At 89, cinematic legend Woody Allen has embarked on an entirely new venture, releasing his first-ever novel, What's With Baum?, to a chorus of mixed critical reception. The book marks a significant late-career pivot for the prolific director, whose cinematic output has recently slowed.
A Philosophical Quest for Meaning
The novel centres on a deeply relatable protagonist: a man confronting the unsettling quiet of retirement and the looming shadow of his own mortality. This existential crisis propels him on a quest to find a mysterious figure named Baum, a journey that becomes a metaphor for the search for purpose in life's final act.
Critics note the familiar Allen hallmarks woven throughout the prose. The narrative is punctuated by his signature witty one-liners and a pervasive, philosophical angst. The central question—what is the point of it all?—is a theme that has preoccupied Allen throughout his filmmaking career, now translated to the page.
A Review of Divided Opinions
The critical response, as analysed in the original review, is far from unanimous. Some praise the novel's genuine humour and its poignant, melancholic core, finding it a thoughtful meditation on themes Allen has long explored.
However, a more sceptical view questions whether the book succeeds as a standalone literary work. Detractors suggest it reads more like an extended film treatment or a collection of ideas that never fully cohere into a compelling novel. The prose itself is described by some as functional, lacking the distinctive flair expected from an author of his stature.
From Silver Screen to Printed Page
This literary debut inevitably invites comparison to Allen's monumental filmography. Readers familiar with works like Crimes and Misdemeanors or Midnight in Paris will recognise the intellectual preoccupations. The key difference lies in the medium; without his directorial eye for composition and pacing, the success of the story rests entirely on the strength of the writing.
What's With Baum? ultimately presents a fascinating case study of a visual storyteller testing the waters of literature. It is a book that will likely appeal most ardently to dedicated Woody Allen aficionados curious to see how his voice translates to prose. For the broader reading public, it stands as a curious, if flawed, late-life experiment from one of the most distinctive artistic minds of our time.
