Rating: 
Summary: Riveting and intriguing character study
Review: I began reading Leviathan with no knowledge of Auster other than that a friend enjoyed his work. The book read quicker and more easily than I expected, but it is by no means shallow or simple. Having now read several other Auster novels(Music of Chance, Moon Palace), I can't helping believing that much of the book, at least in terms of character study, is autobiographical. The plot does require a certain suspension of disbelief, but this does not diminish its artistic merit.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I expected something much weightier than what I found in reading this book. The storyline was slow and mildly interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: A Unabomber "Apologia pro vita sua."
Review: I first came across Mr Auster's books while working in Japan. I read everything in the English section of the local bookstore, and his "New York Trilogy" was one of the books I devoured. The "New York Trilogy" stuck in my mind because of the relentless grayness and over-control of the lives described therein. Everything was *so* carefully considered, including the assorted manias of the various dysfunctional characters. "Leviathan" continues this grayness and over-control, to the tune of "Sympathy for the Unabomber." It plots the self-destructive trajectory of a writer accidentally turned protest-bomber and reads like a "Seinfeld" episode produced by a really depressed team. The strange thing about Auster's books is that, like a really bad traffic accident, they draw me as they repulse me, so that when I get about 90% of the way through one of them, I'm saying to myself "For God's sake, put this thing down." Then I finish. Mr. Auster's probably a great writer. He just depresses me.
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Summary: German Reader
Review: I have just finished reading "Leviathan" (translated german version). This is the first book of P. Auster that I read. I was completely enthusiastic. Werner Schmitz who is responsible for the german version uses a very nice kind of speach (Please accept the excuse as my english is not the very best). I will read more books of Mr. Auster in english as well as in German.
Coincidently after having finished reading "Leviathan" I switched on my TV and saw a film directed and written by Paul Auster: Lulu on the bridge.
I will give this book to friends as a birthday or Xmas present because I also received it on my birthday.
Thank you
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Great Author
Review: I have recently read Leviathin for the second time and found it more enjoyable than ever...It is filled with big words that are joined together creating remarkable prose...I really am surprised this story itself hasn't been hollywoodized...If nothing else, it is very interesting and you should have no trouble reading it in a short time...Auster has replaced Grisham as my favorite author...The only question remains (much like Hemmingway) Is it existentialism?
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest books i've ever read!
Review: I have to read Leviathan for my english class .I've read in the past 2 hours 60 pages without stoping while I was traveling by bus , taxi and when i arrived home i didn't even take out my jacket i continued reading .It's very trapping!Auster really shows human being experiences , miseries , weakness and good points .I haven't finished it yet , but it's so great .I feel he has captured human being esence as i felt when i watched Cigars
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and valuable reading material
Review: I read Paul Auster's Leviathan at school and I very much liked the novel. It's full of interesting characters and contains a remarkable net of relationships. Paul Auster deals with quite a number of aspects of every day's life in the modern age. I also liked the construction of the novel although some coincidences especially towards the end are less likely to happen. Dealing with the novel in class we focused on the aspect of identity presented in the novel. Every chapter is full of references to this very actual topid. Besides it was interesting to observe the changes in character of the two protagonists, Peter Aaron who is also the novelist, and Benjamin Sachs. Peter Aaron's life is rather typical of our days whereas Sachs's life often contains more preposterous aspects. In the end I was a little bit disappointed when I had finished the book and some secrets were left unsolved. But after reflecting the novel I recognized that maybe here lies the intention of the novel. The reader should realize that the novel is not of political or thrilling character but of psycological quality. It may intend to force the reader to think about himself and his environment. All in all Leviathen is interesting and valuable reading material and the reader who is not satisfied with more superficial entertainment has several aspects to think about. I would highly recommend the novel.
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Summary: Interesting, but Not as Successfull as The New York Trilogy
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, even though it initially seemed like a rehash of themes Auster developed more fully, and I would say more succesfully, in _The New York Trilogy_. The characters in this book are woefully underdeveloped. I agreed with another individual who spoke about the book when she said that the women, in particular, only fitted traditionally sexist stereotypes that all too often plague contemporary fiction. Perhaps Auster wants to make the women in his book the spitting image of what most of us consider film noir women. Rather than force the reader to encounter those stereotypes, though, Auster simply uses them within his prose. I truly love the amount of introspection in this book and its almost brilliant consideration of the part fiction inevitably plays in our lives and in the reconstruction of memory. Benjamin Sach's almost pathological need to create meaning around situations that may or may not have any meaning tied to them is especially interesting. The ambiguity of causation within the novel creates many far reaching consequences. It seems that Auster is attempting to show us that no matter whether something caused something else, our belief in particular explanations have very real consequences. Auster fans should, by all means, read this book. It reconsiders important themes developed by Auster in other books, and reincorporates them into a discussion of terrorism. We find an author who leaves his practice to become a terrorist. We find a friend who, in his own way, practices a sort of literary terrorism meant to divert the attention of the investigators. What if this book, written by the main character in the novel to the FBI, was intended to divert their attention away from finding one singular explanation? What if, the narrator isn't completely reliable? What has Auster left out? These questions make reading _Leviathan_ a very enjoyable experience. I would suggest, though, that people who want to start reading Auster read this book first. Then, go on to _The New York Trilogy_. I must confess that after reading NYT, I was somewhat dissapointed with this book.
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Summary: never want to read another book
Review: I think this book has changed my life, or maybe my perspective. The words were combined so well that it made my chest hurt. When I was through I was convinced I was a better person for reading it. It's an amazing description of life, friendship and the passing of time. It is best book I've read in years and perhaps ever.
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Summary: A captivating story, told with style.
Review: I was in a bookstore, intending to pick up a Jane Austen book, when the title of this nearby book caught my eye. The very first sentence was exhilarating. I immediately bought the book and read in the café next door until I finished it. Paul Auster's storytelling style is marvelous and unique, and the dancing dialog of his characters makes you want it never to end. I've read several other books by him, all good, but none quite match Leviathan. Still haven't gotten around to buying that Jane Austen book!
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