Paul Auster. I am still amazed, captured and speechless really. What an immensely gifted author he is. I've read Leviathan and now I have moved on to Moon Palace.

The way he tells a story is so clever and compelling, I can't think of many authors who would match him in style and content. Norman Mailer - maybe - certainly in his better novels. Jonathan Franzen - I don't think so - he's trying too hard but that's of course only my opinion. I haven't read Philip Roth but he is next on my list. Good books are magic. They give life a meaning. They can cheer you up, make you think, and help you through. Life would be nothing without a fine book every now and again. Reading is the most satisfying of all arts. A paragraph from a book, maybe just a single line, will stay with you longer than any melody. The quality of music usually fades the more you listen to it. Even the most popular artist will eventually lose their audience. But with a great author, the concept of familiarity breeds contempt is just not evident (fortunately). At least, I don't think it works for me and the likes of Auster, Mailer, Rowling or even Goethe. A thrilling, maybe surprising mix, but each of the aforementioned has a unique talent of storytelling that makes me want to read every book they've ever written. They make you re-read a single paragraph ten times and then quote the text to all of your friends. It's what Auster does to me anyway and I'll be eternally thankful for the inspiration he provides in his books.

There is a lot going on elsewhere in my life but it's not something I could or would share here so I'll leave you with my tribute to Auster and say good night. Hope you're all well.