Rating: Summary: A Dog's Tale Review: A bittersweet story of one dog's personal history is portrayed through the thoughts and feelings of Mr. Bones, a mixed breed that acknowledges his own inferiority in the heirarchy of high bred dogs. From his own self-awareness and remarkable intelligence, Mr. Bones reveals the ups and downs of a dog's life on the streets with his homeless master, Willy. Willy's health begins to seriously deteriorate and Mr. Bones must cope with the unknown when his beloved master dies, and goes to heaven, or Timbuktu, as Willy calls it.Now homeless, and frantic with panic, Mr. Bones uses his wits and the knowledge gleaned from his schizophrenic master. In his search for food, shelter and safety from being captured and put down by the dog police, he reveals the ugly and sometimes kind nature of humans. The vulnerability of such a situation allows the author to sear your heart and mind with images that will be difficult to forget. The author holds nothing back as he projects Mr. Bones' reactions to the actions of strangers. Be it man, or beast, all are looking for acceptance and a little kindness, and when those are violated the betrayal is deep and painful. Yet, despite the hurdles, Mr. Bones rationalizes his situation with a forgiving nature, a predisposition for seeing into the future and a desire to make do with what he has. Expect to shed a few tears and smiles. If you have a dog, they most likely will be happy to share your joy and sorrow.
Rating: Summary: A quick, enjoyable read Review: As I was reading Timbuktu I didn't find it very compelling (although as an animal lover I certainly enjoyed Mr. Bones), but toward the end and especially in retrospect I find myself reflecting on the story and Mr. Bones. It really is a touching story and Mr. Bones's insights into his human compansions are worthwhile. This was the first Paul Auster book I've read and I'm not sure if I will read another, but I would recommend Timbuktu to anyone that appreciates a sensitive and at times heartbreaking work.
Rating: Summary: So Much for Conventional Wisdom Review: Having read two of Auster's previous works throughout the last year or so, I was interested to see the reviews when Timbuktu came out. They were generally quite negative and I was surprised due to both my positive experience with Auster's work and the praise it usually received. So I held out, waited for the paperback and even that sat on my "to read" pile for a while. The major lesson learned here: don't let other reviews make up your mind for you. I am very pleased that I finally picked Timbuktu up and read it. It is a fine book, well written in a style that is almost conversational. The characters are rich (or as rich as they can be in a 180 page novel) and telling the story from the point of view of Mr. Bones was a fantastic idea. This might not go down as Auster's best, but its certainly worth the time and is a valuable addition to the Auster bibliography.
Rating: Summary: Charming book, but less sparkling Review: I do like the books from Paul Auster very much. I have read all the books available and I am longing to read more. I'm not much of a animal lover, so I hesitated some time before I started to read this book. And again I have continued reading this book of Paul Auster. I did enjoy the reading but I was a little disappointed.The book was not surprising for me. Other books of Paul Auster are more special. The book is like a mythe, a sage or someting like that. It is similar with The country of last things.
Rating: Summary: TOUCHING Review: I read this book when it first came out and I still think about it. This book will not appeal to everyone, but it will haunt everyone who reads it. I cried though out the whole novel. I am haunted by the sadness and the loyalty. If your looking for a happy story this isn't for you, but if your looking for a story that is told through a loyal dogs eyes and rings true pick this up (bring a kleenex).
Rating: Summary: Dog's Mind Review: Anything through a Dog's Mind is a worthy contemplation. Auster manages a satisfying narrative voice and a kind-of clean resolution of some difficult material. Enjoyable to read
Rating: Summary: Cute, but is it really THAT enchanting? Review: I felt that this book was cute. A story told from the eyes of a dog! Being an animal lover, Ive always wanted to read something like that. But somehow, it wasn't what I was looking for. It talks of a dog that is hurt and saddened and lost by the death of its master. Its about the life of a the lost dog, with no home and nowhere to go, running around trying to find a new loving home that would treat him just the way his loving master had before he died. It's a quick read, compelling, and is a page-turner. It has new settings and happenings in every chapter. But the end just was not satisfying. I did not have that usual satisfaction after turning that last page, and I did not have the urge to read over the "good parts." The plot is a good idea for a novel, and its charming to see how loyal a dog can be. But for me, that was all I got out of the novel. There is not a heartbreaking plot, no tears, no irony... If youd like something different from recent bestsellers, here it is.
Rating: Summary: Nostomania (Homesickness) of the Disregarded Review: Once you've read Timbuktu, you may wonder if author Paul Auster is the quintessential dog reincarnated--so sensitive, authentic, and convincing is his portrayal of the mutt Mr. Bones. He is the canine sidekick (and doppelganger) of the sympathetic Willy G. Christmas, a devastated bard who, much too early in life, has found himself homeless and dying and thus trekking across Maryland in search of 316 Calvert Street. These two original characters share protagonist struggles in this heart-crushing, slice-of-life story. Through a successful omniscient, third-person narrator, Timbuktu portrays a climactic period in the lives of these two discounted characters. Their street experiences have an interesting and very subtle effect of a hybrid parable/fable which is easy to miss upon a casual reading. Willy has spent his life writing and abusing his body due to psychological condition and a deep hurt that is never (and need not be) identified. His conversations with the cognizant Mr. Bones while teetering on the outskirts of a cold society to which Willy has been generous and compassionate are engrossing as they illustrate both the wit and deterioration of a bright mind. But Auster's story doesn't shout, is not didactic. Instead its subtleties may cause readers to reconsider the demise of community--for people as well as domestic companions. Auster's writing is smooth as silk but his story has barbs. After reading this book, Willy and Mr. Bones continued to haunt my thoughts. Timbuktu is so smoothly delivered that it took me days to realize the concealed ethic in this humanitarian story. This is a seemingly simple book with hidden power, worthy of any reader.
Rating: Summary: An interesting perspective on truth. Review: This book has haunted me. I have also been trying to teach my dog to read in case anything happens... But, I think it is either a fable or a parable about kindness and truth. Mr. Bones is able to see things that people do and not judge them. His character points out human flaws, yet loves humans so much that these flaws are almost immediately forgiven. All from the perspective of a dog. I have been reading Hand to Mouth - Auster's biography of "early failure". Willie is a based on a writer that ended up living with him for a while when he was a student at Columbia. He was brilliant - yet gave all his money away to students on campus and Auster kicked him out so he could study. He seemed to regret it. Willie seems like a love letter to him. This is a brilliant story. It touches on so many different topics that it really should be studied.
Rating: Summary: A black spot on Auster's resume. Review: Somewhere deep inside "Timbuktu" is a wonderful book fighting for emergence; it is sad to report that, in the end, the fight is lost. Auster's career thus far has been a spotty affair -- while the oftmentioned "The New York Trilogy" is as wonderful as everyone says it is, all of his other work has been relatively underwhelming. Auster is a good author -- he has an incredible ability to translate ordinary emotions and experiences into fresh terms. "Timbuktu" contains numerous passages that hint at the brilliance Auster clearly possesses -- one such example involves a dream sequence in which the protagonist, a dog named "Mr. Bones", leaves his body and watches his master go to a hospital, seek treatment, and visit with an individual he has longed to meet for years. Passages like this highlight Auster's fascination with the true nature of identity, the problem of language, and the struggle for connection between any two entitys. The philosophy Auster presents is wonderful, as it always is. The real problem with "Timbuktu" is that the book is more concerned with plot elements and heavy-handed metaphors than it should be -- it can't seem to make up its mind on whether to be a philosophical treatise or a travelogue. It is very much a story rather than the typical Auster philosophy-disguised-as-narrative; Mr. Bones' quasi-adventures across the East Coast are told in spare details as the author highlights how rough life really is when it is distilled down to its base, emotional components. After all, what better way to address man's plight in the modern age than through the eyes of a dog? The book is, simply put, quite bereft of anything to hold onto and cherish. Indeed, "Timbuktu" would be more appropriate for 9, 10, and 11 year-olds if it weren't so riddled with foul language, sexual overtones, and general scatilogical nonsense. If Auster had only removed the mechanics of the story, edited out the first 60 pages, and underscored the philosophical edge then "Timbuktu" would be a fine companion piece to the rest of his novels -- not wonderful, oftentimes frustratingly mediocre, but certainly a true effort. "Timbuktu" feels lazy and put-aside -- it seems that Auster wrote this book while not working on other projects. Still, to be fair, a lot of people really seemed to enjoy this work. If the novel seems interesting to you than I certainly think you should set aside time to read it.
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