Baumgartner

A Novel

De: Paul Auster

Narrado por: Paul Auster

Duración: 5 h y 25 m

Resumen del Editor

Paul Auster’s brilliant 18th novel opens with a scorched pot of water, which Sy Baumgartner—phenomenologist, noted author, and soon-to-be retired philosophy professor–has just forgotten on the stove.

Baumgartner’s life had been defined by his deep, abiding love for his wife, Anna, who was killed in a swimming accident nine years earlier. Now 71, Baumgartner continues to struggle to live in her absence as the novel sinuously unfolds into spirals of memory and reminiscence, delineated in episodes spanning from 1968, when Sy and Anna meet as broke students working and writing in New York, through their passionate relationship over the next 40 years, and back to Baumgartner’s youth in Newark and his Polish-born father’s life as a dress-shop owner and failed revolutionary.

Rich with compassion, wit, and Auster’s keen eye for beauty in the smallest, most transient moments of ordinary life, Baumgartner asks: Why do we remember certain moments and forget others? In one of his most luminous works and his first novel since the Booker-shortlisted tour-de-force 4 3 2 1, Paul Auster captures several lifetimes.

©2023 Paul Auster. Portions of this book were first published in Harper’s Magazine and Literary Hub. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

Great book but bad ending

The description of life as an automobile towards the end of the book is thought provoking. The prose is beautiful throughout the book. It the ending leaves me angry.

Beautiful prose!

Heartwarming story, beautiful writing, and uniquely authentic narration due to the author reading his own book.

Great Listen

I liked this book, and enjoyed the performance of Paul Auster reading his own work. It's rare that a writer can read their own work effectively, but in this case, it worked! I felt the ending was just a tiny bit confusing. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say more about the specifics or events in the ending. I think I get it, but I would have liked just a tiny bit more so that I could be sure. I understand that a great writer like Paul Auster didn't want to spoon feed us, and I truly appreciate that, but just a bit more would have been very helpful!

A charming gem of a book

This is a low-key book following the days and memories of an aging author and academic. But being in the mind of this man is engaging and heart-warming. Especially enjoyed the sections featuring his time with his deceased wife and her writing. Recommended!

Great narration

Horrible ending. Non ending!! I loved the story until it suddenly ended. Where’s the rest of the story?

Saved a Wonderful One for Last

I had the pleasure of reading Paul Auster’s final gift on May Day. He has inspired me to go back in and read those I haven’t read yet. I appreciate his lasting gift.

Authors should not narrate!

A potentially engaging story of a quirky older man struggling through the years following his wife’s untimely death. Well written but HORRIBLY read. Ruined the book.

Rings with truth…

I think the thing I notice most about my husband as he is aging is that his hardest hurdle is the feeling of vulnerability. He does not ever state his anxiety, yet it is tangible. I can imagine my husband without me while listening to this book. I loved the author’s narration, as well.

A sensitive character study, an elderly man, finding hope, despite missing his late wife

Sensitively written, characters, you could care about , a more traditional emotional novel in a style that was very engaging.

Short and not to the point

P. Auster writes well, builds an interesting character, whether auto-biographic or not, the story pulls you on and on, curious what Baumgartner will get into next, even if it is in his mind.
I laughed and grinned quite a bit as it brings up many memories of ones self and makes us seem more normal in our oddities.
I was sorry that the story ended.