And thus, the lives of the Archies begin to go in different directions. But then we branch out into chapter 1.1, then 1.2, then 1.3, then 1.4. They share the same grandparents and parents and we learn about these people in great detail. Instead, we get chapter 1.0, which tells the back story for all of the Archies. In my mind, I figured Auster would tell one of the Archie’s lifetimes completely before moving on to the second, third, and fourth iterations. I had heard that the book was about a character named Archie Ferguson, and that I would be treated to four different versions of his life, four different roads he might have taken. It also provided a chuckle to see some of Auster’s previous characters like David Zimmer and Marco Fogg (from Moon Palace) have cameo roles here. It’s SCARLET, Paul Auster tells us, like the letter emblazoned on Hester Prynne’s blouse. And yes, there is a red notebook in this novel. I also love that he finds ways to wink at his fans by repeating elements in books for our delight such as the often-mentioned red notebook. I particularly love that he has autobiographical books in print that inform his fiction. I must offer a disclaimer as I write this review: I love Paul Auster’s work and have read almost every word he has in print.

Thank you for supporting Lorie’s writing in this manner. (NOTE: Some of the links in this blog are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Lorie will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase on Amazon. Have you dared to tackle This 880 Page Book?

Paul auster 4321 reviews