Review of Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster

What was Paul Auster thinking about when he decided to write this metaphysical, self-reverential piece of navel gazing?

The basic premise is that Mr Blank is locked up in a room with no window and no memory of what has passed before. He has a bed, bathroom, chair and desk. On the desk is a pile of photographs and a manuscript.

Mr Blank gets several visitors who I’m told have appeared in other Paul Auster’s books and who each impart some sort of information.

Through the book, Mr Blank reads the manuscript and then is expected to finish it which he does in a flash of inspiration. Then at the end he starts reading and it turns out it’s the same story that we’ve just been reading!

Although I’m a fan of Mr Auster, I didn’t particularly take to this book, mainly because I didn’t really understand it and also because it didn’t really have a conclusion. Fortunately, it was very short (130 pages) so it didn’t take too much of my time. Pity