Each of the four sections of each chapter denote a shift in timeline. After 1.0 ends, the novel follows the track of 1.1, 1.2 and so on. The novel opens with chapter 1.0, which acts as a prologue that following the lives of Ferguson’s grandparents and parents. The novel’s structure and the task in discovering the smallest circumstances of change in the four timelines presents the most challenge. This is not an easy novel, and the length-coming in at nearly 900 pages-is not the most intimidating bit about it. 4 3 2 1 is the ultimate road-not-traveled novel and hinges on love, missed opportunity, unexpected death, odd friendships and a question that asks what makes a person?: genes or circumstance, or genes and circumstance.Īuster makes his readers work with 4 3 2 1. Auster’s newest, and perhaps his finest work follows four different timelines of Ferguson’s life that deviate from one another through circumstances large and small. But no, this book isn’t just one epic novel, it’s four. The novel follows Archibald Isaac Ferguson and his family from his birth in 1947 to present day with comedy, heartbreak, pain, sadness-essentially everything needed for a typical “life and times” sort of story. Fortunately for us, over those seven years Auster had been crafting his longest, most ambitious effort that is as challenging as it is wonderful.Ĥ 3 2 1 is no normal American epic, despite having all the makings of one. After releasing several books of non-fiction he’d even gone on to say that he may have run out of ideas for fiction after being so prolific for so long-a feat that many writers could only dream of achieving. It’s been seven years since Auster has released a novel the longest gap of his career. Paul Auster has written 18 novels in his 35-year career, ambitious books about failure and fate, coincidence and loss, almost all of them bordering on fully embracing metafiction.

4321 paul auster review