A major reason of the steady growth of readers following Paul Auster's peculiar universe book after book could well be a distant recognition of life contradiction and ambiguity. Perhaps it is a common observation to have in finding Austere's imaginary world full of enigmatic characters living in precarious way. It is important to note the clarity of his language protruding an authenticity nature that will eliminate any suggestion of incongruity. A slow and natural evolution that has began thirty years ago and has made this sixty two years old New Yorker one of the most respected voice in contemporary American Literature.
I saw Paul Auster on Saturday 27 March at the "Salon des livres" in Paris. French readers consider Auster as the greatest living American writer with a strong relationship that goes back many years. The session with Auster was packed. Hard to count but for sure he attracted the biggest crowd during his speech as well as afterward during the signing of his latest book "Invisible". It is interesting to see in the index page of a french book of interviews by Gerard de Cortanze a great number of references from many french academics who have written extensively about his various books over the years. "Paul Auster Confidential" produced by Arte in the late nineties is a rare privilege to spend over two hours listening to Auster and sometime to his wife the writer Siri Hurstvedt about his childhood, baseball, his travels, the influence of the city on his work and the importance that walking holds for him.
Universally recognized as the voice who expresses minor incidences and spectacular disruptions in the same tonality, Paul Auster can be considered as a writer who is not afraid of going further than a certain comfort zone making an unexpected or even unthinkable event part of his narration. He has guts however he remains also very discreet; A strength hard to ignore.
Auster writing addresses serious issues without being pretentious. A wise approach that is not an easy thing to maintain. His creative side has a certain grandeur that attracts loyal followers always keen to find out what will be the next book from such a great writer.
Comments