Life: A User's Manual
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1988
581
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
1988
Adult
18+ years
Life: A User's Manual by Georges Perec intricately explores the lives of residents in a Parisian apartment building. Each chapter delves into individual stories and interconnections, creating a complex portrait of urban existence. Perec crafts a puzzle-like narrative, highlighting the impact of people, objects, and histories in a confined space.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Melancholic
Gritty
9,847 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Georges Perec's Life: A User's Manual is praised for its intricate narrative and structural ingenuity, reflecting a microcosm of human experience. Readers appreciate its detailed character portraits and playful storytelling. However, some find its complexity daunting, potentially alienating those who favor linear plots. It is a literary puzzle that rewards patience and attention to detail.
A reader who enjoys Life: A User's Manual by Georges Perec would appreciate intricate narratives, detailed settings, and experimental structures. Fans of Calvino's If on a Winter's Night a Traveler or Joyce's Ulysses would find Perec's novel engaging for its inventive style and layered storytelling.
9,847 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
581
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
1988
Adult
18+ years
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