Remembering Paul Auster 1947-2024

American author Paul Auster died yesterday and here I discuss some of his books which were important to my reading life and why he was a great writer. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.

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The New York Trilogy – Paul Auster

Moon Palace

Leviathan

Augie Wren's Christmas Story

4 3 2 1

Baumgartner

The Story of My Typewriter

Invisible

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Get in touch

[oinxum]

I pursued a major in English and ultimately became a college literature professor, thanks to Paul Auster.

[kathrynhalton]

Such a huge fan of Paul Auster. Such sad news 😢

[michaelmasiello]

I am grading end-of-semester papers and my head has been somewhere the sun doesn’t shine—I only learned Auster had passed when I saw this video and I said out loud, “Oh no!” This was a wonderful, loving appreciation of a terrific writer. It’s a sad coincidence that I had been planning to read 4321 this month. Now it will feel elegiac.

Anyway, you are a wonderful eulogist here, with your characteristic gentleness and sensitivity. I was as moved by this tribute as I was by your discussion of James the other day. Thank you; I couldn’t have learned of this writer’s death more touchingly.

[pattorelli]

I read 4321 recently and thought about it yesterday when the police were called on the students at Columbia. The book did such a great job of describing the student protests of ‘68. I was in college then, though not at Columbia, and he really brought that era back to me in a gripping and immediate way. I’m sorry he’s gone. Thank you for your tribute to him.

[joniheisenberg]

Thank you for this video. Of all the books I have read to date this year, “Baumgartner” has stayed with me and grown in my estimation. It is a beautiful, quiet novel.

[brigittebeche]

He is a much read author in France. I have read Timbuktu three times, I also read many other of his most famous novels, but this book written in a "dog's mind" has remained unforgettable. Thank you for this tribute.

[Bridgukule]

So sad to hear of his passing, just finished Mr Vertigo today. One of the many Paul Auster books I've read

[SetInStoneNow]

Great video tribute. Paul Auster stopped me in my tracks when I first encountered his work. 'The Book of Illusions' knocked me out. Such a loss to the literary world, he was one of the true timeless greats.

[cindyhaiken]

Auster was a gem. I am very tempted to reread some of his earlier novels now. It’s hard to imagine we won’t have any new writing from him.

[eatoneaton]

Read most of his books. Autobiographies, biography of Crane, poetry and, of course, novels. Absolutely incredible, each one remarkable in its own right (my picks for favorites would be Invisible, Moon Palace and 4321); yes, readable at any age, but in early twenties one has to try Auster. When I read New York Trilogy at 20, something inside me and my perception of literature got rearranged. He's the reason I dabble into writing myself now, although by far a tat unsuccessfully. No other author affected me this way before or since.

The only novel of his that I haven't read is In the Country of Last Things, which I own, but so far haven't got a chance to put my hands on it. And now that he's dead, reading it would be as though to accept that that's all, this is it. Not saying I'll never read it, but it'll definatley take some very special occasion.

[alexaweiss]

4321 is such an iconic read :) parallel timelines, mundanity in one epic

[mary_yankulova]

Such a devastating news😢 He is one of my favourite authors. “4321”, “New York trilogy” and “Sunset Park” are among my favourite books❤

[kimswhims]

Being Australian, he hadn't really featured highly in my reading except for one little book called Auggie Wren's Christmas Story, which was delightful. I really need to pick up his more renowned works.

[lexicon]

He meant so much to me. Totally gutted by this news.

[M_SC]

I read his earlier works rather obsessively when I was a young adult.

[ThaiEcka]

What an amazing writer... having read all of his work it's now time for a re-read.
RIP Paul, you will be truly missed..

[genamcnamara]

11:32 He's mentioned in one of the stories in Amor Towles new book "Table for Two" ( which I coincidentally read yesterday)😢

[StephaniePatterson-jbit]

There is a wonderful movie called “The Music of Chance” based on his work. Auster makes a cameo appearance.

[dqan]

Nice to see this tribute! New York Trilogy wasn't really on my short term radar, but you do make a good case for it.

[Nastya-readsandlifts]

Oh dear, so sad… I was recommended to read his works, as he is/was local (Brooklyn). And yesterday (though I didn’t know he died that day) I was choosing his books in his neighborhood’s Brooklyn Public library brunch. Who knew… RIP.