Life: A User's Manual
Life: A User's Manual
Book Brief
Beta581
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
1988
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
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
Reviews & Readership
9,847 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
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.
Who Should Read Life: A User's Manual?
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
Georges Perec's Life: A User's Manual is structured around a 10x10 grid inspired by the knight’s tour problem in chess, illustrating Perec's love for complex literary constraints and puzzles.
The novel was written using the techniques of the Oulipo group, a gathering of writers and mathematicians dedicated to creating works using constrained writing techniques, with Perec being one of its most famous members.
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Published in 1978, the book was awarded the prestigious Prix Médicis, one of France's major literary awards, recognizing its innovative narrative style and structure.
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581
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
1988
Adult
18+ years
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