Reading Experience: 10:04 By Ben Lerner Book Reviews Example

10:04 is a highly acclaimed novel by young American novelist Ben Learner. The author has received acclamations of readers, as well as critics for his novel. Ben learner is a young novelist and 10:04 is his second novel, but the way he uses his ideas, motifs and prose style in the novel, is commendable. Even his critics accept that learner is an upcoming author with some merit. This paper intends to discuss the novel 10:04 and analyses various related aspects of the same.
Through the book readers follow narrator who is wandering different places in New York that are not much impacted by two storms. The readers can imagine that the disaster brought by two storms was fail to match the disaster happened after 9/11 attack. Two storms created tension in mind of people, but Lerner very calmly described the meditative hysteria. Lerner describes a young and intellectual narrator who is worrying about writing his book.
The narrator also diagnosed with an illness named Marfan syndrome. The narrator is anxious, mysterious, charming and confiding. The narrator also wants a child with his friend. Lerner at different levels tries to display different personality aspects of the narrator. The narrator seems to own luxury and do not worry about money. When he got tired from NYC he moved to Marfa, where he visits art exhibition and writes poetry.
10:04 book seems inspired by the person life of the writer because narrator of the story in the book is also struggling to write his 2nd book. At very beginning of the book, narrator received significant advance money for his upcoming book, which eased all financial problems of the author. However, the narrator shows a professional lifestyle that is expensive and capable to display his big figure (Lerner, 2014).
The writing style of Lerner carries depth and thoughtfulness and seems capable to touch the mind of readers. From opening till end the book requires attention of the reader. Opening statement grab attention of the reader when narrator says that “The city had converted an elevated length of railway spur into an aerial greenway and the agent and I were walking south along it in the unseasonable warmth after an outrageously expensive celebratory meal in Chelsea that included baby octopuses the chef had literally massaged to death" (Lerner, 2014, p. 1).
Lerner’s meditative style allows narrator to get lost into the dreams of modern world, we are living today. Narrator on one hand enjoys the luxury, and on other hand, worries about the approaching crisis. Narrator also attempted to live a life in ethical and moral way. Lerner’s narrator is also suffering like other normal people, but his suffering are not same as common people (Lerner, 2014).
Lerner displayed his narrator little immune to the suffering of the realistic world. There are very few occasions when narrator feels pain of others such as narrator offered shower to the Occupy protestor, and he also goes to a local school as a volunteer. However, narrator most of the time is with himself. He wants world to get adjusted according to him and not ready to adjust himself as per the world.
10:04 is well written book of today’s time that describe complexities associated with modern world and provide different perspectives to it. Despite of all good things 10:04 also have some weaknesses. For example, in the middle of the book Lerner start talking about a story that was published on ‘The New Yorker’. The story does not display depth of ideas, and lack of intelligence and imagination (Beckman, 2015).
Some readers, as well as critics opine that the novel is influenced by works of other authors. Some opine that learner has tried to copy Kundera. But his critics appears to be in hurry and criticize learner unnecessarily. Literary works of two writers may appear same and even f one if influenced by the other, it is not unethical or astonishing. The novel is not only entertaining, but it is well written with quality content.
Having observed a succinct analysis of Ben Learner’s novel, 10:04, this paper concludes that Ben learner has succeeded in delivering a luminous piece of literature. His novel is liked by a large number of readers. He has also received some eminent prizes for the same. Learners’ ideas and writing style is evaluated by critics who see an upcoming novelist in him. Theme, prose and author’s effort in his current novel is clearly visible and he deserves acclamations for that.

References

Beckman, J. (2015, Jan 5). 10:04 by Ben Lerner Review. Retrieved Feb 26, 2015, from Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/11310446/1004-by-Ben-Lerner-review.html
Lerner, B. (2014). 10:04: A Novel. USA: Faber & Faber.