Baumgartner

In his 18th novel, Paul Auster explores the intricate life of Sy Baumgartner, a retired philosophy professor grappling with the loss of his wife, Anna, who died nine years prior. Set against the backdrop of their 40-year relationship and Sy’s youth in Newark, the narrative weaves together memories from their early days as students in New York, reflecting on love, loss, and the nature of memory itself. Rich in compassion and insight, Auster's work reveals the beauty in transient moments while probing the question of why certain memories endure while others fade away.