I stumbled upon this book one day at my friends house...searching for a book to read from her 100 or so books, and never having read Paul Auster before, I picked up Book Of Illusions...the writing is awesome and contains an intense and descriptive narrative...it also gave me some important messages...messages that I was looking for at that moment..."when you are ready to learn, the teacher arrives"...thanks paul...btw, I find you stunning.