"Seventy-two-year-old August Brill is recovering from a car accident in his daughter’s house in Vermont. When sleep refuses to come, he lies in bed and tells himself stories, struggling to push back thoughts about things he would prefer to forget—his wife’s recent death and the horrific murder of his granddaughter’s boyfriend, Titus. The retired book critic imagines a parallel world in which America is not at war with Iraq but with itself. In this other America the twin towers did not fall and the 2000 election results led to secession, as state after state pulled away from the union and a bloody civil war ensued. As the night progresses, Brill’s story grows increasingly intense, and what he is so desperately trying to avoid insists on being told. Joined in the early hours by his granddaughter, he gradually opens up to her and recounts the story of his marriage. After she falls asleep, he at last finds the courage to revisit the trauma of Titus’s death."

From the start I knew this book was much better than Travels from the Scriptorium. It wasn't until I finished the book that I realised it was Auster's stab at (and attempt to understand) the sometimes horrific world we live in. With further thought I realised that it actually (to my mind anyway) surpasses Ian McEwan's literary attempt at the same thing with his novel Saturday. Whilst the last few pages of that novel seemed to ramble on with no real emotional impact on this reader, Auster's short paragraph on pages 176/177 hit home.

In the middle of reading this novel I did wonder where the hell Auster was going, particular when I reached the family stories, but with the final ten pages or so I knew and I do applaud what he has achieved.
I would love comments from other readers so am offering an international bookring for this book, particuarly as there are only two other copies registered. PM me to join.

Participants:
okarih - UK - read
sintra - Germany - read
ruzena - Finland - read
sudokugirl - Bosnia-Herzegovina - read
mrbaggins1 - South Africa - read
jubby - NSW - read
dolphin-au - NSW - read
sujie - NSW - read
livrecache - Vic - read
leeny37 - Vic the book is here!
crimson-tide - WA
davemurray101 - NSW

Off on a short trip to visit Cat.

Thanks Deb. X

He does do a great job. So many different stories all brought together in one.

Again, thanks Deb for introducing me to this excellent author. X

Do you want this back or should I send it on?

The book is back with me again. Thanks Cat. Just chasing a few more bcers for the list.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

off to the UK

Wow, less than a week and it's arrived in the UK already all the way from Australia! Thank you lakelady2282! I've been watching the awful news of the bushfires on TV - I hope you, your family and friends are safe.

What an excellent book! I enjoyed the contrast between August’s reality and the surreal story that he tells himself. Towards the end the distinction between the two starts to blur and I thought I was prepared for what happens on pages 175/176 but I was still shocked – I guess you can never really be prepared for events like that.

I have sintra's address but on her request I'm waiting until the end of next week to post this book on.

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Sent to sintra today.

The book arrived today and I've already started reading it. Thanks a lot!

This is definitely one of my favourite "Austers" so far. I thought it was excellent, especially the different reality August Brill creates in his sleepless nights.

Thanks or sharing this great book with us, lakelady! It will continue its journey next week.

The book is here. Thank you!

First published in 2008. Faber and Faber paperback 2008. 180 pages.

Excellent storytelling – as Austers are. This reminded me of The Brooklyn Follies: the protagonist is an elderly man who at last is catching "the meaning of life"; the main story is enriched with stories inside each other; the theme is brightly humane; the text is both entertaining and thought-provoking. In addition, Man in the Dark presents a fantasy about parallel worlds that ends in a brilliant allegory. I loved this book. Thank you, lakelady, for peeking at my wishlist which was the way I got the opportunity to read it.

-ruzena

Travelling to sudokugirl as soon as I got the address. EDIT. Sent April 09.

Arrived safely this morning. Looking forward to reading this, it's been on my wishlist for months.

Another excellent one from Auster. Thank you for sharing,lakelady.

I have mrbaggins1's address and will send the book their way tomorrow.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to mrbaggins1.

Received through the post today - I've got two in front of this one but shoul be able to get ot out by mid-June latest. Thanks for sharing.

Not the best of the Auster books I've read, more a novella than a proper novel imo. He is an excellent author and what Auster is conveying in the book is the fact that to think ones actions really affects fate is an exercise in futility. What's done is done and nothing can change the past.

Thanks for sharing. PM'd the next on the list.

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Bookray posted to jubby in NSW OZ (next on the list) today

Received in the post today.

Thank you.

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Posted to Dolphin-Au, as promised.

Comments to follow.

Received today, thanks Jubby. Will read asap.

I would rank this book as one of my top reads for this year. The story is fairly simple, though intriguing, but the emotional power is almost palpable throughout the book, until its culmination in the last pages.
I've only discovered Paul Auster very recently, I read his New York trilogy earlier this month, and am looking forward to read his other books.
I like the way he plays with the expectations of his readers. I also loved the way he discussed the old classic movies when August watches these with his granddaughter.
Thanks lakelady for organising this ring. I'll send it on as soon as I receive the address of the next participant.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sent to Sujie

Arrived safely yesterday, thanks, but thunderstorms here prevented use of computer. (Some nice rain following - we are really dry here.)
I loved "Saturday" lakelady so you've got the bristles rising already! Have two other ring books but will get to this next week.

I think I will have to read a couple more of Auster's works before I can really get a grip on his voice. I've read "Oracle Night" and now this and it seems a bit like Ground-hog Day, as if I am seeing the same formula with different characters. My main criticism is that I enjoy and identify with the characters in the other-world sequences and find the narrator's character and those of his family pale by comparison. The death of Titus thus didn't affect me as much as I think it should have - he was more of a metaphor than a real character. My other problem is that I keep thinking this is very clever writing and being more interested in the ideas and structure than the actual story (is this the inevitable outcome of reading a post-modernist?). I like to be totally immersed in a story and it didn't really happen. It did with "Saturday", lakelady! However, after all that, I do want to read more of Auster.
Thanks for the ring, lakelady, and PMing livrecache now...

Apologies for the delay in journalling. I've had this book a few days now, and as I have no other bookrings at the moment, I look forward to reading it soon.

I've just finished this book. It's only the second book of Paul Auster's that I've read. The first was The Book of Illusions which didn't totally grab me. This one did. I particularly like the alternative world scenario he created as a way to deal with insomnia, and to avoid thinking about what he really didn't want to think about, which was truly shocking, and I didn't see coming. I need to think further about this book. It will stay with me a long time, I think.

(Someone else mentioned Saturday (a comparison which had occurred to me too), and I agree that Auster handles post-2001 in a better way).

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to another bookcrosser. I hope you enjoy it.

I received the book today, thanks! :)

What an intriguing and compelling read. I have never read any of Auster's work before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Despite the brevity of the novel, I think it makes a forceful impact on the reader and particularly relevant to the times that we live in currently. The alternate reality that is presented in the book - a story within a story - is original and fascinating but has an unexpected connection to the real world. The tale of Owen Brick serves as a prelude to the shocking reality for the protagonist and his family that Auster reveals at the end. Auster doesn't linger on the melodrama but this slim novel still manages to pack an emotional wallop in spite of its subtleties. This is one that will stay with me for a while.

Thanks lakelady2282 for sharing this book. I'm currently overseas so I'll post this to the next participant when I'm back in Melbourne next week.

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Passing on to the next person in line, crimson-tide. Enjoy!

Has arrived safely, and looking forward to it. Thanks all.

Excellent book!

I found it totally engrossing: great writing, poignant, and lots to think about. I particularly enjoyed the Owen Brick story.

Off to davemurray101 early next week.
Thanks lakelady2282.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to davemurray101 on Monday 23rd November.

Recieved this one this afternoon. Sounds interesting from the blurb and the conversation I had with Lakelady2282 a few months ago.

Just finished this one tonight. Quite a few toughts, the idea of America breaking off politically into left v right is certainly an interesting one. Combining it with the family stories of people in Our world and Auster-civil-war world was also an interesting element. Not sure how this could be made into a film, but you never know it could be done and done well, providing Nicholas Cage is not in it.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

returning to lakelady2282

Back home after a year of travelling. Thank you everyone for participating and I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

In the little plastic library on the left hand side of the road as you drive towards the lake.