Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our November 2024 group read of....



The New York Trilogy (1987)

by

Paul Auster


All are welcome

Come one, come all





More about The New York Trilogy (1987)...

The New York Trilogy is a series of novels by American writer Paul Auster. Originally published sequentially as City of Glass (1985), Ghosts (1986) and The Locked Room (1986), it has since been collected into a single volume. The Trilogy is a postmodern interpretation of detective and mystery fiction, exploring various philosophical themes.

Despite being three books the total pages in the Faber & Faber paperback edition is 314 pages - so a modest size and presumably pretty quick to get through.

I read this back in 2016. I don't remember much except that I enjoyed reading it even though I was honestly spooked. This book left me with a feeling of bewilderment and suffocation.

I'm looking forward to reading the discussion here and figure out how much had I missed in my first attempt.

I’ll be starting this one soon


As soon as I finish Temporary Kings

I'm going to give this a try - though don't know if it'll be my thing. Just waiting on my library copy.

Great news RC

Also waiting for my library copy, which is "in transit"

Are you in the US, Ben? Big day tomorrow... I'm feeling ridiculously nervous, even though there's nothing I can do.

I'm back, and I'm ridiculously nervous too, even though I've done what I can do.

I've always wanted to read this, so have just requested it from the library. I read one Auster novel many years ago, but cannot remember which one.

I'm trying to ease my nerves with as many different kinds of books as possible. It's not really working.

(Edit: I've discovered that Mrs. Dalloway is a spectacularly bad choice; I haven't the focus it requires.)

Looking forward to this discussion - it's a very interesting premise

It is - I'll be starting later today, having finished Blandings more quickly than I expected.

I haven't read Auster before - any fans here, and ideas of what to look out for?

The first chapter is giving off strong Kurt Vonnegut vibes. I'm intrigued so far.

Nigeyb wrote: "The first chapter is giving off strong Kurt Vonnegut vibes. I'm intrigued so far."

Oh no! 😉

Three chapters in now


It's just the right side of tedious so far. One of those postmodern meta books that is probably of most interest to students and other writers. It's using the classic gumshoe format to make observations about "the novel" and, probably, philosophical points, and maybe literary references, that I'd need someone more perceptive and knowledgeable to clarify.

I'm sticking with it for now as I am aware that it was my nomination and so I feel a sense of ownership but, truth be told, were it not for this I might have already jettisoned it.

I tried to read his 1 2 3 4 and abandoned it 30% of the way in. But I'll give this one a try when my library loan comes in.

Nigeyb wrote: "One of those postmodern meta books that is probably of most interest to students and other writers. It's using the classic gumshoe format to make observations about "the novel" and, probably, philosophical points, and maybe literary references."

I keep on trying "those postmodern metabooks" under the misconception that I'm 'hip' and will enjoy them and then never do. I enjoyed some in my 20s and fail to realize they no longer fit the older me's interests.
At least I've gotten wise enough not to bother attempting Infinite Jest, a current read in another GR group I frequent. As a completist that's a dangerous one to start.
I got the book. The first story is a lot shorter than Jest so I'm undecided about starting. But, as I'm also reading the plot-deprived 5th volume in In Search of Lost Time I am looking for more plot and character driven works as my other reads


Nigeyb wrote: "I'd need someone more perceptive and knowledgeable to clarify..."

In the words of a Nobel prize winning writer, "It Ain't Me Babe"

Apologies. This was to be my year for trilogies, and this was to be one of them. I will follow the thread, but not sure I will get the books.

I don't mind a 'postmodern meta book' but I'm not sure Auster sounds like a writer for me. I'll give him a chapter but no more.

I'm currently reading a contemporary postmodern novel: Audition by Katie Kitamura which is doing the performative identity thing so well.

Brian, an early 'postmodern meta book' is The French Lieutenant’s Woman which is quite the opposite of plot-deprived: have you read that?

Oh that’s a great book RC


I hope you read chapter two as well. It’s quite something.

I’m up to chapter six and taking a break. Because it masquerades as a PI yarn it sort of clips along but I’m more bored than anything else.

The trilogy has garnered plenty of gushingly positive reviews so please make your own minds up. I’m notoriously intolerant of challenging novels 🤠

I was thinking of reading this next since I voted for it as the group read, but shall postpone and follow your progress. I’m itching to read the Fremlin.

SueLucie wrote: "I was thinking of reading this next since I voted for it as the group read, but shall postpone and follow your progress. I’m itching to read the Fremlin."

Yep, Fremlin for me and Therese Desqueyroux then may come back to this if anyone here persuades me it's worth it!

Roman Clodia wrote: "Brian, an early 'postmodern meta book' is The French Lieutenant’s Woman which is quite the opposite of plot-deprived: have you read that?"

Yes I did, but it was 20 years ago. I remember somewhat liking it but not as much as I had hoped. I felt similarly about John Fowles' The Magus. I rated both as a meh 3-stars when I joined Goodreads 10 years ago.

Roman Clodia wrote:


"It is - I'll be starting later today, having finished Blandings more quickly than I expected.

I haven't read Auster before - any fans here, and ideas of what to look out for?"

How much have you/did you read RC?

I get the impression I might have successfully put people off 😬


If so I would like to stress I am often out of step with others in the group so my struggles should not automatically mean you will not enjoy it

That said, I can't be arsed to read (OK listen to) any more having got six chapters into the first book (City of Glass)

#whiteflagwaved

Nige, It wasn't that the book didn't appeal to you that put me off it. I have often feel meh about books you rave about and greatly enjoy books that you don't. It was your description of the book that threw me off it. I didn't realize that it was meta and more post modern when I had decided to read it. I was only aware that I had heard it praised over the years. And I didn't just take your word for it. I have since read some critical essays on the trilogy that have helped me confirm my decision to not read it at this time.
In other words, if you had described what the book was like and said that you were loving it, it still would have put me off reading it. Probably even more so.
So thank you for providing me with information that spurred me to make my own more educated decision to read or not read.

Thanks for the clarification 👍🏼

You didn't put me off either, Nigey - this book has never appealed or, indeed, Auster but I thought I'd give it a go as it won our group read poll. I read the first chapter and wasn't grabbed. It feels an odd combination of dated and precious to me.

I'm behind all of you, waiting for my in transit library reserve to arrive, so I can still look forward to the experience of trying it and abandoning it!

Ben wrote: "I'm behind all of you, waiting for my in transit library reserve to arrive, so I can still look forward to the experience of trying it and abandoning it!"

Haha, I was quite relieved to ditch it in good company!

Coincidentally, just saw this:

Some people seem to view reading as the kind of “eating your greens” of entertainment – I guess because of the widespread tendency to look down on screen time, with books being a morally superior option. But amid all that, let’s not forget that reading for pleasure is supposed to be pleasurable – so there’s no need to continue doing it if it feels like a chore.

That said, there may be occasions when you feel obliged to finish a book you’re not enjoying – perhaps you’re in a book club and want to be able to take part in the discussion – and it’s not necessarily a bad thing to understand why you don’t like something. But that’s the great thing about a book: you are in control of how you consume it. Skim it! Listen to the audiobook on 1.25 speed! Flick past pages if you want to! Personally, I’ll normally try to read about 50 pages of a book before giving up on it – if I’m not feeling it by then, I probably won’t. That’s not to say I won’t come back to it: I didn’t finish Mrs Dalloway, a book I now love, on my first attempt. But completely abandoning a book doesn’t need to feel like a failure, either – you’ve won back time to spend on something you actually like. Lucy Knight, editor of the Guardian’s Bookmarks newsletter

I feel seen! 😉

I saw that yesterday - popped up in my email


#wisewords

Ben wrote:


"I'm behind all of you, waiting for my in transit library reserve to arrive, so I can still look forward to the experience of trying it and abandoning it!"

We are all looking forward to it Ben

Ben wrote: "I'm behind all of you, waiting for my in transit library reserve to arrive, so I can still look forward to the experience of trying it and abandoning it!"

Same here, Ben.

Just starting this. Don’t know anything about the author so I have no expectations. The first scene reminds me of Haruki Murakami, whom I love, so I have to be careful not to project expectations.

Fortunately, the second phone call involves more scatological humor than I saw coming, so expectations are back to neutral.

Favorite quote:
“Humpty Dumpty was a prophet.”

Looking forward to discovering what you make of it Renee

Sorry to say, it didn't grab me. On to the next book.

Finished The City of Glass!
It was weird. I liked it! :D
By the end, I had to wonder what was real and what imagined. Kinda like A Beautiful Mind, but without the certainty.

On to Book II… Ghosts!

Thanks Ben, thanks Renee


So glad it's landing with you Renee

Just in case there’s anyone out there who is on the fence, here’s my review of City of Glass…

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Great review

Good to see a more positive response, Renee.

Thanks, guys. 😊

The two places it bogged down for me were the conversation with Peter, the younger, where Auster has him go on & on to shown his weird way of talking. (We get it. Move on!) And the Don Quixote dissertation. But they were relatively early on.

Also, I much prefer novels with a plot. I don’t think you missed anything in choosing to abandon. I’ve done the same with several books and feel no regrets. :)

Part 2: Ghosts
A quick read. Not mind-blowing.
Here’s my review… https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks Renee


So glad we’ve got yet more positivity

Finally got around to finishing the trilogy. It was enjoyable. I’m glad to have it tucked into my pop-culture memory files, but I don’t foresee needing to revisit.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...