Life

A User's Manual

Paperback, 581 pages

English language

Published Sept. 1, 2000 by David R Godine.

ISBN:
978-0-87923-751-6
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Get lost in this

Just one long book that describes every person and thing and story in one Parisian apartment building, and is very weird. There's a bit of a background story of a rich person and puzzles, but mostly just only tangentially connected bits and pieces from all over the place. Really a thorough attempt at grasping all the world at once. It's gripping and compelling and has changed the way I read the world, look at rooms, interact with things. I found the original French too difficult, but sometimes when a little chapter was particularly compelling I'd go back and read it in French, too, which was always a joyous experience.

Review of 'Life' on 'GoodReads'

Immense. A wonderful exploration through a fascinating fictional apartment block in Paris, guided by Perec's unyielding commitment to his own self-set Oulipean rules. A masterpiece.

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Subjects

  • Modern fiction
  • Paris (France)
  • Fiction
  • Fiction - General
  • General
  • Literature & Fiction
  • City and town life
  • Apartment houses