4 3 2 1

Paul Auster

Save:

Find on Amazon

multiple versions of the same life

intricate storytelling

character driven coming of age story

detailed prose

new jersey and new york setting

complex lives of the protagonist

historical events impact

slow pacing

diverging paths

archie ferguson character analysis

life decisions and challenges

inner thoughts exploration

'4 3 2 1' by Paul Auster is a behemoth of a novel, spanning four different possible life trajectories of Archie Ferguson, a young man facing various challenges and decisions throughout his life. The book delves into the concept of multiple versions of the same life, exploring how different circumstances can lead to diverging paths. Auster's writing style, with long sentences and intricate storytelling, captivates readers as they navigate through the complex lives of the protagonist.

Characters:

The characters, particularly the protagonist Archie Ferguson, showcase various aspects of personality and circumstance across multiple narratives.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by lengthy, detailed prose that immerses the reader in the protagonist's inner thoughts and life experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around multiple outcomes of the same character's life, offering insights into how different circumstances can shape a person.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in New Jersey and New York during the mid-20th century, intertwined with significant historical events.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and can feel drawn-out, particularly because of the book's substantial length and detailed narrative style.

ACCORDING TO FAMILY LEGEND, FERGUSON’S GRANDFATHER departed on foot from his native city of Minsk with one hundred rubles sewn into the lining of his jacket, traveled west to Hamburg through Warsaw an...

Notes:

4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster is nominated for the Man Booker Prize and is nearly 900 pages long.

The novel presents four different life paths of the protagonist, Archibald Ferguson, exploring the concept of alternate realities.

Auster intertwines historical events from the 1950s and 1960s, like the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement, with Ferguson's life.

Critics note that the writing is comprised of long sentences, making it a challenging read for some.

The structure of the novel requires readers to keep track of four overlapping storylines, which can lead to confusion.

The book is described as both an ambitious project and a potentially self-indulgent piece of work.

One significant character, Amy Schneiderman, remains crucial in each of Ferguson's lives, influencing his emotional journey.

While many readers appreciated Auster's intricate storytelling, others felt the length of the book detracted from the overall experience.

Themes such as the randomness of life choices and personal identity are central to the narrative, reflecting on how external circumstances shape an individual.

Despite mixed reviews, 4 3 2 1 has a strong following, with some calling it one of Auster's greatest works.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings include themes of family dysfunction, existential questioning, and reflections on historical violence and trauma.

Has Romance?

Romance plays a medium role in the novel, particularly through the character of Amy Schneiderman, whose relationship with Archie Ferguson varies across the different life scenarios.

From The Publisher:

'A masterpiece.' Daily Mail

'Absorbing and immersive . . . the author's greatest novel.' FT

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017On March 3rd, 1947, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson's life will take four simultaneous but entirely different paths. Family fortunes diverge. Loves and friendships and passions contrast. Each version of Ferguson's story rushes across the fractured terrain of mid-twentieth century America, in this sweeping story of birthright and possibility, of love and the fullness of life itself.'Remarkable . . . A novel that contains multitudes.' New York Times'A vast portrait of the turbulent mid-20th century . . . wonderfully, vividly conveyed.' New Statesman

Ratings (7)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (1)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (20):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (9)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (3)

What can you read after
4 3 2 1?

See the list (100 books)

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.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.