A review of Travels in the Scriptorium, by Paul Auster, should begin by mentioning a fact: it is not your regular story. Moreover, it is not your regular Paul Auster story. Those familiar with Paul Auster’s work should realize a thing or two by this statement.
For others, let me underline some things. Travels in the Scriptorium is not a story with a typical beginning, narrative evolution, or ending. So far so good. Now, hold tight. Paul Auster’s novella is not a story at all.
Let me repeat that, just so that it sinks in. Travels in the Scriptorium is not a story.
What is it, then, you will ask. Well, let’s see.
On the surface, the story revolves around madness. Deep down, it’s about controlled madness
Debut novels are something that intrigues me, on a personal level. There is something unique about examining the first published novel of an author. Shadow Resistance is B.J. Cyprian’s authorial debut, though of course – as the reader discovers in the introductory noteParenthetically, if you are the kind of reader that skips introductory notes, do not skip this one, especially if you are an author yourself. It is replete with interesting elements related to the writing process. – other attempts came before it.
Shadow Resistance operates on multiple levels and involves a large variety of characters, but if I had to describe it in a few sentences, it’s the story of a group of individuals who (half-accidentally, as it usually happens with true heroes) combat institutionalized injustice.
B.J. Cyprian’s Shadow Resistance exposes the institutionalized injustice affecting millions of people
The Heart Goes Last, by Margaret Atwood, is a quasi-science-fiction story set in the modern United States. Technically, it could be in the near future, but there is nothing to suggest it isn’t set in the present time.
The setup is (post-)apocalyptic alright, but in an individual way. Jobs disappear, social cohesion collapses, people live in the streets. However, the focus is on Stan and Charmaine, who are unwilling to live in their car anymore, and so sign up for Positron. It is a place promising security, safety, bliss; ad infinitum. That is the catch, however. Just like Hotel California, you can check out in any time you want, but you can never leave.
Let me start by saying this: I like Margaret Atwood’s style.Check the Critical Reception section in the article about The Other Side of Dreams to get a hintI like the way she introduces a deeply introspective narrative style, giving her characters life. As a result, I really had high hopes about The Heart Goes Last. Disappointingly, my expectations were shattered.
I have read countless books, both as a casual reader and from the perspective of literary criticism. Honestly, I never remember a narrative disintegrating so completely. Let’s see the details.
Nominally, The Heart Goes Last is about freedom versus security. But, sadly, things fall apart pretty rapidly
