INVISIBLE

INVISIBLE, Paul Auster’s fifteenth novel, features eclectic Frenchman Rudolf Born and his silent, alluring girlfriend, Margot. Together, Born and Margot ensnare young Adam Walker in a shocking and intriguing tale of sex and violence. The highly imaginative story runs from 1967 to 2007, taking the reader from Morningside Heights to Paris and to the Caribbean. Auster also narrates, with a performance that demonstrates the benefits and dangers of an author at the microphone. Because the story is told by three narrators, it would have benefited from a more versatile reader, or three separate readers. While Auster’s reading is precise, at times it seems understated, and almost distracted. As a result, rather than focusing on Auster’s dialogue and plot, the listener hungers for greater intensity and emotion. In sum, INVISIBLE is highly entertaining but a bit uneven. D.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]