction, winner of multiple awards, presents us in this book with a highly unusual novel. A story within a story.

When I first started reading this ‘Book of Illusions’, I was not sure of what I would find within. I picked it randomly out of many in my parents-in-law’s library and gave it a try. It was interesting, well written, but didn’t seem like the kind of book that’d keep me in a chair for hours on end.

The first pages tell us such a sad story, that it almost makes us feel bad just for knowing about it. “It’s not fair” might be the first thing that comes into your mind. But then, that really sad and destroyed man starts to react in his own weird way and at some point, you’ll be so interested as he is, in his new obsession.

You’ll follow his story, as well as the story of the man he wants to meet, with the same eagerness and, somewhere along the way you’ll look at the clock and realize that you’ve been reading for hours and forgot about everything else. The best kind of book, right?

The book can seem difficult to read, thanks to some of the big paragraphs and endless chapters, however, the interest of the intricate story helps to grow pass that.

It’s easy to create empathy for the protagonist and his feelings. At some point, you’ll see it as the regular story of a widower that met an incredible woman, who seems to fit perfectly with him. But you’ll quickly realize there’s more to it than that.

The end is as surprising as it is perfect. A bit dramatic maybe, but it will definitely leave you breathless.

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