The book of illusions is a novel by american writer paul auster published in 2002it was nominated for the international impac dublin literary award in 2004. The book of illusions paul auster the book of illusions is a novel by american writer paul auster published in 2002 it was nominated for the international impac dublin literary award in 2004. The book of illusions is an extraordinarily empathetic humanistic novel auster writes about identity love joy loss sadness and hope he speaks to the human condition the book of illusions provides an in depth exploration of ones response to human brokenness human hope as well as human finitude these responses are usually not fixed. Illusions provokes thinking about these and more but without being preachy or pontificating the author never pretends to know the truth he just raises interesting points and does so in a humorous and entertaining way when i first read it the book seemed very profound to me as it was the first time id encountered some of the ideas. The book of illusions takes readers into a memorable film like setting of vivid images and examines our ever needful desire to read ourselves into the moving images on a blank white screen richard carter is a writer in north texas who cherishes the films and writings of the silent screen actress louise brooks