Timbuktu: A Novel Paperback – April 28, 2009

Mr. Bones is all dogs. He's all gods. He lives honestly, and when he dies on the road, hit by cars, he's off to Timbuktu, the afterlife for all.

Timbuktu is a slim book and yet is a deeply affecting tale with Paul Auster's wonderful prose. Mr. Bones, the hero of the tale is a Heinz 57 variety pooch who understands Ingloosh and is owned by Willie G. Christmas, who is a homeless bard who means to spread the gospel of Christmas around the country but sometimes becomes trapped in fits of psychosis and alcoholism.I love the way that Auster develops Mr. Bones' character. I was able to see how truly precarious a dogs existence can be:"Was this what life was going to be like around here?, he wondered. Were they simply going to abandon him in the morning and expect him to fend for himself all day? It felt like an obscene joke. He was a dog built for companion ship, for give-and-take of life with others, and he needed to be touched and spoken to, to be part of a world that included more than just himself. Had he walked to the ends of the earth and found this blessed haven only to be spat on by the people who had taken him in? They had turned him into a prisoner. They had chained him to this infernal bouncing wire, this metallic torture device with its incessant squeaks and echoing hums and every time he moved, the noises moved with him"However much I loved this book and character, I could not escape the feeling of dread which accompanies many animal tales as Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, The Red Pony by John Steinbeck, and The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. If you can handle these feelings with the wonderful character development and prose, I encourage you to read this book.

This is the first Paul Auster book I read. I have to say that I love the guy. He's clever, witty and shows so much sensitivity. The book, narrated by the charismatic dog "Mr. Bones" (an inner dialogue, not like he's a talking dog...), showcases the struggles of existence, such as the impending truth of death. Mr.Bones and his master and good friend, travel to Baltimore and the book narrates their travel as well as their past life together.The story is very moving, deep and it honestly makes you think about your own life and existence and the way we cope with things. Through the eyes of a dog, who understands his existential difference from his human friend's, one can get perspective and possibly reconsiderate what's important in life. I highly recommend this book if you are considering - or tired of - reading existentialism books, as it goes into such matters but in a very smooth, easy to read, feel-good fiction novel.-CeciCeci had me read this book as obviously from the above, she loved it. It was the first (and sorry to say, still only) Paul Aster book I've read as well. This really is a beautiful book, and was right up my alley. Witty, inspirational, at times emotionally distraught and at others incredibly funny. As a dog lover/owner, it also weirdly strengthened my perception of my bond with this strangely dirty yet unconditionally loving animal. 5 stars from both of us, just buy it.-Jesse

I chose 3 stars because I can't imagine someone who has never own d a dog to appreciate this novel. So it's an enjoyable read for dog lovers.

"To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring-it was peace." Milan KunderaWilly G. Christmas has spent his summers wondering the continent with his dog, Mr. Bones. But now Willy is dying and Mr. Bones is contemplating his existence. Mr. Bones knows "a dog alone is no better than a dead dog" and is dreading the fact that once Willy is no longer at his side, "the world itself will cease to exist".I adore this book. The characterization is wonderful. I love Mr. Bones. I identified with his struggles to make it without his master-his feelings of loneliness, his confusion. Timbuktu is told from Mr. Bones point of view which allows this story to raise questions about existentialism as well as distinctions between metonymy (the animal standing for the human) and metaphor (the animal likened to the human). This book was so emotionally moving, it's been hard for me to analyze it critically. I was entirely lost in Auster's prose and the emotions I felt for Mr. Bones and with Mr. Bones. Timbuktu is just a very good story.I'm suprised by the bad reviews of this book. Yes, Timbuktu is short. But there are only so many scenarios that can develop in the human-centered life of a dog. The experience of a dog is somewhat limited by the world people give them. Dogs rarely decide where they want to go. Dogs don't get to choose what they eat, where they live or who adopts them. A dog can only shape his destiny in one way-Mr. Bones eloquently and heart breakingly demonstrates this painful truth at the end of Auster's novel.One of my favourite books of all time. Michael Vick should be made to read this book every day in prison. Very highly recommended.

Paul Auster's gift for language made for a very erudite dog. It was difficult at times to follow Willy's ramblings, though that must have been the point.

El libro llegó en el tiempo estimado. Dudé de las condiciones en las que se encontraría puesto que no son libros nuevos, para mi sorpresa está en bastantes buenas condiciones 👍🏼👍🏼

Pour le plaisir de voyager dans la tête

It is a good book that won't disappoint Paul Auster's fans, so if you are one of them, don't hesitate in buying it.

A really good read, the writer does well putting the reader into the paws of the dog Mr Bones. Following Mr Bones journey through his various owners and the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with it. Brilliant book.

Solo chi ha avuto un cane puó scrivere e capire un libro come questo.Bello, vero, triste come la vita.