Guest review by Janelle Bailey, avid reader and always learning; sometimes substitute teaching, sometimes grandbabysitting, sometimes selling books

Baumgartner by Paul Auster

Baumgartner by Paul Auster

I no longer know or recall exactly what my introduction to Paul Auster was, as it was many years ago and many Paul Auster books ago. I just counted six of them in my personal library. And I believe that it was in 2009 when I first visited New York City and found myself on a Soundwalk–an audio-driven self-led walking tour–that was narrated by Paul Auster, and from then his voice represented for me all that was…is…New York City.

Baumgartner is Auster’s newest, and it is a wonderful book. Baumgartner is a professor emeritus, long-time tenured university professor, who is ten years beyond the death of his beloved wife, Anna, and still mourning the loss, grieving the hole she left. But he isn’t wallowing in a pitiful place; rather, he brings Anna back to life through his memories and reminiscence as well as all that she has left behind.

This is a beautiful, fully philosophical pondering on aging and grief, life and living it fully. It’s about what keeps–or can–those who are aging from growing old.

There’s a little Baumgartner in each of us, I think. And I found this sweet 200-page book to be smart, wise, and full of inspiration for making good things happen with what we have in front of us.

Seeing each day as an opportunity, from the moment that we awaken, to address what we have, rather than what we have not, and to do our best with “that” each and every day is just one message I took from this book. Love is beautiful. And a life spent loving as well as to love living it is a precious gift…but moreso a choice.

Paul Auster is a wise guy…of the very best kind. Every reader benefits from meeting Baumgartner and taking even a little direction from him.

Come back next Monday for another book review!