مجموعة قصصية من اختيار المترجمة يجمعها أنها من الأدب الأمريكي الحديث، لم يعجبني غير ثلاث قصص فقط من مجموع تسع قصص:

•پول أوستر، قصة أوجي رين.
•ريتشارد فورد، الأب والدراجة الهوائية.
•مخاوف السيدة أورلاندو، ليديا ديڤيز. (زوجة پول أوستر السابقة)

"لا تخبرها بناتها بالكثير، لأنهن يعلمن بأنها ستجد شيئًا مشؤومًا فيما يقلنه لها. وعندما يخبرنها بالقليل، تخشى من أن هناك خطبًا ما يتعلق إما بصحتهن أو بحياتهن الزوجية".

Un toque y te deja pensando, tremendo cuentito

es ist märz und ich hab eine weihnachtsgeschichte gelesen.
sie war gut.
ich hab sie gelesen, weil mein trainer sie mir geliehen hat, weil ich ihm eine weihnachtliche geschichte von mir geschickt habe, damit er sie liest und dann hat er mir diese hier gegeben, um daraus was lernen zu können.
anyway, auf jeden fall war das buch gut. es war nichtmal wirklich richtig weihnachtlich und ich mochte das.
die schwarz-weiß fotografien im buch waren toll, die geschichte kurz und irgendwie inspirierend.

meine liebsten stellen:
"das ganze projekt war ein betäubender angriff von wiederholungen, wieder und wieder dieselbe straße und dieselben gebäude, ein anhaltendes delirium redundanter bilder."
"wer sich keine zeit zum hinsehen nimmt, wird niemals etwas sehen."
"auggie fotografierte die zeit, wurde mir klar, sowohl die natürliche zeit als auch die menschliche zeit, und dies bewerkstelligte er, indem er sich in einem winzigen winkel der welt postierte und ihn in besitz nahm, einfach indem er an der stelle, die er sich erwählt hatte, wache hielt."
"das war vor mehr als zweitausend bildern."

I'm a completist by nature and this was a nice treat for this time of the year, a christmas story by one of my favorite authors. Very short and lovely story made perfect by amazing artwork, words and images went together as well as peanut butter and jelly or, this being a christmas story, like snowman shaped cookies and milk. Recommended.

This was a sweet Christmas short story that was pleasant enough to read but I think will struggle to have any lasting impact on me.

Auster's 1995 film "Smoke" brought me here.

Merry Christmas

Certainly a non-traditional Christmas story, very short in presentation, a little bit of a gem as well; no-nonsense in the telling as is Auggie Wren, a colorful character from whom the author received the story with the assurance that "every word is true." Well it might be at that, who knows?

"Mientras haya una persona que se la crea, no hay ninguna historia que no pueda ser verdad."

Un pequeño cuento de "navidad" de manos de mi querido Paul Auster. Ha sido super corto pero me ha gustado mucho. Y resulta que veo el tema de la navidad igual que él, quien lo hubiese dicho!

Auggie works behind the counter of a neighborhood cigar store, an icon in downtown Brooklyn, and Paul is a frequent customer. Over many, many years they’ve had many conversations. Years ago, when Auggie realized Paul was a published author, he had asked Paul to take a look at his photographs. Twelve books of photographs taken over twelve years in chronological order. An insight into Auggie and his life.

When the New York Times called him and asked him to write a “short story” to appear on Christmas morning, he almost declines, but reluctantly, after multiple pleas, he gives in.
Then he begins to panic.

Even at their best, Christmas stories were no more than wish fulfillment dreams, fairy tales for adults, and I’d be damned if I’d ever allowed myself to write something like that.

He shares his frustrations with Auggie, who offers him a possible solution:

“If you buy me lunch, my friend, I’ll tell you the best Christmas story you ever heard. And I guarantee that every word of it is true.”

ISOL is the illustrator to this quirky-charming, unconventional Christmas story. His illustrations may not appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed the rich colours and the charm they added to this story, they reminded me a bit of Maurice Sendak’s illustrations, but perhaps slightly more eccentric.

At only 48 pages, this is a quick enough read, but the story which includes a lost wallet, a shoplifter and a blind grandmother, well, that will stay with you longer.

A lovely story.

«Si no et prens el temps de mirar, no aconseguiràs veure mai res»

I enjoyed this quick read of a Christmas story. The "fictional" author in Auster's story wants to write an unsentimental Christmas tale. Auster succeeded with a story that could only take place in New York City, Brooklyn to be exact. While it is unsentimental, it portrays the spirit of giving, even if in a slightly off-kilter way. Originally published in The New York Times op-ed page, this hardcover has delightfully modernistic, colorful illustrations by Argentine artist Isol.