“A Life in Books” by Warren Lehrer – Finding Identity in Literature

The need for self-understanding and a personal identity is something virtually every human on this planet has, but we all go about it in different ways. While some people undertake grandiose journeys around the world, there are others who prefer to delve deep onto odysseys into their own minds.

In A Life in Books by Warren Lehrer we are treated to the latter as we are presented the fictitious biography of Bleu Mobley, a man who had a rather interesting life, going from living as a child in a public housing project to becoming a journalist, a professor and a best-selling author, amongst other things.

Most lately though, Mosbey became an unindicted prisoner for his refusal to reveal a confidential source. Now in prison, what he truly has left are the 101 books he wrote before and during his stay behind bars, the books that tell his story better than anything else.

As you can imagine the, story goes from one point of view to the next, as we switch from Mobley's perspective to the stories taking place in his books. Each and every one of them is covered at least to some extent, with there being plenty of excerpts, notes and thoughts given to all of them.

All of the books are also gloriously-illustrated with their first-edition covers, something which truly helps to make Mobley's story feel like a real one.

We get to delve into the minds of countless characters here and there, and as the novel goes on it seems the protagonist's writings become increasingly ridiculous. Despite the somber atmosphere which lingers through the novel (with Mobley being hopelessly in prison and all that) you won't be able to help yourself but laugh at all the observations and shenanigans enacted by the characters.

Naturally, this mechanic isn't simply some sort of gimmick designed to make this novel different from others and more entertaining, though it certainly does succeed in that endeavor. These 101 books are actually what Mobley seems to latch on to in hopes of, in the end, gaining what he always sought: understanding.

He tries to gain understanding in all areas of life through his own literature, but primarily, understanding of himself, his thoughts, his actions, his history, and his identity.

Needless to say, despite the fact that the book feels in large part like a comedy, there are some rather profound ideas and thoughts that will linger around in your head. For the most part, it seemed to me that Lehrer was commenting both on the state of being a writer in the modern world as well as the power books have in terms of helping us understand ourselves.

He discusses the subjects of what can be trusted as real in literature, who a writer becomes once his ideas spill over into many areas and they assume the perspectives of their various characters, the importance and worth of a pen name as well as the hold it can have on your identity, and such.

All things taken into consideration, A Life in Books is certainly an unusual novel, one that will at the same time have you laughing in tears and pondering on some of the heavier topics in this life. It seamlessly moves between reality and fiction, entrancing the reader into a wonderous vortex of a life which, for all intents and purposes, actually feels like it may have happened.

I can do nothing but recommend A Life in Books to those looking for some philosophy in relation to literature alongside their comedy.

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Warren Lehrer Personal site Warren Lehrer is an internationally-renowned artist, designer and writer who is recognized as one of the grand pioneers of visual literature. His works often delve into the absurdity of life, social structures and the elusive human nature in all of its beauty and horror. He has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Innovative Use of Archives Award and the 2004 Brendan Gill Prize.