Austerlitz by WG Sebald (June 2021)

[Adina]

Stephen wrote: "Not sure why, but I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on the story. Perhaps it’s the style of writing. I’m rereading many pages and on the second reading finding it gripping and powerful. 100 p..." Probably because there are no paragraphs and the prose sometimes becomes too descriptive. I alternate between intense concentration and interest and lack of focus. I sometimes realize after 1 page or more that I have no idea what I’ve read and have to return from where I lost the thread. Like you I find it gripping and powerful when I pay attention. Around 60 pages left.

[Roman Clodia]

That's interesting as I think I found that with Rings of Saturn where the narrative is so digressive that it was easy to just go with the flow of the stories and anecdotes and then forget where they started.
With Austerlitz, because there's a much stronger and more visible story, I didn't lose the thread in the same way.

But yes, Sebald is a challenging writer and quite uncompromising in what he requires from us as readers.

[Stephen]

I finished Austerlitz last night. Really interesting, challenging and clever.
I found the lack of paragraph breaks and long winding sentences forced me to re-read many parts of the book. Maybe that was intentional.
I thought the way Sebald approached the themes of identity, memory and time fascinating.
What is amazing is the way that the novel tackled the darkness at the heart of the 20th century without ever explicitly mentioning a certain place of extreme horror.
But the terror and awfulness of it all are conveyed in a measured almost nonemotional tone.
I imagine I will revisit this book in the future.
Thanks for all the interesting points in the Buddy read and thanks Adina for alerting me to the read and bringing this group to my attention.

[Nigeyb]

Wonderful news Stephen - delighted you got so much out of it

[Roman Clodia]

Stephen wrote: "What is amazing is the way that the novel tackled the darkness at the heart of the 20th century without ever explicitly mentioning a certain place of extreme horror."

I've only read two of Sebald's books so far but this technique seems typical from what I've seen of approaching the topic obliquely and elliptically but quite unmistakably.

It's as if what happened is so vast and so terrible that it cannot be encompassed in mere words which might fail. I'm interested in this concept of 'unsayability' and its link to trauma theory.

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote:


"It's as if what happened is so vast and so terrible that it cannot be encompassed in mere words which might fail. I'm interested in this concept of 'unsayability' and its link to trauma theory"

That's profound RC

Off to ponder it

[Roman Clodia]

Ha, well I can't claim to have originated the idea: the concept of trauma theory is currently a hot way of analysing the postcolonial condition and it just seems to me to help think through what's happening in Sebald's books. I'm sure experts on Holocaust history/literature are already thinking about this

[Stephen]

I came across this wonderful interview between Michael Silverblatt and Sebald where Sebald talks about the influences on his writing and touches on the need to approach horrors like 'concentration camps' obliquely. Tragically this interview which took place on 6th December 2001 was his last as he died in an accident on 14th December 2001.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVssO...

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Stephen - will give that a watch

[Joy D]

I am a little late to the party. I started this book quite a while ago, but found it was one not to rush through, so just finished. I rather enjoyed the photographs of architectural sites sprinkled throughout. I think they helped me invoke an idea of what that time was like and supported the themes of places remaining after what happened to the people is long past. I found it meditative and subtle. I usually avoid lengthy stream-of-consciousness type writing, but I am glad I read this one. It was not my favorite in terms of reading experience, but it certainly will linger in my thoughts.

My Review

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Joy

[Judy]

Great review, Joy. Good to hear that you enjoyed it.

[Joy D]

Judy wrote: "Great review, Joy. Good to hear that you enjoyed it."
Thanks, Judy.

[WndyJW]

I read Sebald for the first time this year and was hugely impressed. I read The Rings of Saturn and The Emigrants. Since there are only 4 or 5 published novels I’m saving Vertigo and Austerlitz for 2022.

[Nigeyb]

WndyJW wrote: "I read Sebald for the first time this year and was hugely impressed. I read The Rings of Saturn and The Emigrants. Since there are only 4 or 5 published novels I’m saving Vertigo and Austerlitz for 2022. "

I received a copy of The Emigrants the other day. Looking forward to it