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The Autograph Man: A Novel Audiobook
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(2.79) - 66 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
We live in a world of signs. But not everybody has to trade in them.... Alex-Li Tandem sells autographs. A small blip in a huge worldwide network of desire, 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 reinstatement of some kind of all-powerful, benevolent God-type figure, the end of religion, something for his headache, three different girls, infinite grace, and the rare autograph of forties movie actress Kitty Alexander. With fries. The Autograph Man is a deeply funny existential tour around the hollow things of modernity: celebrity, cinema, and the ugly triumph of symbol over experience. Through London and then New York, searching for the only autograph that has ever mattered to him, Alex follows the paper trail while resisting the mystical lure of Kabbalah and Zen, and avoiding all collectors, con men, and interfering rabbis who would put themselves in his path. Pushing against the tide of his generation, Alex-Li is on his way to finding enlightenment, otherwise known as some part of himself that cannot be signed, celebrated, or sold. Cover title lettering by Leanne Shapton.
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"I keep forgetting about this book, then remembering snippets, like an overheard conversation, months later. Alex is a strangely compelling man-child. I'm thinking of reading this again."
— Meg (4 out of 5 stars)
The Autograph Man Listener Reviews
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" I had heard so often before starting this that it was not so great, but most of it revolved around the statement "as a follow up to White Teeth..." As I read the prologue, I found myself wondering what people were talking about. It was gorgeously written & compelling. Then the prologue ended. It took me a while to get into the book from there, but once I did - and especially once I got to the second part of the book, I was completely drawn into the story. I have to wonder if the reason The Autograph Man grabbed me when it left so many other people cold is because of my love of Old Hollywood, my enchantment with those movie stars like Smith's fictional Kitty Alexander. Above all, I love Zadie Smith's writing, the zest she has for storytelling and the way she relishes language. So, no, it's not White Teeth, but it's not bad, either. "
— r.b., 2/20/2014 -
" Such a let down after WHITE TEETH and ON BEAUTY was pretty weak too. "
— Isabel, 2/11/2014 -
" Quite enjoyed it, in a strange and diffuse way. Made me laugh, especially the joke about the pope and the rabbi.. "
— Raquel, 1/31/2014 -
" Zadie Smith is an inspiring crafts-person. What a writer! "
— Darlyne, 1/25/2014 -
" while still offering the humor and zippy writing zadie smith gave me in 'white teeth', her second book falls a little short. characterization wasn't as strong as before, which was really my favorite part about 'white teeth'. still worth a read, though. "
— Dory, 1/20/2014 -
" Could NOT get into this book. Read "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith and liked it. (Although I didn't absolutely adore it, as the critics did.) Blech on this one, though. Thoroughly disappointed. "
— Susie, 1/13/2014 -
" Meh did not like as much as white teeth. Kinda boring "
— Amanda, 1/9/2014 -
" This novel seemed like Zadie Smith's response to freaking out about becoming famous. It seemed flat and boring and singularly lacking in the zestful gamboling evident in White Teeth. I didn't like the main character at all. "
— Daria, 1/3/2014 -
" Good book, kept me in it the whole time "
— Sepehr, 11/15/2013 -
" Painfully contrived, occasionally witty, mainly dull. A disappointment after White Teeth. "
— Selma, 9/22/2013 -
" Like everything I've read by her so far - brilliant! "
— Patricia, 4/13/2013 -
" Not sure what to make of it. The theme is quite interesting and I assume it reflects contemporary England but I wouldn't know. Never been there. I just kept losing interest in it. "
— Ai, 2/24/2013 -
" Yes, it is a lesser Zadie Smith. But she is still smart, snarky and vicious in wonderful ways. "
— Rowan, 2/2/2013 -
" Okay, so I started to read this book, and then thought - why would I keep writing a book that appears to have no focus and is poorly written? Sorry for all the folks who liked White Teeth, which I haven't read yet. This book is not good. "
— Rachael, 10/28/2012 -
" i loved some parts to death, but it's not perfect. i still think the best novels are imperfect like that, and this is at least very enjoyable while it rambles. "
— Grillo, 10/20/2012 -
" Entertaining as heck...for about the first half, but then it gets a bit slow. I'd recommend On Beauty as a better Zadie Smith pick for the uninitiated. "
— Sean, 10/8/2012 -
" I liked White Teeth much better than this. I never really got hooked during Autograph Man. "
— Mary, 6/8/2012 -
" I found this book hard going, but still a rewarding read in the end. There were a few brilliant one liners that will stay with me forever; her description of staying with Rebekka as like living inside a hyperactive teacosy will stay with me forever. I'll certainly put White Teeth on my to read list. "
— Kathy, 4/7/2012 -
" Uh, I couldn't get through this. I loved her other books, but I just couldn't get through this book. "
— Jeannie, 2/27/2012 -
" Lacking the colorful characters and interlocking backstories that made White Teeth so memorable. I couldn't get into it enough to read past the first hundred pages or so. "
— Lindsay, 6/8/2011 -
" Enjoyable read. Not quite as meaningful as On Beauty. "
— Harry, 4/6/2011 -
" having a hard time getting into this "
— Tiffany, 3/10/2011 -
" Zadie Smith is an inspiring crafts-person. What a writer! "
— Darlyne, 3/3/2011 -
" I found the main character irritating and the plot void of conflict. I love Zadie Smith but this one was a big disappointment. "
— Ryan, 2/19/2011 -
" I have really enjoyed her other books "On Beauty" and "White Teeth", but this book just could hardly keep me interested. The story line meanders all over the place and you feel no need to like any of the characters. I came away with no feeling of entertainment or improvement. :( "
— Jessica, 2/14/2011 -
" Seriously? So you're Chinese and Jewish. That;s it? You collect autographs. Great. I couldn't even finish this. "
— Alisonleonard1, 2/6/2011 -
" I think "White Teeth" is still my favorite Zadie Smith, but this was pretty good, too. Interestingly, there are no female narrators in the novel. "
— Laura, 2/2/2011 -
" Zadie Smith's writing is in a category by itself. "
— Darlyne, 1/18/2011 -
" This book was awesome! There were a lot of moments when I had to put the book down because I was laughing. And there were a lot of cultural references I liked. "
— Misti, 1/11/2011 -
" Another amazing Zadie Smith book. Witty, fun, heart-warming. "
— Kerry, 1/10/2011 -
" i loved some parts to death, but it's not perfect. i still think the best novels are imperfect like that, and this is at least very enjoyable while it rambles. "
— Grillo, 1/9/2011 -
" Not quite as good as her others. "
— Maura, 1/9/2011
About Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is the critically acclaimed author of various bestselling novels, including White Teeth and The Autograph Man. She was born in Northwest London in 1975 and still lives in the area.
About Ben Barnes
Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator of the Grishaverse, now a Netflix series. She is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.