Here and Now: Letters (2008–2011)

This slender collection of letters exceeded my expectations. Definitely suited for Auster/Coetzee fans because the letters offer new insights to two men who are some of the greatest literary minds alive today. Both are philosophical in nature and think seriously about life, art, literature and things as common as "friendship" and discuss their thoughts freely and openly in these letters. It is not necessary to be familiar with either author's writing, yet being familiar will add depth to the collection. I found the two men's discussion of critics, letters from readers, and literary reviews fascinating, and also enjoyed the discussions of "friendship" etc. While at times, I was put off by Auster's political views which were naive and prone to following "slippery slope" types of flawed thinking, overall I found the letters inspiring and intellectually provocative. The collection was a fast read, hard to put down and an example of a successful collaboration among two brilliant writers

I read the book twice. For the first time, my feelings were ambivalent. I am a fan of Coetzee; Auster is known to me from the films (Smoke, Lulu on the Bridge), so I was expecting an exchange of letters arising from the internal needs of both writers and not of correspondence ordered by a publisher. But I changed my mind. Value in itself is not only a varied picture of the world in the eyes of the older (Coetzee) and younger author (Auster), but also their personal relationship, marked by positive intentions and emotions - openness, curiosity and respect for the respondent and his literary work. It is an example to follow as a model for a working relationship and human relations. "In other words, the basis of my interest is ethical rather than aesthetic," as Coetzee says in one of his letters.

All Weather FRIENDS They gather like good neighbors to haul sandbags when deadly floods surge from a greedy river. Foul weather friends easy to spot, in their purity. Fair weather friends lift facile glasses for toasts. All weather friends, bring warm hugs and smiles, To absorb pain or magnify joy... in the now.FRIENDSHIP Sounds and sights of everything important, that wander close to the heart of Meaning. Condensation of Life's essence in memories. Soothing, self-other melodies that last for decades, and stir long nostalgic soul-dances. Surprised again and again by reunion joys. Prayers of thanksgiving offered, for Friendship's special soaring song for all seasons of Life.

I decided to read this book after the recent death of Paul Auster. He and Coetzee became very close friends with time and they never stopped writing to each other even if they lived so far away. These were not ordinary letters as they loved to write about deeper topics, like discrimination, sports, writing, freedom, among many more. Lots of ideas to think about, but a book that must be read slowly as it deals with so many topics.

The corrispondence between Auster and Cotzee is very interesting, if we consider their high value as writers , but also as personalities around the civil rights.The arguments of the book are given from literature, and in a certain sense we can consider it as literature about literature,a "critics of the critics" as Todorov think that.But the reader has the possibility to see several arguments also about the sport, following this book in a way speedy.An interesting aspect is the way how the nations have their evolution, and the literature is the mirror of those facts, if it is able to understand the modern trends.

Despite the book's slightly contrived premise, and occasionally forced or dead-end lines of conversation, Coetzee and Auster make for a good balance - Coetzee's insightful abstractions (I think he'd tip the scale on a contest of quotable quotes) are held in check by Auster's insistence on anecdotal illustrations (predictably enough, Auster wins on good yarns). They're like literary versions of those old muppets Waldorf and Statler. Full of amusing gripes and jokes.I enjoyed it. I'll be buying the next episode.

Loved it, like all Paul Auster books, his exchanges with Coetzee are priceless.

My lukewarm response to this series of letters between two literary giants, Auster and Coetzee, may reflect more on my expectations and assumptions about such a book. I was bitterly disappointed, especially in the self-aggrandising contribution made by Coetzee.As a fan of both writers, I fear my expectations drew on some projected beliefs about the whole being more than the sum of the parts. The author of Disgrace and Elizabeth Costello has much in common with the mind that conceived Leviathan. I anticipated an intense, intellectual exchange about the challenge of devising and structuring such ideas-driven fiction. I thought I’d find insights, Paris Review style, into the writing process, or at the very least, honest self-revelation about the demons that attend the novelist, and the means by which they might be banished. Advocates of the ‘literary biography as voyeurism’ school will curl their lips here; Coetzee and Auster surely may write to each other about any damn thing they please. Indeed. But why seek publication? The exercise smacks of vanity, or worse, avarice. Or extreme narcissism (that is, even more than one needs to be a novelist, which is considerable). I am not unsympathetic to the fiscal imperative all writers confront, but even allowing for the narcissism which must necessarily accompany literary talents of such proportions as these, it seems an error of judgement has occurred. It may be a salutary lesson, to seek the novelist only in the novels.

A must read for any aspiring writers. The conversations between these two geniuses from sport to friendship, really enhances your perspective on the subject.

Quelle déception. Deux grands auteurs que j'aime - surtout les premiers livres de Auster et tous ceux de Coetzee. Mais là leurs conversations sont d'un ennui.....et d'une pauvreté lexicale saisissants.

A superb, thought provoking, brilliantly written and philosophically intriguing volume from the multi-talented Mr Auster and, of course, Mr Coetzee. If you are a fan of either of these writers you will not feel let down. And, if you've never read either author before, I would still advise you to go ahead. I'm sure that you will be enthralled. An excellent purchase.

Lo encontré por casualidad y no pude resistirme al ver a dos de mis escritores favoritos juntos. El formato es ameno y los temas tratados están a la altura de la ficción de ambos autores.

A good read. A different kind of genre.Exchange of letters through pre arrangement. The letters represent views and opinions of two well known authors on varied subjects including incestous relationships.Enjoyable read with an easy flow of language.