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4 3 2 1
- Narrated by: Paul Auster
- Length: 36 hrs and 53 mins
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4 3 2 1
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Summary
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017
Narrated by the award-winning author himself, this epic tale invites you into a world where the fate of a single person takes four different turns. Graceful and eloquent, it's a touching story of how a life can be dramatically altered by the choices you make.
Paul Auster's first novel in seven years. His greatest, most provocative, most heartbreaking, most satisfying work. A sweeping story of birthright and possibility, of love and the fullness of life itself. A masterpiece.
This audiobook contains exclusive bonus material in the form of an interview with the author.
On March 3, 1947, in the maternity ward of Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the one and only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson's life will take four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four Fergusons made of the same genetic material, four boys who are the same boy, will go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Family fortunes diverge. Loves and friendships and intellectual passions contrast. Chapter by chapter, the rotating narratives evolve into an elaborate dance of inner worlds enfolded within the outer forces of history as, one by one, the intimate plot of each Ferguson's story rushes on across the tumultuous and fractured terrain of mid twentieth-century America. A boy grows up - again and again and again.
As inventive and dexterously constructed as anything Paul Auster has ever written, 4 3 2 1 is an unforgettable tour de force, the crowning work of this masterful writer's extraordinary career.
Paul Auster is the best-selling author of Winter Journal, Sunset Park, Man in the Dark, The Brooklyn Follies, The Book of Illusions and The New York Trilogy, among many other works. In 2006 he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature and inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Among his other honours are the Independent Spirit Award for the screenplay of Smoke and the Prix Medicis Etranger for Leviathan. He has also been short-listed for both the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (The Book of Illusions) and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction (The Music of Chance). His work has been translated into more than 30 languages. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about 4 3 2 1
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shawn Walker, London
- 06-09-19
So much
So much. So much to say. I loved this book and this reading so much I disintegrated.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Keith Bradshaw
- 18-10-17
Interesting idea - a little drawn out
I had really mixed feelings over this book. I started it and then gave up as it was really hard going and the author reads his own work which was a departure from many narrators who are more expressive. Anyway after a month or so I went back to it and stuck with it. And it needs a lot of sticking with as its a really long book. I find the idea of having different outcomes based on some random change in your life really interesting and it was good how this was developed - with 4 'lives' for one character hence the title. But it sort of meandered along and although neatly tied up at the end which gave it a good tight finish it was a bit aimless in places. It didn't help that some of the books parts were excessively detailed. For example when saying that the character studied English authors of the 20th century it would have worked to give 2 or 3 examples - but not over 20 - it was just a little pointless. So I think it is a genuine book by a good author and a very interesting idea. The concept is well structured and works well - but overall a little long and not sure that the book was worth the many days investment I put in. However, it is a Booker prize nomination so is well thought of.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Badger
- 01-02-17
Gold, pure Auster gold.
37 hours of Paul Auster's voice and text! This really is a dream come true. It's a rare treat to hear Auster narrate his fiction. His perfectly paced delivery is every bit as brilliant as his prose. I've listened to a few hours and know that I'll be listening again and again ... and again. And again ...
On a bit of a side note, if you're using an Apple device and it refuses to download - you might need to go into settings and download in parts, rather than the large single file.
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25 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Amelialegbar ♥️
- 04-09-17
Superb
Fantastic storyline with so many events to keep you hooked and even though it's a long story, I was still disappointed when it ended! If only there was more!
Fantastic narration from the author, a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BJ Lohoar
- 17-11-18
One of the best books ever...
This was recommended to me and I hadn’t heard it read anything about it - it is amazing and felt like losing a friend when it had finished - a marvellous epic proportions book - which will entrance and entertain and educate - a force and a feat - highly recommended (made me so my first comment in a book!).
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Caroline S.
- 15-09-22
So good....
Auster narrated by Auster. It doesn't get any better than this. I can't believe people are criticizing his delivery... only a true New Yorker could narrate this book. You can almost smell New York and taste it while you are listening to him! I didn't want it to end.
My partner and I often talk about how even the small choices or events that happen in life can be life changing... and that is just what this book is about. Fascinating to follow 4 separate threads of the same life to each of their conclusions. It's a story of coming of age at a time of major social upheaval (late 60s/early 70s). Before my time, so the level of detail about attitudes and society in this era really helped for context.
It's touching and funny. Told in a way that only Auster can do. Archie, I think, is like every teenage boy in America. Big dreams, kind heart, and obsessed with sex! Auster obviously has genuine affection for this character. I wonder to what degree some of the events are at least semi-autobiographical.
Recommend 100%. There is nothing not to love about this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- bookylady
- 26-09-17
Brilliant. A complete masterpiece. Loved it.
Paul Auster is a writer of real intelligence, wit and is a master of complex plotting. The concept of this book -the lifestory of one person told in four different imaginings- is inspired and daring but the author pulls it off. Loved all the interwoven characters and the inclusion of the politics of 1960s/1970s USA. I was so sad when it ended but I will look forward to listening to it again n the future.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- sin sin minkin
- 18-10-17
A Modern Epic
4321 is so well written and read I've listened to each episode twice over. Auster is bordering on becoming a master.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Cliff Wiggett
- 08-01-18
long but worth it
longest book/audio book I've ever tackled. a little too long for my liking but the storyline/storylines were good enough to keep my interested to the end.
a very unique book with a clever structure that was easier to follow than I thought it would be.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Moshe Cohen
- 27-11-17
an epic tale. Auster's master book.
a discovery into the author's own heart, history, life events and American history of the middle 20th century.
long but worth the read/ listen.
in my case: long car journies.
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