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The Autograph Man
by
Alex-Li Tandem sells autographs. His business is to hunt for names on paper, collect them, sell them, and occasionally fake them—all to give the people what they want: a little piece of Fame. But what does Alex want? Only the return of his father, the end of religion, something for his headache, three different girls, infinite grace, and the rare autograph of forties movie
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Paperback, 347 pages
Published
June 17th 2003
by Vintage
(first published September 12th 2002)
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Rebecca
Beautiful prose ~ less than a third of the way in and it has already had me in tears via the beauty of the prose.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Autograph Man
Oct 21, 2013
B the BookAddict
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Go on, read it! it's worth it
Recommended to B the BookAddict by:
pure chance!
One of those serendipitous moments for me: looking for another of Zadie Smith's books, NW,, I chanced upon this one. What a find. It did take me a couple of pages to settle in with this story but I was hooked from then on. A novel about a young man, his friends and a few months in their lives shown deftly in the hilarious, droll, sometimes very serious but always brilliant words of Zadie Smith.
Alex-Li Tandem is half Chinese, is Jewish, has a black girlfriend, a best mate who's a Rabbi and ...more
Alex-Li Tandem is half Chinese, is Jewish, has a black girlfriend, a best mate who's a Rabbi and ...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
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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
Feb 11, 2015
Barry Pierce
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2015,
21st-century
How can you possibly follow up White Teeth? Well you can't, but Smith gives us a very different but equally enjoyable novel. The plot of The Autograph Man is, shall we say, a bit more conventional than White Teeth. Smith's wonderful ability to capture speech in her prose is as admirable here as ever and importantly, it's funny! Sadly this novel has been relegated to the sidelines by all of her other novels but true Smith fans will read this and keep it as their dirty little secret.
Unlike seemingly everybody else, I didn't think White Teeth was wonderful. As I remember from around the early 2000s, it was okay, and maybe something was wrong with the way it ended. Very little has stuck with me. And therefore I didn't hop aboard the Zadie Smith bandwagon.
Fast forward to last year, when I asked my daughter-in-law what gift she wanted and she said she'd like the Zadie Smith books she hadn't read.
I warned her what I was reading about The Autograph Man, but never mind, she wanted ...more
Fast forward to last year, when I asked my daughter-in-law what gift she wanted and she said she'd like the Zadie Smith books she hadn't read.
I warned her what I was reading about The Autograph Man, but never mind, she wanted ...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
Nov 12, 2010
Brady Dale
rated it
it was amazing
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 ...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 ...more
Not Zadie Smith at her finest - but nonetheless a very accomplished, intriguing and of course brilliantly written novel as well as an interesting insight into the bizarre world of celebrity obsession and autograph trading.
This book gives the international gesture of 1 finger down your throat.
Appalling, I deserve a medal or an insanity check for finishing this.
Appalling, I deserve a medal or an insanity check for finishing this.
My first acquaintance with Zadie Smith's work, The Autograph Man has left me convinced of her far-reaching talent. While this book has plenty of flaws, Ms. Smith's story-telling exuberance (for me) wins out and makes my beefs with it seem picayune by comparison.
We follow Alex-Li Tandem, Chinese/English/confused Jew/young alkie/stoner/titular "Autograph Man" as he tries (mostly unsuccessfully) to get past the death of his father thirteen years prior. He's pretty much stuck in Schlub-land, ...more
Every Zadie Smith novel I've read (all of them) have been good, mostly great actually, but I think this one is the hardest to crack. The way her brain works is incredible: how she settled on a story about a Chinese-Jewish autograph connoisseur is mind boggling, but it made for a story that was at times funny, tender, and introspective.
I feel like this novel starts to scratch the surface of the techniques that were on brilliant display in NW, which is my favorite of hers. It's not a ...more
I feel like this novel starts to scratch the surface of the techniques that were on brilliant display in NW, which is my favorite of hers. It's not a ...more
Nov 09, 2018
Lane
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
death,
friends,
contemporary,
diverse,
depression,
diverse-author,
humor,
favorites,
library-book,
cat
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
"All fandom is a form of tunnel vision: warm and dark and infinite in one direction."
If someone had told me right after I read White Teeth that Zadie Smith would write a book that was an instant favorite, I would have certainly cackled in their face. But Autograph Man is a treasure..so basically don't give up on authors ever is the new mantra. I have never read a contemporary that I relate to so much. Not because I too am a drunk like Alex (I'm not), nor because I treat ...more
"All fandom is a form of tunnel vision: warm and dark and infinite in one direction."
If someone had told me right after I read White Teeth that Zadie Smith would write a book that was an instant favorite, I would have certainly cackled in their face. But Autograph Man is a treasure..so basically don't give up on authors ever is the new mantra. I have never read a contemporary that I relate to so much. Not because I too am a drunk like Alex (I'm not), nor because I treat ...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 ...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 ...more
If you’re looking to read some Zadie Smith then I’d recommend you steer clear of this one... It pains me to say it, as Smith’s other four novels are all absolute delights, but unfortunately I found this one very tedious - But you can all rest assured that I recommend White Teeth, Swing Time, On Beauty and NW heartily!
.
Usually Smith’s novels are bursting with life and vibrancy, there’s a great sprawling cast of characters and she turns her sharp eye to dissecting society... in The Autograph Man, ...more
.
Usually Smith’s novels are bursting with life and vibrancy, there’s a great sprawling cast of characters and she turns her sharp eye to dissecting society... in The Autograph Man, ...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
Zadie Smith certainly has a way with characters and dialogue. Her characters live. (The only character I found a bit underdeveloped was Esther, but this may have been intentional as we only see her through Alex's thoughts and what others say to him for most of the book.)
The plot is inventive and, despite one early section, kept my interest throughout. I will certainly forgive the only one or two quirky areas where I thought some editing might've been good in order to have the exuberant, ...more
The plot is inventive and, despite one early section, kept my interest throughout. I will certainly forgive the only one or two quirky areas where I thought some editing might've been good in order to have the exuberant, ...more
A thoroughly modern fable that seems to be about the over-identification with symbols, from the marks of Kabbalah to the titular autographs. It's brisker and more playful than White Teeth (which was plenty playful) but also lacks its human scope. It also suffers from a frequent Zadie Smith problem I have; she seems decidedly more capable of sympathy for her characters than I am. Note to self: reading about alcoholics is annoying if you want to care about their decisions at all.
4.0 out of 5 stars
All Things considered, I Liked the Story
By Sherrie Miranda on April 13, 2018
Format: Paperback
As a reader of Black & Latino authors, I bought Zadie Smith's book in part because she is a black Brit. I thought I would learn something about life as a black, British female in London. The main character is a Chinese Jew and there are several other characters in the story, but the one black Brit is talked about a few times & gets about two minutes in an actual scene. There is ...more
All Things considered, I Liked the Story
By Sherrie Miranda on April 13, 2018
Format: Paperback
As a reader of Black & Latino authors, I bought Zadie Smith's book in part because she is a black Brit. I thought I would learn something about life as a black, British female in London. The main character is a Chinese Jew and there are several other characters in the story, but the one black Brit is talked about a few times & gets about two minutes in an actual scene. There is ...more
From The Book Hooligan
“All fandom is a form of tunnel vision: warm and dark and infinite in one direction.” - The Narrator
There is nothing more treacherous than fame. At one point, it is an asset then, at the next, it is a liability. This is because nobody is the master of fame and everyone, even the Brad Pitts and the Angelina Jolies of the world will fade into obscurity. The only people who can profit and prosper from fame are those from the outside of fame, those that make the fame of others ...more
“All fandom is a form of tunnel vision: warm and dark and infinite in one direction.” - The Narrator
There is nothing more treacherous than fame. At one point, it is an asset then, at the next, it is a liability. This is because nobody is the master of fame and everyone, even the Brad Pitts and the Angelina Jolies of the world will fade into obscurity. The only people who can profit and prosper from fame are those from the outside of fame, those that make the fame of others ...more
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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
I hated the main character and didn't understand his choices. I found it really hard to concentrate on what was going on (admittedly I was listening to the book over one drive and in short chunks) and found I didn't care, which can't be good. Towards the latter half of the book, I kept wanting it to speed up and end already! There is one brief section I did like towards the beginning of the novel, narrated from the point of view of the Alex's father. But it's a very short section in comparison
...more
Zadie Smith is an author whose books I admire, rather than like. Her way of capturing dialogue is unique. Her plots are deceptively complex and her characters are memorable. Yet I always feel that something is lacking. Once again I felt this with The Autograph Man.
British/Asian Alex Li Tandem collects autographs, deals them and assesses them. he also is a self destructive character who cannot get over the death of his father. Although he does have friends, they are patient with him every time ...more
British/Asian Alex Li Tandem collects autographs, deals them and assesses them. he also is a self destructive character who cannot get over the death of his father. Although he does have friends, they are patient with him every time ...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
...more
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
I have struggled with Zadie Smith in the past but found that it was well worth persevering. Not in this case. The Autograph Man has been described as "wonderfully funny" and "witty". While there are certainly many attempts at humour, I did not find the usually drunken or doped meanderings of Alex Li Tandem appealing to my sense of humour. The most moving part of the book was the description of Alex's father's death, which appears to be the instigation of Alex's career as an autograph man. His
...more
I really enjoyed White Teeth, so expectations were high for this one. But the Autograph Man is nothing like White Teeth. Sure Zadie Smith's impressive writing style is still there, thank god, but though the plot sounded interesting, I think the book still needed a bit more time to really pull it off. I much preferred the second part to the first but not enough to say that I would read it again or recommend it. It's ok, but there's better out there.
i’m going to pretend this wasn’t zadie smith and was instead some strange debut from someone i probably won’t read again
Mar 03, 2013
Ayelet Waldman
added it
I let this book's bad reviews sway me and didn't read it until now. I thought it was great and I'm ashamed of myself.
Book reviewing is ordinarily an honorable process, like say, college admissions, in which righteous judgment flows from disinterested appraisal of a subject's merit. There are, of course, minor abuses now and then. Last year, for instance, Christopher Buckley wrote a dust-jacket blurb for "The Columnist" and then followed up with a gushing review in the Washington Monthly.
But by and large, the profession remains committed to appearing devoted to the principle that each book should be judged ...more
But by and large, the profession remains committed to appearing devoted to the principle that each book should be judged ...more
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Zadie Smith is the author of the novels White Teeth, The Autograph Man, On Beauty, NW, and Swing Time, as well as two collections of essays, Changing My Mind and Feel Free. Zadie was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2002, and was listed as one of Granta's 20 Best Young British Novelists in 2003 and again in 2013. White Teeth won multiple literary awards including the James
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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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