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?
Unlike most of the novels we have been assigned to read over the course of the past few summers, I actually enjoyed reading "Oracle Night". The novel was engaging and full of twists and shocking revelations. The presence of a second plot within the novel made it more compelling, in fact the without that second plot the novel would not have been as interesting, the two parallel stories complement each other. The idea behind Bowen's story was interesting to begin with. The idea that a single random event could drastically change the course of a person's life is interesting to explore. As Orr begins to narrate the series of somewhat strange events which lead Bowen to the room of phonebooks, I slowly became more and more interested in what was going to happen at the end. Unfortunately, the story ends abruptly with Nick trapped in the room with no way out. The main plot of the novel was even more intriguing as it was more complex and developed. Auster is able to smoothly shift from one plot to the other without confusing the reader. Several questions are raised by the end of the novel. The Portuguese notebooks for example seem to have some sort of power over those who write in them. Trause warns Orr of their ability to inspire and their cruelty as well. Trause also raises the issue that the future is within us and that when we write, we are not writing about the past or the present but the future. My only objection to the novel is the ending. I felt there should have been something more to it.
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2 comments:
I must agree with you, the presence of a second plot in the
story did make it more intresting and compelling. It's the first
time i read a story full of twists and I'm not confused
about who did what and when did something happen. The writting
style of Paul Auster was very clear and simple, and the reader
didn't have to go back every now and then to remember
the characters. Just some simple notes would do.
At first i found it a bit shocking how Orr's character
simple decided RIGHT ON THE SPOT to change the direction
of his life and flip it around. Not even saying goodbye
to anyone and explaning anything to his wife!! It was such
a hasty decision, but that's what kept the reader going on, ad
eager to know what's going to happen with Nick.
I also mentioned the weird power of this notebook, and
found what John said as a warning to Orr very strange.
Howeever, you are right in what you said on the end,
it doesn't give you an ending or any answers, just leaves you hanging there,
depending on your own imagination.
I agree with most of what you wrote and have the same view in terms of the interesting, complex yet not confusing multiple story lines. In retrospect, I realize that I was very unsatisfied with the way the Nick Bowen story ended, your comment made me remember what I was thinking while I was reading. I had hopes of the story developing with Bowen finding a way out of the room, then perhaps he is found by Eva, or Rose, or both. When the story came to an end I felt as if perhaps Orr had given up, and indeed he did develop writers block at that point.
I have mixed feelings about the end of Oracle Night however, it could have definitely been developed but at the same time, it didn't leave me wanting more. The ending was more or less resolved. Overall, it was agreeable read.
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