Fictional book review: The Autograph Man (2002) by Zadie Smith.

What can one say about Zadie Smith's second novel The Autograph Man (2002)? I know one thing for sure people, as an author Zadie Smith is quickly growing on me. There's just something so smart about the way she welds together the funny and the serious. I found her first novel White Teeth (2000) funny. This novel is the same.

Admittedly when it started I felt some sadness and that transformed into some shock at the realisation of what happened. But then as I read more and more, particularly towards the end, I came to appreciate the beginning. Having a sad moment in a book does not automatically rule it out from being funny. This book still made me laugh on more than one occasion when I did not find it weird. I must add that I use the adjective weird in the best possible way. I found it a bit unexpected and it truly got me thinking from another perspective. I become emotionally attached to the characters, gutted for one of the characters even. I will not spoil which one!

My opinion on the main character, Alex, changed throughout the novel. I found that I got annoyed with him, felt sorry for him, worried for him and wished he would stop being such an idiot. Sometimes I felt I did not understand him and other times I was right behind him in the decisions he made.

For me, this novel analyses the meanings of celebrity, symbolism and fame. The character of Alex is a good example of how these things can take over a person. The Autograph Man clearly highlights the lengths people will go to for what they consider fame and how the image one has, is far more significant than a person's real life. Zadie Smith is good distinguishing between these ideas of fame and image with the reality.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It entertained me and I kept on wanting more. I must admit I think I just slightly preferred White Teeth (2000) from Zadie Smith {see my review blog post on it}. Still it is a strong and for that I am giving it an 8/10.

Now keep your eyes posted for the rest of the month, I might gift you with another review of something Zadie Smith has written...





Until then,


Thomas.


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