Video summary
The reviewer shares their journey of discovering Paul Auster's work shortly after the author's passing, noting that while they initially found *The New York Trilogy* merely "okay," subsequent reads like *4321* and *In the Country of Last Things* solidified their appreciation for the writer. The focus of this specific review is *Moon Palace*, a novel that stands out as a top-tier literary fiction piece for those who enjoy stories about young men navigating life alongside older mentors. The reviewer draws a strong parallel between Auster's work and Stephen King, suggesting that King may have read *Moon Palace* given the striking similarities in their narratives involving young protagonists reading to elderly men, a subgenre the reviewer finds particularly compelling.
The plot centers on Marco Stanley, a young man who embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him through various transformative experiences, including a stint living homeless in Central Park and a memorable encounter with a group of people in a cave. The reviewer highlights these specific sections as the most effective parts of the book, praising the gruesome yet entertaining nature of the cave sequence which serves as a vivid example of Auster's ability to weave stories within stories. This narrative structure keeps the reader engaged without traditional chapter breaks, creating a seamless flow that encourages continuous reading and deep absorption of the text.
Ultimately, the reviewer awards *Moon Palace* a high rating of 4.5 stars, commending its satisfying conclusion and exceptional thematic depth. While acknowledging that the book might not appeal to fans of genre fiction seeking specific tropes, the review strongly recommends it for enthusiasts of literary fiction who appreciate tight, character-driven narratives under 300 pages. The reviewer concludes by emphasizing that while they have shared their thoughts extensively, the true value of the book lies in experiencing its unique voice and emotional resonance firsthand, inviting fellow readers to share their own opinions on the novel.
Read the full video transcript
I found and fell in love with Paul
Auster shortly after he passed away. I
am
slowly very slowly going through all of
his books in order of publication. The
only one I read out of order is 4321 and
had I not read that one
very early on in this journey. It was
the second of his that I read. I
probably would have stopped and I would
have been missing out on some great
literature. I had previously read the
New York Trilogy and I found it okay.
Even Auster says that he was trying to
be too clever with the book and I would
agree with that. So as of now I have
read the New York Trilogy 4321
in the country of last things. I've
reviewed all three of those and today
we're talking about Moon Palace of
course by Paul Auster. This is a book
about Marco Stanley
who is a very interesting character.
Right out the gate for those of you that
follow me for my Stephen King reviews.
If you like books like or stories like
Mr. Harrigan's Phone or books like
Joyland or Joyland probably not so much
but Hearts in Atlantis. If you like or
even Fairy Tale. If you like stories
about young men and and an older man
hanging out getting to know each other
and life stories all that stuff.
This is a great book for you. It's even
the same setup as Mr. Harrigan's Phone
and Fairy Tale where
the guy is hired to read to an old man
and I would go out on a limb and say
that I suspect that Stephen King has
read Moon Palace.
It maybe maybe not but I would hazard a
guess. I wouldn't put money on it. But
because he never talks about him. I
would hazard a guess because it is very
very reminiscent of Stephen King in that
way. He has a
King has numerous stories and novels
about young men reading to old men and I
find that an interesting uh subgenre, I
guess you would call it. And that's what
happens in this one for a good lead good
for a good chunk of the book. Um I I
really really enjoyed this one. I gave
uh The New York Trilogy three stars.
Didn't care too much for it. 4 3 2 1 is
a top 10 book for me now, five stars. In
the Country of Last Things, I I gave a
four star. It was really really good,
but it was missing something there for
me. It's a very unique premise also. Um
this one is just about a a young man
trying to find his way in the world. Uh
there is a very cool section um that
happens in a cave. Um and I it came out
of nowhere, especially considering this
is literary fiction. Um
and that it was a it's a little more
gruesome than than you would uh usually
find in this type of novel. It's very
fun. It has to do with uh a group of
guys uh
coming across a guy in a cave. Uh and he
he's been in the cave for a while, just
kind of living there. And
stuff happens. Uh like I said, it's
rather gruesome, but it's also a lot of
fun to read. Uh and that's just like a
side story. Uh if you know me, if you've
been a fan of the channel, uh
I love stories within stories and that's
that's exactly what Moon Palace is. It
is a story within a story within a story
and we are fol- following Marco uh
through some very wild times. There's
one point one point where he is a
homeless and living in Central Park in
New York City.
And that was a close second to being my
favorite part. Um after that, uh he
comes to live with an old man or it can
I I can't remember if they live together
or not. It's been several weeks. I just
haven't had a chance to to do this
review. Um Um, several weeks since I
read it.
And uh the the part
in Central Park that and that that's
what so sold it for me. And then you get
to the cave later on that that
definitely put it up there. I'm going to
give it a 4.5. And I know I'm rambling,
uh but that's just how we do here on
this channel. I'm going to run around in
circles until I get to the point. Uh
this is
especially for Stephen King fans. I
think you guys should read this one. Um,
it's pretty easy to come across. It's
not one of those, you know, rare relics
of a book. Uh
the
the parts that were most effective for
me were the parts where he he was kind
kind of out out out of his element. Um,
not a really a fish out of water, but he
was just doing things to be doing
something. And I I love that aspect of
it. Uh I'm not going to hold you too
long. Uh
it when when it comes to books that I
really enjoy, uh I I don't have much to
tell you because I want you to
experience it for yourself completely.
I've already said way too much. Um, but
if you're fan of literary fiction and
small tight stories, I think it's less
than 300 pages, I believe. Let me let me
check.
Oh, no, never mind. It's 306. I'm glad I
checked. Um, it reads very quickly. Uh
it is one of those books without
chapters. Uh they got some page breaks
in there and whatnot, but I never felt
like I needed a chapter break. I always
felt like, you know, I wanted to keep
pressing forward. Um, and I I I just
kept ev- every time we got a break at
work, I I was reading the book. Come
home, read it. Um, but also I read it
rather slowly. The chunks that I did
read, I read slowly because I was
enjoying it so much.
Um, I wanted to really absorb the
writing, absorb what Auster was trying
to get across.
Um, the character of Effing, the old
man, literally his name is Effing. I
believe Thomas Effing. Anyways, the that
he he's a he's a highlight and he he's
right up there with uh some of King's
best old protagonist. Um and the way
that everything comes to a close, I
thought was very satisfying. I don't
know that uh if you're into more
genre-related
fiction, I'm not sure you're going to
get the payoff that you want, but I
thought thematically it was an
exceptional ending. I would love to hear
from you. If you've read Moon Palace by
Paul Auster, let me know down there in
the doobly-doo, but until next time
Are you saying it? No? Okay, whatever.
Until next time, I've been me, you've
been you, this has been another book
review. I'll talk to you guys later.
Bye-bye.