ManBookering discussion

This is a discussion thread for 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster. Please be courteous of spoilers; if you are going to discuss them, give fair warning of page/chapter number or use the spoiler tag. Thanks! Happy discussing.

Very interested in hearing from others on their views of this novel. It's no secret that the author uses a particular device in the novel: splitting the narrative into different parts to tell a number of different stories which all diverge from the first chapter.
I found it a little self-indulgent and felt it covered material that novels and other media have covered heavily already.
My question is whether people think the technique that Auster uses in this book is one that should be used again or more.

I just couldn't get along with this book. After about 300 pages I felt like ok, I get it. But what are you going to do to keep my interest for another 500 plus pages? Not a lot apparently. I didn't find the large cast of characters Dickensian; I found them confusing and forgettable. Certain passages were really moving and beautifully written but I found myself skimming through a lot. If this beats any one named Smith, I'll be dumbfounded.

Maria wrote: "I just couldn't get along with this book. After about 300 pages I felt like ok, I get it. But what are you going to do to keep my interest for another 500 plus pages? Not a lot apparently. I didn't..."

I have yet to read this book and from what I'm seeing in the comment thread, I probably won't. If a book is over 800 pages, the narration and dialogue must equally hold my interest. With your remark that you found yourself "skimming through a lot," I thought of Elmore Leonard's advice to writers: "Leave out the parts people skip over." Thanks for your input, Maria.

Auster & I don't get along. Never have, never will. So, I will skip this brick of a book.. Sorry...
But I am looking forward to reading all your comments!

Sean wrote: "Very interested in hearing from others on their views of this novel. It's no secret that the author uses a particular device in the novel: splitting the narrative into different parts to tell a num..."

For me, the device Auster uses is aimed at one thing - the ending. I won't post spoilers here, but the ending explains the unusual structure, I think. In my review, I said that I saw the ending coming from about halfway and was dreading it, but when it actually came as expected, it wasn't as corny as I thought it was going to be. So, I don't think the technique should really be used again because it is only really aimed at the specific ending the author has in mind.

This is one I have from the library (2 more weeks left in my loan) and I just don't know if I will get to it or not. It's definitely the length that's scaring me off. Also have never read any Auster so I have no clue what to expect. Maybe I will read the first couple chapters and see if it's grabbing my attention enough to continue.

I had enough $$$ on a gift card a few months ago for a 'free' book and I saw that this was (at the time) a brand new hardcover and it sounded a bit like Blake Crouch's 'Dark Matter' so I grabbed it- imagine my surprise (since I didn't CLOSELY read the info about the book) when an approx. 76 pound novel showed up at my door! DAUNTING. lol. I still have yet to read it and was hoping this group read would kick my ass into gear. --- Jen from Quebec :0)

Last year I set out to read the entire longlist, this year I don't even try and the inclusion of this novel is one of the reasons: I am just really not interested in this book (and author) at all. I would have tried to read it if it were a 300 pages novel, but not such a tome. I can't justify this to my tbr stack full of books I am actually really excited about. But I am still interested to read about the opinions of those who make it through this novel.

Definitely a bit different, and definitely a bit long....but it reluctantly kept my engagement to the end. Interesting to see the various different spins on character. Not surprised to see it on the Booker longlist, but perhaps not tight enough to make the shortlist

Now having finished 4 3 2 1, I can report that it was definitely worth my substantial investment of reading time. The almost 900 pages were justified by many rewards, including rich characters, excellent portraits of a tumultuous period in American history, and a complicated and compelling structure. Not a novel to rush through, not a novel for everybody, and not a novel for any reader who can't persist through some slower sections.

I loved Sunset Park (the only other Auster I read so far) so as soon as I heard from 4321 I got interested - and the topic got me as well, it's one of my favourite themes this of the lost lives you could've had and all... I ordered a copy from book depository (I wanted to read it in a physical copy, to feel its weight on my hands, to smell its pages, I'm reading the others on my kindle) but it'll take some time, some weeks, for it to arrive here... in Brazil... meanwhile I'll be reading other booker books and I'll come back here when I get to have this novel on my hands ;)

As mentioned in the general thread, here is a brief comment from the podcast interview with Lila Azam Zanganeh (LAZ) and Colin Thubron (CT) on the longlist selections.

4 3 2 1
LAZ: Paul Auster’s book is unusual and sprawling. It’s about four alternative lives, and it’s very different from what Paul Auster has done in the past. And the sentence level is much longer…sprawling narrative. It’s kind of daring formally in a sense.

I had no interest in this one, having heard only bad things about Auster and this book- mainly from people who dismissed it without reading. However, I picked it up on audible daily deal a week or two ago and I started listening today. So far so good, but I'm only 1 hour in, with 36 to go. I'm interested to see how the four parts connect to one another, whether it follows all the same characters, or introduces new people in each alternate life. I'll report back once I've listened to some more.

I was not expecting to be that enthralled and when I found out auster narrated the book I was worried as I find authors usually lack the performance chops to do it well. But I was blown away. Thematically it is nothing new but the four timelines actually bring a really captivating twist to things. I felt super attached to the main character (one better after 36 hours) and Auster was a wonderful narrator after all. I doubt the book will be shortlisted but am happy to have picked it up.

Also here is my review if anyone is interested

http://myfriendthereader.blogspot.com...

I loved the writing style of this book but it didn't live up to the hype for me. Here is a link to my review.

https://youtu.be/5CcDBc6srIo

This book may not be as clever or highbrow as we expect the usual Booker contender to be. But it offered a super-enjoyable reading experience!

Always interesting to see the different perspectives here.

One of the least enjoyable reading experience's I can recall.

And it isn't the persistence to read a long book that's the issue as some of my favourite books in recent years have been much longer - 2666 (1126 pp), 1q84 (992pp), Your Face Tomorrow (1287pp), My Struggle (2818pp with the 1000+ volume 6 yet to come)the Neopolitan Quartet (1700 pp).

Also basically he's taken the structure of Erpenbeck's Aller Tage Abend and the approach of Knausgård's Min kamp 1 series and jammed them together to produce an inferior version of each - it's not even an original idea.

I'm nearly half way through this now and am really enjoying it. I will admit I'm a big fan of Auster - I find his writing really engaging.

I'm not sure this is his best book and I don't think it will make the shortlist but as a fan of his work, I'm enjoying the read. So far it doesn't have as much meta-fiction as his books tend to but there are typical Auster themes/obsessions here - identity, New York, being an author, classic Hollywood, lost love.

There has also been a whimsical side that I love e.g the story about shoes. There was also an emotional bit (in one of the chapters 2) that nearly made me cry.

Overall the word I keep returning to, to describe Auster's writing is charming.

I'm closing in on the end, with just over 3 hours left to listen and this book is consuming my life. I'll update again with my thoughts once I've finished, as of now, I'd say the first part was intriguing, the middle amazing and the later stages have become a little boring, but it could all turn around yet!

Is anyone else currently reading it? Or have plans to now it's made the shortlist?

Not currently reading but I will start it in the next couple of days, when I finish the book I am reading for another group.

I finished this yesterday and really enjoyed the ending. I've heard other people say they didn't like the last chapter, but I thought it worked well, bringing everything together and offering an explanation about the four Fergusons.

The audiobook had a half hour interview with Auster afterwards (not to be listened to without reading the book, as it contains spoilers) I found that quite enlightening. Finding out which aspects were taken from real life and how political events were woven into the story.

I'll have to give it some time to absorb my thoughts, but it's very close to a five star read for me. It's an extremely accomplished piece of writing, though I can also see why some readers found it long and boring. I wonder if listening helped me. I'm glad to have given it a chance, as I had zero interest beforehand and thought I'd hate it from the description.

Started this yesterday - two chapters in, still 1000 pages to go (the new paperback is 1070 pages). Enjoying it so far but it's far too early to tell.

Hugh wrote: "Started this yesterday - two chapters in, still 1000 pages to go (the new paperback is 1070 pages). Enjoying it so far but it's far too early to tell."

two and half more weeks til my copy arrives :/

I'm little over half-way through, and I'm enjoying it, but I do find it a bit long-winded. So far, I don't understand how it made the shortlist over books like Solar Bones, Home Fire, Swing Time and Days Without End, but I still have a ways to go...

Ernie, I have now reached the point you were three days ago and I agree (except that Reservoir 13 would top of my list and I was happy to lose Swing Time - I like Zadie Smith but feel she should be capable of something better). I had read some pretty damning criticism so I am actually enjoying it more than I expected, but some of the digressions could have been a lot shorter and it does seem to assume a lot of familiarity with things like baseball and the American education system.

Hugh, I remain baffled. After having read further, I would now say that it is probably in my bottom three for this year's longlist (with Lincoln in the Bardo and Ministry of Utmost Happiness) unless something drastically alters my opinion. Though still enjoying the story...the length, which usually doesn't bother me in a novel, is beginning to weigh me down, and I am ready to be finished with it. I must say though, that I have really have enjoyed reading this year's selections. It is only my 2nd time partaking in reading the longlist.

After completing 4321 I believe it deserves its spot. Yeah there are boring bits (I skipped over a lot of the baseball stuff, being a non sporty Aussie) but in my opinion, it's an amazing literary accomplishment.
I just love how, due to the changes in Ferguson's upbringing we are shown the different paths he takes and the different people who enter his life. There are also such subtle changes in his personality and little hints of his other paths in each section that made me understand why it took Auster so long to write this.
In regards to Swing Time I agree that it's no were near Smith's finest work. I'm perplexed that it got so much acclaim!

For me the second half of the book was stronger than the first, and I ended up pretty impressed overall. Really enjoyed the sections on the history of left wing protest politics in America, and it had some fascinating insights into Auster's development as a writer.

I agree. I thought the middle portion to the end was stronger than the first half. I enjoyed it, but I don't really see the brilliance the judges see. With the rest of the longlist so strong this year, this still doesn't make top 10 for me, and I do not think it deserves a spot on the shortlist. Overall, I just think it was a good story.

This is starting to fade for me after just a couple of weeks. I think it's going to be one of those books that I appreciate, especially for the scope of the story, more than a remembered favourite.

There are weaker books on the shortlist but I would not have included it because a writer like Auster has so little to gain from it since his reputation is already assured. McGregor and MacCormack deserved it more...

I don't think the shortlist should be based on which author needs it the most but on which book deserves it.
I have now read 6 of the longlist and 5 of the shortlist (missing 'History of Wolves') and I really like this one. I was surprised not to see 'Underground Railroad' on the shortlist and would have switched that for 'Exit West' but so far, I'm very pleased with the shortlist. The 6 books I've read of the longlist have all been very good reads.

I don't quite understand why this book gets so much heat. For me, it was a very engaging read. I was drawn in from the beginning and although there were some passages which were a bit long, overall, I think it all came together and that the book was an amazing achievement. It has definitely made me want to read more Auster (yes, this is my first Auster, and given the universal agreement that this was a weak Auster, I can't wait to read on!).
Ferguson was an engaging characer from the get-go and the way Auster manages to show how different a life can be, based on sometimes small changes, is extremely interesting. He also shows how the events from the time - the Vietnam war, the civil rights movement etc. - influences Ferguson's life in different ways.
Another thing I was completely fascinated by was how Auster decided not to make Ferguson have four very different careers. Instead, he focuses on what abilities all the Fergusons have and then let these develop in slightly different ways. This also means, that we have many of the same people in the different lives, but playing different roles.
Utterly fascinating!

I thought this book was stunning. Reading it was akin to reading The Goldfinch or The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. I can see where the writing might not be attractive to everyone, but I found it intensely compelling and breathless in its effort to express emotion.

I really don't want an American to win, but this one struck me in a totally different way than any others listed. Still have to read Solar Bones, and then I've completed the shortlist!

Just received my copy and 12 pages in. I can't complain at this point