'Mr Vertigo' by Paul Auster is a tale set in 1920s America about an orphan named Walter C. Rawley who learns to fly under the guidance of Master Yehudi. The story follows their journey as they take the act on the road, facing both hilarity and tragedy. The writing is described as funny, wise-cracking, and rich in period detail, offering a mix of cultural references and suspense. The narrative style is engaging, focusing on the protagonist's growth and challenges as he navigates through fame, fortune, and danger.

Characters:

Characters, especially Walt, are depicted as quirky yet relatable, though some character developments are limited.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is accessible and direct, blending humor and emotional depth with themes of magical realism.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Walt, an orphan who learns to fly under Master Yehudi's guidance, navigating the highs and lows of life and ultimately finding himself.

Setting:

The setting effectively captures the feel of 1920s America, reflecting both its vibrancy and harsh realities.

Pacing:

The pacing alternates between engaging and slow, with a noticeable drop in excitement after the peak of Walt's flying career.

Iwas twelve years old the first time I walked on water. The man in the black clothes taught me how to do it, and I’m not going to pretend I learned that trick overnight. Master Yehudi found me when I ...

Notes:

The protagonist is Walter Rawley, an orphan navigating a tough life in St. Louis.

Master Yehudi, a mysterious man, promises to teach Walt how to fly.

The story covers themes of racism and the gritty realities of 1920s America.

The writing has a fast-paced action style and easy-to-read sentences.

The book mixes elements of magical realism with a moral tale.

Walt starts as a racist boy and evolves into a compassionate old man.

Auster's novel alternates between charming moments and grim realities.

The book is noted for its emotional depth and exploration of the human experience.

The ending offers a twist, reflecting back on Walt's life as a memoir of sorts.

The narrative is heavily character-driven but concerns one main arc: Walt’s abilities and their consequences.

Some readers found the pacing uneven, particularly in the last half of the book.

The story presents diverse characters, like Mother Sioux and Aesop, who belong to a troop with unique talents.

Despite initial slow parts, many readers felt pulled into the story as it progressed.

The book includes social commentary on the American experience during the Great Depression.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of child abuse, racism, and mental illness, which are prevalent in the narrative.

From The Publisher:

'I was twelve years old the first time I walked on water . . .'

So begins Mr Vertigo, the story of Walt, an irrepressible orphan from the Mid-West. Under the tutelage of the mesmerising Master Yehudi, Walt is taken back to the mysterious house on the plains to prepare not only for the ability to fly, but also for the stardom that will accompany it.

At the same time a delighted race through 1920s Americana and a richly allusive parable, Mr Vertigo is a compelling, magical novel - a work of true originality by a writer at the height of his powers.

'A virtuoso piece of storytelling by a master of the modern American fable.' The Independent

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About the Author:

Paul Auster is the best-selling author of Winter Journal, Sunset Park, Man in the Dark, The Brooklyn Follies, The Book of Illusions, The New York Trilogy, among many other works. In 2006 he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature and inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.Among his other honours are the Independent Spirit Award for the screenplay of Smoke and the Prix Medicis Etranger for Leviathan. He has also been short-listed for both the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (The Book of Illusions) and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction (The Music of Chance). His work has been translated into more than thirty languages.He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Mr Vertigo

Paul Auster