2. How did you like the multi-layered plot? Was the plot too complicated or did you find it engaging? Which plot did you like the best: Sid and Grace's story or Nick Bowen's?
I liked the fact that the plot had more than one story line, without this distinctive aspect of Auster's writing style in Oracle Night, the plot would have probably turned out very ordinary and uninteresting, dare I say boring? There is even more than one "story within the story", because even the story that the protagonist Sydney Orr is writing contains the story Oracle Night , which is where the title of this novel comes from. I found it bizarre that this was the only time Oracle Night was mentioned because I was initially thinking that surely there must be a more significant and symbolic meaning to this intriguing title.
The title is mysterious and the plot is no different. Nevertheless, I found the transitions between the many story lines clear so it wasn't complicated in that sense. Things did get a little confusing however when in Sydney Orrs' life, the lines of reality are blurred. He is connected to his story about Nick Bowen (which he writes in the notorious blue notebook)just like Bowen is connected the the Sylvia Maxwell novel, Orr writes:
"He begins to see a connection between himself and the story in the novel, as if in some oblique, highly metaphorical way the book was speaking intimately to him about his own present circumstances."(pg.55)
According to Auster himself, Oracle Night is book about love and forgiveness, as he told Sean O'Hagan in an interview (the link is posted below).
A lot happens in the last few pages of the novel which contributes to Sydney and Grace's plot, and I found this more interesting than the Nick and Eva's plot because although the latter's started off more interestingly, when Orr locked Nick in a bomb shelter he effectively ended the story. The former plot developed unexpectedly,mostly through the premonitions of Sydney Orr which he documents in his blue notebook.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/feb/08/fiction.paulauster1
2 comments:
Tanya, I also share very similar sentiments for the novel. I too found lack of emphasis on Sylvia Maxwell's Oracle Night rather unstatisfying and disappointing. As for the main plot, howeever, i found it more overly intricate rather than interesting. Certainly, the idea of exponential novels wihin novels is unique, bu i think it was not pulled off very well. I quite enjoyed the relation between the plots in each of the characters story's interesting, Bowens sotry reflecting Sidney's life. I found the themes of the novel to be quite powerful, the idea of human flaws, acceptance and forgiveness was easy to relate to on a more personal level. Finally. regarding the last pages, quite a bit is revealed in the final pages and the final relations between the two plots are drawn, and after the surge of information, the story abruptly ends; as for Sid's premonitions, they are quite vaguely confirmed by Jacob.
I completely agree with your post. In fact I don't know why Im coming here. Although there is one thing: You and Danny seem to feel that the lack of mention and elaboration on the title is disappointing. I for one, don not feel the need to be spoon-fed. I think not not explaining the title lends to the ambiguity and mystery that Paul Auster created in the novel. Other than that we are in full agreement. I found your background research on the subject fascinating because I too felt that the novel, at its core, really does talk about forgiveness and love even though the events of the novel might distract the reader temporarily.
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