The Autograph Man
by Zadie Smith
Nominations: Booker Longlist 2002, Dublin Longlist 2004, Women’s Prize Finalist 2003
Date Read: June 1, 2023
I have been so excited to read this novel and it being my first foray into Zadie Smith’s work, a double excitement. I was so disappointed. While I can see the draw for many readers and critics alike, this just wasn’t my cup of tea. The prologue was incredibly promising and I was drawn in by Smith’s witty insights, nuanced understanding of juvenile love/hate and a tolerant father hell-bent on having these boys enjoy the day, knowing this will be an indelible memory for them.
The remainder, however, when readers fast-forward to the late twenties in these boys’ lives, but most notably from Alex-Li’s point of view, I felt the entire remainder was tedious, wandering and (dare I say it?) pointless. Alex lost his father on that indelible day from his childhood and also met another boy, Joseph, who would have a profound impact on Alex’s life, most notably in friendship and in Alex’s vocation as Autograph Man.
The four boys in attendance on that day – Alex, Rubinstein, Adam and Joseph – remain friends in the present time and are all trying to steer Alex onto a better path. Alex struggles with alcohol addiction, remaining true to his long-term girlfriend Esther, is obsessed with the has-been actress Kitty and is having a crisis of his Jewish faith. The most compelling of all these challenges is the faith portion as I am always drawn in by religion and have a special place in my heart for Judaism, although I’m not Jewish.
Things I did appreciate: Smith’s consistent use of the “international gesture for” mechanism, which did evoke the desired visualization. The ease with which Alex and Kitty get along after having known each other for such a short time. The time the vertically challenged rabbi took with Alex to discuss the Kaddish.
Nevertheless, this took me so incredibly long to read because I just didn’t care in the end. Now I’m a little shell-shocked and reticent to read the other Smith on my list but crossing my fingers and forging ahead nonetheless.
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