Sunset Park: An Initial Reflection

Everything that exists in a delicate stasis can be torn apart in an instant. Blinded by the new chapters they are on the brink of living, the tenants of Sunset Park are caught unawares of the violent eviction that suddenly materializes. I (your blogger truly) think about Linderman's acidic reaction to the finale of the book, but I find it an accurate telling of the suddenness and magnitude of tragedy from the view point of one experiencing it.

The entire book is teeming with reflection on past tragedy and how people move forward. However, it supplements this illustration with the sobering truth that tragedies will continue to happen even after you come to terms with those of the past. Just as the estranged soldiers are coping with the emotional and physical wounds of war, they must face infidelity, alcoholism, and handicaps in their "new" life.

Sunset Park ends without any resolution to the current dilemma. Personally, I feel that Ellen might find her drawings in a trash, or possibly finds solace in creating new artwork to accompany her new identity. I think Bing will serve a little time and resolve to fight the system in another petty way. Alice must have emailed herself copies of the dissertation at some point - I find it difficult to believe that she literally only has one copy in her computer. Miles might have to serve some time, but he has powerful connections, and as the nation has seen with the Bush twins there are ways to shirk consequence.

There are so many themes and ways to approach this novel, but I'm particularly interested in Auster's style of writing in telling the story. His level of vocabulary and style do not change from character to character indicating that there is a consistent author. However, the narrator speaks as if he is situated within the minds of these characters, relaying their unedited, internal thoughts. However, there is a shift when focus settles on Morris Heller. Suddenly, the reader has been transported to where the narrator exists and experiences the plot within the mind of Morris Heller. For example, "You have met with the boy twice more since your reuninon on January twenty-sixth" (pg. 274). Is this the recording of observations that Heller mentioned he would start writing? If so, why does Auster have him choose to write "you" instead of I? These are all questions requiring further scrutiny of the novel and shifts in narration from chapter to chapter.