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El cazador de autógrafos
by
Zadie Smith
La publicación de Dientes blancos en el año 2000 supuso uno de los debuts literarios más sonados de los últimos tiempos. Con apenas veinticinco años, Zadie Smith asombró a la crítica y al público internacional con un elaborado sentido del ritmo narrativo y un talento inaudito para dibujar personajes de tres dimensiones. Y si su opera prima destacaba por la exuberante compl...more
Paperback, 379 pages
Published
December 30th 2003
by Salamandra
(first published 2002)
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This book was hilarious. It was full of schtick: 3 rabbis always in the same spot, always trying to move a random piece of furniture; someone trying to "drink alphabetically" starting with absinthe but not making it past a Tia Maria; helping an old Russian actress escape to America, leading to a false report of her death.
Also lots of little sad moments: A deranged and depressing old autograph man, dying in the hospital receives a check for $15,000 he will never be able to cash -- " 'Signed by Al...more
Also lots of little sad moments: A deranged and depressing old autograph man, dying in the hospital receives a check for $15,000 he will never be able to cash -- " 'Signed by Al...more
An everyday tale, really, keeps you reading but nothing terribly original or special. The language is what lifts this story out of the mundane. The last five paragraphs were lyrical and perfect and yet the end was a disappointment - it went on too long but ended too soon.
I would have liked to see more of what happened with Kitty, would have liked to see more of what happened to Max, what happened to Alex once it became known that…
But I don’t want to spoil.
Very funny, touching; beautifully writ...more
I would have liked to see more of what happened with Kitty, would have liked to see more of what happened to Max, what happened to Alex once it became known that…
But I don’t want to spoil.
Very funny, touching; beautifully writ...more
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
James Wood in his thesis review covers all the thoughts I had on this one (and more and more) and is the most worthwhile review of this book around. For those who aren’t that interested, let me sum up the basics: lapsed Anglo-Chinese Jew Alex-Li is an autograph hunter fixated on Kitty Alexander, fictional Hollywood starlet of the 1950s. He spends his time writing a book on Jews v. Christians, spurning his faith, squabbling with rabbis, upsetting his bald girlfriend and cavorting...more
James Wood in his thesis review covers all the thoughts I had on this one (and more and more) and is the most worthwhile review of this book around. For those who aren’t that interested, let me sum up the basics: lapsed Anglo-Chinese Jew Alex-Li is an autograph hunter fixated on Kitty Alexander, fictional Hollywood starlet of the 1950s. He spends his time writing a book on Jews v. Christians, spurning his faith, squabbling with rabbis, upsetting his bald girlfriend and cavorting...more
What started out as a promising read quickly turned into a...really crappy one. I know this makes me sound somewhat like a whiny seventh grader when I say this, but god, this book was booooorring. I read the entire thing hoping that at some point it'd turn the corner and pick up the pace, but no, it just basically ground itself out into a completely anti-climactic ending. But before that we got pages and pages of...I don't even know what, I disliked this book so much that I immediately purged it...more
I enjoyed Smith's writing style far more than I enjoyed the plot (which promised some things but delivered others) or the characters (who are neatly drawn, but on paper that is very thin indeed); but even the sometimes whimsical, sometimes nervy, sometimes delightful turns of her prose weren't enough to save The Autograph Man from being something of a disappointment. It's more mature in some ways than White Teeth, darker, and I would imagine in many ways a reflection on Smith's part on the fame...more
"Alex, like everybody, held hospitals in the hightest, purest dread and loathing. To come in with a bump and leave with the baby--this is the only grace available in a hospital. Other than that, there is only pain. The concentration of pain. Hospitals are unique in this concentration. There are no areas in the world dedicated to the concentration of pleasure (theme parks and their like are a concentration of the symbols of pleasure, not pleasure itself), there are no buildings dedicated to laugh...more
not a flawless work of fiction (whatever that means) but i've got a soft spot for zadie smith.
the thing is, i have taken it upon myself to handle this thing called literature in a logical and thoroughly disciplined manner. this means i do not usually forray into the 21st century, not until i get my head around what shaped it.
but then come those moments when i need a breather from all the high brow genius and all the modern classics or, as i call it, 'books unsuitable for my daily commute'. s...more
the thing is, i have taken it upon myself to handle this thing called literature in a logical and thoroughly disciplined manner. this means i do not usually forray into the 21st century, not until i get my head around what shaped it.
but then come those moments when i need a breather from all the high brow genius and all the modern classics or, as i call it, 'books unsuitable for my daily commute'. s...more
After reading "White Teeth," I probably had unreasonably high expectations for "The Autograph Man." A book centered around the life of a man who hustles autographs, has myserious substance abuse problems, and an obsession with a timeless film icon - this book lacked the magic. I didn't care about the characters on the same deep level as in "White Teeth" - and their lives didn't intertwine in a meaningful way that I could appreciate. This novel seemed all over the place and even-sappy? I'm sure I...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
First I'll say I loved her book "White Teeth." This, her second book, "not so much," as the proverbial "they" say. But, literally, "not so much as the first one." Some of the same strengths here: zany and completely believable characters, unexpectedly ordinary life actions made special by the acuity of her observation, delightful irrelevances, racial/ethnic diversity, and life-forms that are not intellectual professional-class white American guys. Nothing wrong with IP-CWAGs, just--it's nice to...more
Alex-Li Tandem wakes up one morning to find that he owns something
he's been obsessed with for years: the autograph of 50's film icon
Kitty Alexander. If he hadn't been on some unusually potent drugs the
night before, he'd swear his dreams had come true. As it is, most of
his friends figure he's finally snapped and forged the priceless
memento himself. So begins "The Autograph Man", Zadie Smith's followup
to her blockbuster first novel "White Teeth".
Smith is a fan of classic British comedy, and...more
he's been obsessed with for years: the autograph of 50's film icon
Kitty Alexander. If he hadn't been on some unusually potent drugs the
night before, he'd swear his dreams had come true. As it is, most of
his friends figure he's finally snapped and forged the priceless
memento himself. So begins "The Autograph Man", Zadie Smith's followup
to her blockbuster first novel "White Teeth".
Smith is a fan of classic British comedy, and...more
This book has performed a necessary feat--revived my love of literature and STORY post a 3-year, year-round, purely academic stint. An unmatched feeling (exclusive to the luxury of reading for pleasure) constantly arises: I read, I stare at a household object or tree and repeat the gifted string of words, thinking, how in the world did anyone know to write this? How did Smith know to wrap up the humour of philography, the elusiveness of fame, the over-the-top sanctity of religious belief, and th...more
Nov 12, 2010
Brady Dale
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Americans and Brits in their late 20s and early 30s, unmarried people, collectors
Shelves:
books-i-should-read-again
One of the single most memorable books I've ever read and totally underappreciated. It's so good. It's about a young man totally at a loss in his life and he has to do a lot of stupid things to realize he actually has it all pretty good. She chooses a very funny little adventure and a very special character to help him get his head sorted.
It's hard for me to say why this book is so great. I think Smith just has a lot of talent but is often constrained by others expectations of her talent. I thin...more
It's hard for me to say why this book is so great. I think Smith just has a lot of talent but is often constrained by others expectations of her talent. I thin...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I read White Teeth and On Beauty in college, loving both. I always heard The Autograph Man received poor reviews - Smith's sophomore slump for the alliterative. While her second novel doesn't quite meet expectations given her first and third, I still enjoyed reading it, even if it ran a little too long. I like to judge books by great quotations I can pull from them. I have two from this work:
"But he was tortured by the idea that she would grow old! He understood that in all likelihood this sort...more
"But he was tortured by the idea that she would grow old! He understood that in all likelihood this sort...more
The Autograph Man tells the story of Alex-Li Tandem, a half-Jewish, half-Chinese, celebrity-obsessed young man living in a London suburb.
He's a collector of autographs and has been obsessively seeking one from Kitty Alexander, a reclusive 1950s actress. Despite a best friend and a beautiful black girlfriend for companionship, Alex is hung up on himself and what he doesn't have.
The novel starts okay. Three kids and a father go to a wrestling match between Big Daddy and Haystacks, one kid (Alex-...more
He's a collector of autographs and has been obsessively seeking one from Kitty Alexander, a reclusive 1950s actress. Despite a best friend and a beautiful black girlfriend for companionship, Alex is hung up on himself and what he doesn't have.
The novel starts okay. Three kids and a father go to a wrestling match between Big Daddy and Haystacks, one kid (Alex-...more
I'd delayed reading this book for many years because of the mediocre reviews but there it was: a lone English novel, in a Spanish book shop, so I decided to take the plunge. Plus I had just finished rereading On Beauty, which is enjoyable and insightful, and works so well as an updated Howard's End.
Unfortunately the reviews were right. This feels like it was difficult to write; you can sense the sections where Smith must have thrown up her hands in despair. It makes several clunky attempts to of...more
Unfortunately the reviews were right. This feels like it was difficult to write; you can sense the sections where Smith must have thrown up her hands in despair. It makes several clunky attempts to of...more
This is a hard book for me to rate.
On the great upside, the craft and language were some of the most beautiful I've read in a while. There were sentences I went back to re-read just for the compact beauty.
IN literary fiction the demands of plot are a lot less crucial, and indeed this was a slow book, eddying from the main action here and there, returning in its own time. Usually, where plot is deficient there's lots of room for ideas, thoughts, themes hooked upon structure. I didn't understand...more
On the great upside, the craft and language were some of the most beautiful I've read in a while. There were sentences I went back to re-read just for the compact beauty.
IN literary fiction the demands of plot are a lot less crucial, and indeed this was a slow book, eddying from the main action here and there, returning in its own time. Usually, where plot is deficient there's lots of room for ideas, thoughts, themes hooked upon structure. I didn't understand...more
Despite popular opinion, I actually think this book has some great ideas inside of it. The plot is shaky yes, but overall, I think it has great character development.
Very slow going in the beginning. It wasn't until after page 150 or so that I was actually finding myself interested in picking up the novel, but then I was. The relationship between Kitty and Alex saved the novel. What happens when a boy who is troubled by his past and the grief that comes with it, meets the one woman he has store...more
Very slow going in the beginning. It wasn't until after page 150 or so that I was actually finding myself interested in picking up the novel, but then I was. The relationship between Kitty and Alex saved the novel. What happens when a boy who is troubled by his past and the grief that comes with it, meets the one woman he has store...more
I like Zadie Smith. I know not everyone does. This book was good, she says hesitantly. I was intrigued but not engrossed. I am still in the "digesting" phase of finishing the book, attempting to view the bigger picture. I think this novel had a lot to say and Smith writes heart-achingly beautiful prose. I'm talking about sentences, phrases, paragraphs you want to read over and over again...share with someone....
This novel is more than a commentary on fame. In fact, fame and its trappings are th...more
Not as good as On Beauty, not anywhere as good as White Teeth, but still good enough if you´re a Zadie Smith fan.
Reading Zadie Smith´s beautiful prose is always a reason to pick up anything by her, but this one is definitely her weakest. Is it the main character who never grows on us, with his lukewarm approach to life and his constant inability to decide whether he wants to be with his stunning girlfriend (who also has a pacemaker) or fool around with some random acquaintance... while harbourin...more
Reading Zadie Smith´s beautiful prose is always a reason to pick up anything by her, but this one is definitely her weakest. Is it the main character who never grows on us, with his lukewarm approach to life and his constant inability to decide whether he wants to be with his stunning girlfriend (who also has a pacemaker) or fool around with some random acquaintance... while harbourin...more
Dec 28, 2012
Chidambaram Annamalai
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction
Definitely falling short of expectations that one would venture to have after a spectacular debut (White Teeth). Her writing is still brilliant but only occasionally, and the story itself is quite flaky although often comic. I liked the seemingly random observations about life peppered through the book, often quirky and inventive. In the end what I found increasingly tedious was her excessive meditation on the Jewish (and related) obsessions of the central characters in the novel. Perhaps it's a...more
She hopes for nothing except fine weather and a resolution. She wants to end properly, like a good sentence.
Zadie Smith has been on my list of authors to read for several years, but I'd only heard of her more well-known novels, White Teeth and On Beauty. I found The Autograph Man on a bookshelf in the teacher's lounge at my school and immediately picked it up.
The story was difficult to get into at first, as the main character, Alex Li-Tandem, didn't start off being too sympathetic or relatable....more
Zadie Smith has been on my list of authors to read for several years, but I'd only heard of her more well-known novels, White Teeth and On Beauty. I found The Autograph Man on a bookshelf in the teacher's lounge at my school and immediately picked it up.
The story was difficult to get into at first, as the main character, Alex Li-Tandem, didn't start off being too sympathetic or relatable....more
This book is certainly interesting, but it's mostly terrible. It's tedious, and I'm not entirely sure how or why I finished the read. At first I assumed it was another Terrible Things Happen To Boring People book, but I don't think that's correct. I think it's actually a Boring Things Happen To Terrible People book. And I like Zadie Smith. I like her style, her voice. I like how she writes; I just don't like what she writes. The narration is lovely and interesting and funny, but the story is rid...more
One of the problems with this book, is that it will inevitably be read with 'White Teeth' in mind, and unfortunately, it really doesn't compare. While it demonstrates Smith's tongue-in-cheek humour, it is incredibly slow to start, and the characters are such superficial creations, that it is often difficult to empathise with them. I agree with another reviewer who suggests that Smith seems to have packed too many ideas in here. This results in a novel which is not as satisfyingly complete as her...more
Another book full of quirky losers with dysfunctional lives and no backbone. If you enjoy this type of character study, the upside is that the writing is wonderful - Zadie Smith is a master of her craft. But if you don't, then you'll probably want to knock your head against the wall in frustration.
For me, elegant prose doesn't made up for a plot that is a total snooze fest. I got as far as the beginning of Book 2, where our dreary protagonist and his loathsome buddies arrive in New York. If some...more
For me, elegant prose doesn't made up for a plot that is a total snooze fest. I got as far as the beginning of Book 2, where our dreary protagonist and his loathsome buddies arrive in New York. If some...more
Ne ho parlato anche nel gruppo di Zadie Smith e quindi riporto le mie stesse parole:
nell'insieme un bel libro, ma ho patito un po' quella strana sensazione di inconcludenza che si trova in quei dialoghi in cui i personaggi non sembrano parlare tra loro ma ognuno per conto proprio.
Nell'insieme piacevole, anche se Alex Li-Tandem all'inizio sembra così poco padrone della propria vita, come se vivesse in un quasi perenne stato di fluida confusione... un dopo sbornia che in effetti che Alex deve smal
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Of all of Ms. Smith's books, "The Autograph Man," her second novel, garnered the most mixed reaction, which is why I read it last. I can certainly understand the disappointment for those critics and fans who awaited its arrival after her stunning debut, "White Teeth." Its tone, especially in the first half, is somber and claustrophobic, as the reader follows the protagonist, Alex Li-Tandem, through the aftermath of a drug-induced hangover as he prepares for the anniversary of his father's death....more
Aug 04, 2012
Mirrani
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-but-unowned,
finished-and-reviewed
Not the same caliber as White Teeth, but by no means dull. Zadie Smith writes in a creative way and is able to put to words thoughts that readers don't realize they ever have until they've read the words for themselves.
The plot was interesting, but split in several places. This isn't necessarily a good thing, but in the end it left a few ends not quite finished. I found that I wasn't at all pleased with the ending relating the main character and the movie star he idolizes throughout the book. I...more
The plot was interesting, but split in several places. This isn't necessarily a good thing, but in the end it left a few ends not quite finished. I found that I wasn't at all pleased with the ending relating the main character and the movie star he idolizes throughout the book. I...more
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Zadie Smith (born Sadie Smith October 27, 1975) is an English novelist. To date she has written four novels, and is widely regarded as one of England's most talented young authors; in 2003, she was included on Granta's list of 20 best young authors.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadie_Smith
More about Zadie Smith...
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadie_Smith
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“She hopes for nothing except fine weather and a resolution. She wants to end properly, like a good sentence. ”
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“She loved you in the morning because the day was new.”
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Feb 12, 2013 09:52am