Paul Auster . Similar Authors/Recommended?

[MabelStark]

Just finished Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster (have only previously read Book of Illusions by him - which I enjoyed) Really loved this book, thought that it might be a bit high-brow for me but it was very readable - full of great characters and beautiful observations about life.
Can anyone recommend which of his other works I can read or even a similar author? Thanks

I started the New York Trilogy but found it way too weird and gave it up (Loved Brooklyn Follies though). Have you read his wife's book called What I Loved, Her name is Siri Hustvedt - I thought it was very good.

He has broadly the same theme in all his books IIRC so you should enjoy any of them!

New York Trilogy was a set work at university, but my goodness I found it completely beyond me. Never really liked full-on post-modernism.

What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt was fantastic.

Have you tried looking at Amazon recommedations based on Paul Auster's books, i.e. "people who bought this have also bought these ..."?

IMO Brooklyn Follies isn't really a typical Paul Auster book, IYSWIM. I did really enjoy it though.

I haven't actually read anything of his that I didn't like, but I'd say Oracle Night, Leviathan, Moon Palace and New York Trilogy are my favourites.

You might like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, it isn't like Paul Auster, but if you like one you'll probably like the other.

Marcovaldo by Italo Calvino might appeal too. Have you read anything by Gabriel García Márquez? I love his books.

Thanks for all suggestions - will get What I Loved... Have also had Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter on my to be read pile for ages and ages so that will be next up! Currently reading The Outcast which a good friend recommended to me... hoping that it gets better!!!

Thanks for all suggestions - will get What I Loved... Have also had Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter on my to be read pile for ages and ages so that will be next up! Currently reading The Outcast which a good friend recommended to me... hoping that it gets better!!!

I was going to say Haruki Murakami or Mario Vargos Llosa, but I've been beaten to it.

If you like Auster as others have said - you must read New York Trilogy, it's his masterpiece. Not mentioned is Man in the Dark which I liked. I have Invisible and Moon Palace on my list!

Anything by Paul Auster is great, although "Travels in the Scriptorium" is a bit of an in joke as he makes many references to other novels particularly "New York Trilogy" which has been cited as a post modern noir novel by critics, but is just a great bit of experimental writing.

My personal favourites are "Mr Vertigo" about a boy who can fly! (On the same subject Thomas M Disch wrote a great book called "On Wings of Song" which is brilliant.)

And, "In the country of Last Things". It is in this novel that Austers style gets close to that of Haruki Murakami who is a great talent, "The Wind up Bird Chronicles" is a good starting point for those new to HK as it contains the blueprints for most of his following books - but be warned, it is a trilogy, as such is a bit of a tome. My choice recommendation for starters on Murakami (If TWUBC puts you off) would be "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World"

Regards Rob

Have just finished - What I Loved... Well I thought that it was wonderful and it was not a book that I ever would have discovered on my own so many thanks to you! Will endeavor to read some of her other works and will certainly get hold of a copy of Murakami's Wind Up Bird Chronicles... Had a copy of his What I Talk About When I Talk About Running from the library, but think that his novels might be a better starting point for me, though I did enjoy his voice.

Reading Murakami's anthology 'Birthday Stories' form the library. He has collected other writers short stories , around 'birthday' as a theme. they are thought provoking, and saitsfying, but not requiring huge chunks of time. Really enjoying them.
Have you read Philip Roth? I recommend 'American Pastorale' Bit clunky to get into, but well worth it.