Customer Reviews

Brooklyn Follies CD

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New Jersey born Brooklyn based Paul Auster has given us memorable poetry, golden short stories, and bestselling novels, including Oracle Night, The Book of Illusions and Timbuktu.
He sets his latest novel in his chosen home, Brooklyn, and introduces Nathan Glass, a very ordinary man who helps us to see the extraordinariness of life.

Nathan is 59 years old, at one time he was a life insurance salesman, and he has returned to Brooklyn to die. He's divorced, and has no contact with his only child. All Nathan wants is to be left alone; he doesn't want to be bothered and he won't bother anyone.

However, it's not long before he meets his nephew, Tom Wood, whom he hasn't seen in years. Tom now works in a bookstore owned by Harry Brightman. It is through Tom and Harry that Nathan is drawn into the world and meets new people in the Park Slope neighborhood.

At times, it doesn't sound as if Nathan or his friends think much of life; in fact, they say the world stinks. We hear Harry saying that they try to avoid the world. To this Tom replies, "We're right in the thick of it, whether we like it or not. It's all around us, and every time I lift my head and take a good look at it, I'm filled with disgust. Sadness and disgust. You'd think World War Two would have settled things, at least for a couple of hundred years. But we're still hacking each other to pieces, aren't we? We still hate each other as much as we ever did."

However, listen as the story evolves as does Nathan.

From the stuff of everyday life Auster has fashioned a hopeful, uplifting story. Hearing it read in his voice is a joy as he segues between the voices of Nathan, Tom and Harry during their dinner table conversations. Auster's voice is deep, his accent Eastern - a perfect fit.

- Gail Cooke

Paul Auster first came to my attention with an NPR series of
true stories collected from ordinary people, I Thought My Father
Was God, another excellent book.

If you like Anne Tyler's books but like a gritty twist this will
delight you. I hope Mr Auster takes good care of his health and
lives a long prolific writing life.