Information of the Book
The 6th long novel by Paul Auster.
Form, Style & Structure
Background of the Work & Author
Synopsis (Summary of Entire Novel)
Summaries of Each Chapter
1
A firefighter in Boston, Jim Nashe resigned his job, and he wandered around entire US by Saab for one whole year until the money to run out.
His wife, Thérèse divorced him, then he expectedly inherited two hundred thousand dollars by his estranged father. He purchased a new Saab 900, set up a trust fund for his daughter Juliette, then disposed of his house and things, and he played 40 pieces by his piano until the day it was sold.
He had wandered by Saab for one and two days, his money only about fourteen thousand dollars left. At the end of summer, when he was wandering along the back-country roads, he came across a thin, bedraggled and twenty-two or twenty-three young man, Jack Pozzi.
2
Nashe helped Pozzi.
Outline
Timeline
Plots & Episodes (Plot & Episodes)
Characters
Jim Nashe – The narrator of this novel. He worked as a firefighter in Boston for 7 years. Unexpectedly he inherited two hundred thousand dollars by his father had been got in touch for over thirty years. He dropped out a university, and worked as bookstore salesman, furniture mover, bartender, taxi driver and so on, then he became a firefighter.
Jack Pozzi (Jackpot) – A thin, small and twenty-two or twenty-three young man.
Thérèse (§ 1) – The ex-wife of Nashe. She walked out after Nashe’s father had passed away.
Juillette (§ 1) – The daughter of Nashe and Thérèse, 2 years old.
Nashe’s sister lived in Minnesota (§ 1)
Father of Nashe (§ 1) – He abandoned Nashe when Nashe was two, and he spent in a small California desert town.
Donna (§ 1) – The sister of Nashe.
Ray Schweikert (§ 1) – Nashe’s brother-in-law brought up Juillette.
Antonelli (§ 1, p. 10) – A piano tuner.
Fiona Wells (§ 1, p. 13 – 15 ; 17) – A journalist had written an article about Nashe as a firefighter. Nashe happened to meet at a bookstore in Barkley, stayed her house 4 days, and made love with her. But she was reconciled with ex-boyfriend.
Groups
Locations
Boston
Minnesota
Northfield
Barkley – Fiona Wells lived in.
Places
Key Elements, Key Words & Key Phrases
A red two-door Saab 900 – The first unused car Nashe purchased. He purchased by the inheritance of his father.
Baldwin uplight Piano (§ 1, pp. 9 – 10) – This descriptions playing the piano by Nashe is very impressive and beautiful. metaphor of story, rules and randomness. It looks like a small scale of wandering US by car. It signifies life must be end.
Descriptions of driving (§ 1, pp. 10 – 11 ; 16 – 17)
Cultural Things on This Novel
Shakespeare (§ 1, p. 13)
Music
Mysterious Barricades by Couperin (§ 1, p. 10)
Fats Waller’s Jitterbug Waltz (§ 1, p. 10)
Impressive Scenes & Important Descriptions
Riddles (Mysteries) & Questions
Thought & Philosophy
Interpretations, Remarks & Analysis
The first paragraph is a part of the answer or the thought of this novel.
Minimalism like Ghosts. The world of this novel is monotonous.
Conclusion
Details of the Book
The Music of Chance
Paul Auster
Faber & Faber, London, United Kingdom, 15 Mars 2011
208 pages, £8.99
ISBN: 9780571229079
Related Posts and Pages
YouTube Paul Auster Commentary Playlist
YouTube Literature & Philosophy Channel