This book is my first introduction to Auster. After reading this book, I went to the university library to look up obscure writers. One of the writers is Giordano Bruno who believed that there was a parallel universe back in medieval times. There is the theme of journey, travel and exploration into other worlds. The This book is about writing and observations and hardship. The Moon Landing represents a journey into another world.
Moon Palace is a Chinese restaurant. One of the most interesting tasks is for the narrator to describe the world to the Blind man. This is a metaphor for the task of writing. We the reader is blind to the world that is being created by the author. We are guided into his alternative world of fiction, the everyday strangeness of the world, not a world created by science fiction. It is in the ordinary that can be rendered extraordinary. D'autres choses qui ne se font pas: Jun 18, Paul rated it it was amazing. Zadie Smith, in an introduction for a Nonrequired Reading Anthology brought a James Joyce quote to my attention "That ideal reader suffering from an ideal insomnia" -Joyce "The ideal reader cannot sleep when holding the writer he was meant to be with.
An odd series of events lead me to read this book at the perfect time. I was on a road trip in which the route of my companions and I followed a route traced by the prot Zadie Smith, in an introduction for a Nonrequired Reading Anthology brought a James Joyce quote to my attention "That ideal reader suffering from an ideal insomnia" -Joyce "The ideal reader cannot sleep when holding the writer he was meant to be with.
I was on a road trip in which the route of my companions and I followed a route traced by the protagonist of this novel, from Chicago to Utah, almost exactly. The moon landing had featured prominently in conversations with one of my fellow travelers, Charlie. In one ear was Charlie, at the peak of an obsession with Nikola Tesla as the archetypal hero of science and underdogs and Thomas Edison standing for all that is wrong and corrupt.
In the other ear was a central character's retelling of chance encounters with Mr. Tesla, referring to Edison only as "That asshole from Menlo. When I started loaning this book out and persuading people to read it, the odd coincidences started up again.
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I loved reading this book, but I wish I hadn't read it so fast. I read it because of someone, and I can't thank him enough. I put myself in M. S's shoes, and I cried, I laughed, I dreamt. Paul has a poetic use of language, that's sure. Nov 30, Tara rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Auster's poetic use of language and the supremely convincing characterization of his protagonist made this novel one that I remember not so much by plot arches [though the plot is faultless], but in very vivid images of moments or point-surveys of MS Fogg's life. Living in an apartment furnished only with boxes of books that for his bed, chairs, table, and entertainment.
Living in a shrub-cave in Central Park. Outlaw cave hideouts in the desert, covered in obscure paintings. Handing out money to pe Auster's poetic use of language and the supremely convincing characterization of his protagonist made this novel one that I remember not so much by plot arches [though the plot is faultless], but in very vivid images of moments or point-surveys of MS Fogg's life.
Handing out money to people on the street in New York. Sitting in a waiting room for the Draft medical exam. The book ends in a very Gatsby-esque sort of summation of entropy and the futility of effort in the grand scheme of things. For all the depressing quotient of that, it's a beautifully written book that I widely reccommend.
I came to Moon Palace as my third Auster this year, A year which includes the mammoth 4 3 2 1 and New York Trilogy. Paul Auster writes flowing prose, and stories. He is rather a one trick pony though, albeit he's lived in interesting times, and in an interesting place, New York City. Paul Auster likes to write about Sometimes he works his true self into the narrative. At ot I came to Moon Palace as my third Auster this year, At other times, and this is the case with Moon Palace, the narrator is very identifiably the author.
Moon palace starts off "I came to New York in the fall of I was eighteen years old then" 1. Mr Paul Auster b. The Fogleman family name has been abbreviated at immigration- Archie Ferguson and 4 3 2 1 anyone? Literature great works, great writers always has a part in an Auster novel which is fine by me. He has his recurring favourites; Heraclitus is definitely one of them!
So far, so familiar.
Moon Palace
There are other parts of the story line that are clearly derivative. Knut Hamsen's Hunger , written at the end of the c. Auster is a writer about sex and the male sex drive. His female lead, Kitty, is a gentle and lovely creature, who would grace the works of Murakami at his most ethereal. Auster just adores the role of chance. And this is where his writing, in parts, does sparkle.
Given reign to wild, Kafkaesque flights of the amazing, and unbelievable, Auster brings the most unlikely characters together and them gets them sparring verbally in ways that you, as the reader, wish you could replicate when faced with a difficult or intransigent adversary in real life. Moon Palace has at least three loosely connected stories running through it. These are of Dickensian proportion as the reader needs to buy in to the idea that weird and wonderful coincidences do occur in life.
For an esteemed author, with a large back catalogue, and one clearly influenced by historic works of great literature I think it wholly appropriate that my own reflection on Auster has me thinking about a number of great writers that I've previously enjoyed so much. View all 3 comments. Paul Auster scrive bene, fluido, gradevole. Si sa che Auster, oltre che per l'inventiva prorompente, si caratterizza per l'insistenza sul ruolo dominante del caso nella vita dell'uomo: Fino ad un accostamento, sicuramente ingeneroso ma irrefrenabile Paul Auster scrive bene, fluido, gradevole.
Fino ad un accostamento, sicuramente ingeneroso ma irrefrenabile, a certe telenovele nelle quali perfetti sconosciuti si incontrano fortuitamente e qualche puntata dopo scoprono di essere padre e figlio, fratello e sorella, nonno e nipote: Una historia en la que su personaje, M. Unos pasos tambaleantes, indecisos, y al tiempo quietos, una especie de locura sin definir.
Feb 21, Carlos Bennett rated it it was amazing Shelves: Voy a hacer un ejercicio que casi siempre evito: Es un libro imperfecto, eso salta a la vista. Algunas cosas no son defendibles: Por eso a los lectores menos ingenuos les irrita Auster: Y probablemente es cierto.
Moon Palace by Paul Auster
Utiliza las coincidencias como un Deux-ex-Machina: Todo el mundo pareciera girar alrededor de M. Yo creo que son uno de los mayores aportes de Auster: Sigo pensando que es uno de mis libros favoritos, no tengo ninguna duda de eso. Lo comentaba en mi review de La Musica del Azar: Fogg viviendo solo en Central Park, o en un apartamento amueblado solo con cajas selladas llenas de libros, o caminando por el desierto.
Es claramente un intento de Gran Novela Americana. Algunos odian eso, pero yo creo que es lo que necesitamos. Todos distintos y ambiciosos a su manera. Y en eso se parece a Salinger. Para mi el punto es este: Jul 31, Aaber Rinstad rated it it was ok Shelves: I'd give this book one star only, but I feel maybe though I'm not thoroughly convinced that somewhere under all the awful, pretentious drivel there's a kernel of something interesting.
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I mean - by itself - the plot elements have the makings of something to pique the interest of even a casual reader; curious characters, strange happenings, wordplay and symbolism. And maybe I'm missing something others can see in this book. Apparently it's pretty well received overall. I feel, however, that this I'd give this book one star only, but I feel maybe though I'm not thoroughly convinced that somewhere under all the awful, pretentious drivel there's a kernel of something interesting. I feel, however, that this book is flawed, if not just outright bad.
One problem is that despite Auster's attempts to imbue his characters with interesting characteristics, he fails miserably at expounding on these qualities in the actual narrative. Not even through dialogue. He just whips up an adjective and expects you to buy it. Sol has great "wit and charm", Auster or rather, Fogg informs us, but I cannot recall a single instance of this wit or charm actually occurring in the book.
It feels stumblingly awkward, and on several occasions exasperatingly lazy. Halfway through the book I actually threw up my head and groaned loudly at the quality of the writing. I think it was during introduction of Kitty - a character and plot line so weak you could use it to dilute water. She's probably the least believable female stereotype I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. And also so obviously the writers personal fantasy that's it's embarrassing. At one point Auster oops, I mean Fogg candidly tells us "I pulled down Kitty's jeans and panties and brought her to orgasm with my tounge".
I would have winced but for the sad inadequacy of the text at producing arousal of any kind. And it's not just the ennui of the sex scenes or the morbidly one-dimensional characters either. The way he writes dialogue is just astoundingly bad. Not a single one of his characters has a unique voice, they all sound like the same person when they speak. He might as well have skipped the dialogue all together, as it only functions to forward plot, and often only in only the most rudimentary way. Another huge problem is that the protagonist is not only a shallow, self absorbed sociopath with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, he's not even interesting.
I had absolutely no interest in finding out anything about his intentions or plans, motives or history. I didn't care one way or another about whether he starved or got laid or found out who his father was. He leaves this Kitty character and then wallows in misery like it's somehow not his own fault. He shows no empathy or interest towards anyone apart from himself. Apart from these things Auster writes OK. He's never brilliant, often adequate, sometimes quite awful. There's a lot of symbolism, mainly revolving ha! But it doesn't feel significant to the story, and it fails to deliver anything more than shallow connections and musings on the themes of the book - much like the characters, the setting and the dialogue.
I had no idea what this book was trying to tell me, and I would venture to say that neither does Auster. I finished Moon Palace on principle, because I don't like to judge a book unless I've read the whole thing. And for sure, there are some qualities in this book, particularly the story about Effing in the desert and the cave. But the qualities of the main story are sadly buried underneath a heap of purple prose, anemic characterization and bland dialogue.
I was recommended this book, but I will sadly not be recommending it to anyone, ever. Moon Palace is unquestionably classic Auster, and a great starting point, his writing style might not be to everyone's liking but for me he is the most natural of storytellers.
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This centres on Marco Stanley Fogg another great name! There is rarely a dull moment to be had and as storyt Moon Palace is unquestionably classic Auster, and a great starting point, his writing style might not be to everyone's liking but for me he is the most natural of storytellers. There is rarely a dull moment to be had and as storytelling goes this is seriously good. Drawing you in right from the start, you never really know where his stories are going or where they are going to end up, that's a gift worth sharing. Moving, oddly humorous and obscure. A totally absorbing novel.
Change description 3 19 Nov 06, Moon palace by Paul Auster 1 21 Oct 15, He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Books by Paul Auster. Trivia About Moon Palace. Quotes from Moon Palace. That something is what I define as love. It is the one thing that can stop a man from falling, powerful enough to negate the laws of gravity.
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