4 3 2 1: A Novel

There are more than a handful of novels in the literary canon that upon completion leave the reader with a feeling of accomplishment. Whether a fictional work is lengthy, intricate or time-tested (or all three), the reader has every right to brag. While I doubt Paul Auster's latest book, the daring, dense and unapologetically ambitious "4 3 2 1," now out in paperback, will ultimately rank among such renowned classic tomes as "Ulysses" or "Atlas Shrugged," reaching its end is an immense achievement, for a variety of reasons.

"4 3 2 1" imagines the life of only-child Archibald Ferguson, a Jewish boy from New Jersey. Born in 1947, the only constant in Archie's life is his mother, Rose Adler. Otherwise, this coming of age story is unique and especially unusual because the author presents Archie's formative years as four different storylines, told in chronological order, as subsections within each chapter (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, etc.). Select characters make routine appearances - parents, aunts, uncles cousins - while their locations, careers and socioeconomic statuses vary greatly per segment.

His mother, Rose, is depicted as a homemaker in one version and a successful photographer in another. Archie is portrayed as middle class when his dad owns a furniture store with his brothers, but in an alternate storyline where dad owns a chain of stores, his family is wealthy. Archie's relationship with his father also ranges from restrained and distant to close and harmonious.

Archie, as well, has several distinct identities, including writer, athlete and 60s teen reformer. Multiple individuals - mostly but not all female -partake in his sexual awakening, while Amy Schneiderman, who also appears as his cousin and stepsister, leaves the most lasting impression on him.

Auster is not the first to take this approach with storytelling, where the author introduces a separate scenario solely on the basis of what-if, and each timeline of events is accompanied with a Wikipedia-like retelling of milestones from the era (like Kennedy's election and the march on Washington, to name a few). But while the author is impressively thorough when examining past history, he spares no detail whatsoever when exhaustively relaying Archie's thoughts, opinions, emotions and declarations.

When "4 3 2 1" isn't captivating or engrossing, it's either droning or dull, with no middle ground. It really amounts to four novels in one, with only a vague suggestion explaining why the author invites the reader on such a complicated journey. Yet despite its shortcomings and challenges, few novels have such a monumental feel to them and Auster gets an A for audacity.

"4 3 2 1"
By Paul Auster
Picador
$18.00