The Book Timbuktu is a short novel about the life of a scruffy mutt (dog), Mr Bones and his dying master, a vagabond called Willy G. Christmas. The story begins with the last journey of Willy and Mr Bones to Baltimore, as Willy searches for his mentor, Bea Swanson, who he was last in touch with over 20 years before.
After Willy's death, Mr Bones must fend for himself and his life changes irrevocably. After the deep bond he has shared with Willy, Mr Bones' comes into contact with a young Chinese boy, Henry (although Willy advises him to steer clear of Chinese restaurants and children!) and then a family (Polly, Dick, Alice and Tiger) where Mr Bones suffers the ignominy of the chop and becomes a 'dandified' dog.
The title refers to the concept of the afterlife, as proposed by Christmas, who is a self-styled poet, who believes that it is a beautiful place called 'Timbuktu'. The question is will both Willy and Mr Bones be reunited in this heavenly place?
This is a book that examines finding one's purpose in life and has been described as being a meditation on late 20th century America. It is a highly inventive, creative book where we see the world from the perspective of a dog. It raises many questions such as whether animals have souls and the nature of love in society.
The Author
Like his character, Willy G. Christmas, Auster himself is an American of Jewish, Polish decent. Born in 1947, Auster written a number of novels including The New York Trilogy (1987), Moon Palace (1989), The Book of Illusions (2002) and the The Brooklyn Follies (2005). His works are a mix of absurdism, existentialism, crime fiction and searches for identity and personal meaning.
More Information
View Paul Auster's website at http://www.paulauster.co.uk
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