Baumgartner by Paul Auster is a short novel that unpacks a lifetime in a series of flashbacks, making an elderly widower come to terms with his decade-long grief and whatever time he has left.

Some may be less enthusiastic about this because, from some perspectives, "nothing happens." I have to assume for those people that a day spent in thought, remembering the past and considering the present and the future amounts to nothingness for them. That speaks to their internal life and is not a reflection on this book. For a reader, a lot goes on since we travel back and experience events from Baumgartner's life, we come to understand how he views his life and himself. Nothingness is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

That said, readers who might not like, or simply aren't in the mood for, a reflective novel that is more about humanity and how we cope with the ups and downs of life may want to put this one off until they're in the mood. Part of the joy of this work, and many of Auster's novels, is in the attention to small details and what they mean to a character.

As much as I like most of his work, I am probably the ideal reader for this since one of my favorites of his was Timbuktu, another work that is reflective and largely internal thoughts, albeit a dog's thoughts. But I love novels that tug at heartstrings and don't mind being set up for the sad moments as well as the happy ones. Yes, I am one of those who wallow in my melancholy at times.

I would recommend this to readers who like novels that tell a life story in flashback and relates it to the protagonist's present. No, this isn't full of action in the thriller or adventure style, but I don't think anyone comes to Auster for that anyway. If you're an active engaged reader, you won't be bored exploring another human being's life.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )

Sy Baumgartner, 71, is about to retire from Princeton University. A phenomenologist and author, he most of all was husband to the love of his life, Anna, who died unexpectedly 10 years ago. As he looks back on his life we learn of his parents and early history, his coming of age and career development, and the ravages of loss and aging.

Do not expect a lot of action or intricate plot, but rather revel in the memories of a learned man as he comes to terms with the losses he has experienced in life, including the invincibility of youth. In this, the autumn of his life, he finds something to pull him out of reminisces of the past; something in which he looks forward to investing his time and energy.

I thought the explanation of the book he is writing, “Mysteries of the Wheel”, which will probably be his final piece, to be brilliant as an allegory of life in which “ (it is) a free-for-all of careening, out-of-control cars speeding down highways of loneliness and potential death.” Auster’s poignant portrayal of the physical and mental changes experienced in aging are painfully astute. And, oh, that ending!

This is not a book for everyone. It is a contemplative, character driven fictional memoir.

Thanks to #netgalley and #groveatlantic #Atlanticmonthlypress for the ARC ( )

One of the best quotes about aging that I can recall, which has been variously attributed to an eclectic group that includes Mae West, Anthony Hopkins, and George Clooney, is: “Getting older is not for the faint of heart”. I am not sure whether Paul Auster ever said that himself, but the sentiment is clearly at the heart of Baumgartner, his novel that serves as a poignant meditation on one man’s experience as he nears the end game of life. Following the release of his affecting memoir Winter Journal by about a decade, this book continues the author’s exploration of the process of taking stock of one’s life and trying to make sense of the whole journey. Or, as Auster himself has put it regarding a writer’s function, trying “to explore the interior of his own head”.

The story opens with Seymour Baumgartner, in his early seventies and approaching retirement from the faculty at Princeton University, going about his daily routine. It is the same solitary routine he has followed for the past ten years since the tragic and untimely death of his beloved wife Anna. The tale then progresses with Sy spending a lot of time reminiscing about the past: events from his youth, his parents and the difficult upbringing they both faced, a jealous and resentful sister, his courtship and marriage to Anna, and his professional activities over a successful career. And all the while, Baumgartner tries to move forward with as much optimism as he can muster for a new love affair and a significant book project he has been struggling to complete. The book ends with him eagerly awaiting the arrival of a Ph.D. student who intends to write her dissertation on Anna’s work as a poet in a way he hopes will keep her memory alive.

The writing in Baumgartner is insightful and intellectually engaging, hardly surprising coming from someone who has been one of my favorite authors for quite some time. This is plainly a very personal project for Auster and it is hard not to see the parallels between the protagonist and the author’s own circumstances. That said, I did not find the essential plot to be particularly interesting or compelling; the book really reads like an extended character study or a fictionalized version of another memoir. While Auster has employed the stories-within-the-story approach to great effect in previous novels, it did not work nearly as well here; some of the vignettes were meandering and off-point, such as the one about the childhood of a maternal grandfather Baumgartner never knew. Further, the book concludes in a very abrupt and unsatisfying manner. So, while the novel merits a hesitant recommendation for craftsmanship in the writing, it does not rank anywhere near the top of the author’s considerable body of work. ( )