Review of BAUMGARTNER by Paul Auster (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This short novel is reflective, and tender – a detailed character study and poignant portrayal of aging. 

Septuagenarian Sy Baumgartner is an author and philosophy professor at Princeton.  His life has been defined by his love for Anna, his wife who died in a swimming accident almost a decade earlier.  Via his revisited memories and some of his and Anna’s writings, we learn about Sy’s youth in Newark, the background of his parents, his first meetings with Anna, and their 40-year relationship. 

This novel is character-driven, not plot-driven.  Not much happens.  The narrative follows Sy’s recollections which do not follow a chronological order.  The style, almost stream-of-consciousness, approximates how memories work.  Sentences are often very lengthy, again suggesting the flow of memories. 

I found Sy, whose full name is Seymour Tecumseh Baumgartner, a relatable character since I too am in my twilight years when there are more years behind than ahead of me.  He’s intelligent and has a great sense of humour.  He’s coming to terms with his past, especially the losses he has experienced, and the present and what lies ahead with the mental and physical challenges of aging. 

It is Sy’s grieving of the loss of Anna that stands out.  He describes himself as a human stump whose “innermost part” is dead:   “a half man who has lost the half of himself that had made him whole, and yes, the missing limbs are still there, and they still hurt, hurt so much that he sometimes feels his body is about to catch fire and consume him on the spot.”   

Nonetheless he still wants to live, even if “to live is to feel pain.”  He knows that “to live in fear of pain is to refuse to live” so he accepts that and decides to follow his father’s wishes that he “fight the good fight.”  An unexpected letter gives Sy a new lease on life; as he awaits the arrival of Beatrix Coen, whom he describes as a bookend of his life, he “is half out of his skin with anticipation, like a restless boy counting down the days until school lets out for the summer.” 

Then there’s an abrupt ending; its ambiguity will leave many readers unsatisfied and perhaps even angry.  I found it perfect.  The last event is so ironic in light of Baumgartner’s overwhelming fears for Beatrix.  And considering the central metaphor of his last book which he has just finished writing, his experiencing a “breakdown in the heart of motor city” is just so apropos. 

This quiet novel with its introspective protagonist made me think of Elizabeth Strout’s novels, particularly the Amgash series featuring Lucy Barton.   Readers wanting an action-filled book should look elsewhere, but readers who enjoy reflective novels which examine the complexities of relationships and the human condition are in for a treat. 

Note:  I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.