The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster follows the story of Vermont professor David Zimmer, who becomes a recluse and an alcoholic after losing his wife and two young sons in a plane crash. His life takes a turn when he discovers a lost film by silent comedian Hector Mann, who disappeared mysteriously in 1929. This discovery leads Zimmer on a journey around the world to research and write a book on Mann, ultimately receiving a letter claiming Mann is still alive. The book intertwines David's journey of grief and recovery with the mysterious life of Hector Mann, creating a multi-layered narrative with mounting tension and a final reveal in the closing pages.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of grief, loss of family, depression, and suicide contemplation.
Has Romance?
There are elements of romance in the story, particularly through the relationship between David Zimmer and Alma.
From The Publisher:
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW NOTABLE BOOK
Six months after losing his wife and two young sons, Vermont Professor David Zimmer spends his waking hours mired in a blur of alcoholic grief and self-pity. One night, he stumbles upon a clip from a lost film by silent comedian Hector Mann. His interest is piqued, and he soon finds himself embarking on a journey around the world to research a book on this mysterious figure, who vanished from sight in 1929.
When the book is published the following year, a letter turns up in Zimmer's mailbox bearing a return address from a small town in New Mexico inviting him to meet Hector. Zimmer hesitates, until one night a strange woman appears on his doorstep and makes the decision for him, changing his life forever.
Ratings (5)
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Hated It (1) |
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1 comment(s)
Ugh this book was ridiculous and laughable.
The main character is a pretentious narcissistic self-absorbed writer/professor. He experiences a tragedy and then supposedly falls into a grief so severe that during it he manages to publish a book of film criticism (ugh!) and get another sweet deal to publish a translation of some pretentious French writer (ugh!) (Chateaubriand). The entire time he moans and whines about how much he is SUFFERING. A man suffering for his art - this one. He supposedly misses his family, as they are the source of his grief, but they are rarely mentioned and we learn nothing about them. He has enough money to flit around in luxury from NY to DC to some isolated cabin in Vermont and do nothing but wallow and write and brag about how deep he is.
He watches some silent film from the 20s and laughs at some dude with a mustache, and decides to make finding out about this actor his new life's purpose. You know what's worse than reading a book of film criticism? Reading a book of fictional film criticism! He discovers a laughably unbelievable plot about his newfound actor friend, involving sordid love affairs, and accidental murders, and multiple guns, a bank robbery, prostitutes, and blah blah blah. The actor is just as pathetic, nihilistic, whiny self-absorbed jerk as the writer. Somehow throughout all of his suffering, the actor somehow manages to charm people and live a life of completely nihilistic luxury, making films in hiding in the desert with a staff full of people.
Women are not portrayed favorably in this book at all. They are all emotional idiots who are half crazy and give up their whole lives to be with and hop into bed immediately in awe at these narcissistic men.
Give me a break. Multiple times I rolled my eyes and laughed at this book. It put me to sleep multiple times. I almost quit it. It was so ridiculous that I kept going.
What can you read after
The Book of Illusions?
About the Author:
PAUL AUSTER is the bestselling author of Travels in the Scriptorium, Oracle Night, and Man in the Dark, among many other works. I Thought My Father Was God, the NPR National Story Project Anthology, which he edited, was also a national bestseller. His work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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