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Monday, December 6, 2010

Review: Sunset Park by Paul Aster

Goodreads: Sunset Park follows the hopes and fears of a cast of unforgettable characters brought together by the mysterious Miles Heller during the dark months of the 2008 economic collapse.

An enigmatic young man employed as a trash-out worker in southern Florida obsessively photographing thousands of abandoned objects left behind by the evicted families.

A group of young people squatting in an apartment in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The Hospital for Broken Things, which specializes in repairing the artifacts of a vanished world.

William Wyler's 1946 classic The Best Years of Our Lives.

A celebrated actress preparing to return to Broadway.

An independent publisher desperately trying to save his business and his marriage.

These are just some of the elements Auster magically weaves together in this immensely moving novel about contemporary America and its ghosts.Sunset Park is a surprising departure that confirms Paul Auster as one of our greatest living writers.


Kritters Thoughts: A very interesting read. There are some aspects of it that I liked, but there were definitely some things I wasn't a fan of. The story itself was great. It was a departure from my normal read, but a story worth the read.

One thing I did not like at all was his lack of using quotation marks. Now I know this may sound petty, but I had the hardest time when conversations flowing figuring out who was doing the talking. You never know what you are missing, until you trying reading a book without them - it was rough.

The ending - without spoiling the book, I did not enjoy. It was one of those books that cuts off to soon and could have gone on for just a bit longer. I got attached to the main character - Miles Heller and I wanted to see him through the struggles that he has to face in the book.

As to who I would recommend this book to - definitely my adult readers, there is some sexual language that at times was a little harsh.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 320

GR Oct - Dec Challenge - Title Relay

2 comments:

  1. I read something else of the author which wasn't for me. I am looking for another book of his to read. Maybe not this one, huh?

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  2. I liked it. The storyline itself was great, although the ending was cut short.

    The thing that just set me weird was the lack of quotation, which is petty, but I would recommend it.

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