Journal Entry 1 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 14, 2003

A birthday present from my husband. To be read by me first, then by him, and then I may send out as a bookring. Unlikely to want to let go because we enjoyed White Teeth so much, but who knows?

From the back:
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 actress Kitty Alexander. With fries.
The Autograph Man is a deeply funny existential tour around the hollow trappings of modernity: celebrity, cinema, and the ugly triumph of symbol over experience. It offers further proof that Zadie Smith is one of the most staggeringly talented writers of her generation. 

Journal Entry 2 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 21, 2003

I enjoyed reading this book but wasn't hooked, and I didn't think it was as good as White Teeth.

I thought it was interesting that Smith again wrote about religion - but a different religion. White Teeth featured Islam and the Jehovah's Witnesses prominently, while The Autograph Man featured Judaism. It makes you wonder what Smith's own beliefs are, and whether her knowledge about these things is personal or via more academic research. 

Journal Entry 3 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 02, 2003

Journal Entry 4 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Mailed to Eskielover yesterday for inclusion in an M-bag destined for starbytes.

Thanks to Eskielover for organising the M-bag, and feel free to read the book if it appeals to you before sending it! 

Journal Entry 5 by Eskielover from Olympia, Washington USA on Thursday, November 20, 2003

Journal Entry 6 by Eskielover from Olympia, Washington USA on Saturday, January 03, 2004

Journal Entry 7 by starbytes from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, April 10, 2004

Thanks, Kernow8 and Eskielover!! Will read this book asap and mail it out to next person on the list!

Update 22nd June 2003: I'm so sorry, I just couldn't get into it, and I've kept it long enough, so I'm mailing this to Lisa-B. I hope she enjoys it! Thanks for sharing! :D 

Journal Entry 8 by starbytes at To a fellow bookcrosser in Riedstadt, Germany -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 21, 2004

Release planned for Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at To a fellow bookcrosser in Riedstadt, Germany Controlled Releases.

Mailing to Lisa-B!! :D 

Journal Entry 9 by Lisa-B on Saturday, July 10, 2004

Received today, thanks for sharing it. 

Journal Entry 10 by Lisa-B on Friday, July 30, 2004

"Its hero Alex Li-Tandem is "one of this generation who watch themselves", a Chinese-Jewish north Londoner who is first introduced as a child accompanying his father to a wrestling match between those two larger-than-life scions of 1970s Saturday afternoon television--Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks. When Alex's father dies in the pandemonium surrounding the pursuit of Big Daddy's autograph, the twin themes of the novel are launched--one is the bereaved Alex's search for a replacement to fill the gulf, the other his obsession with tracking down, buying and selling autographs. Alex seeks one autograph in particular and seemingly in vain--that of Kitty Alexander, a fading film star. The route he follows in his search has much to say about the nature of celebrity and the privacy of souls, of fantasy and reality--all narrated in Smith's breathless prose." from amazon.co.uk

I am really not sure how to rate Autograph Man. What I like about this book: Smith' writing style, because it is witty, has lots of humor (although the story for me is not humerous at all), and because her metaphors are unusual and work really well. The story and the message still are very confusing to me. I am not a very philosophical mind, and I prefer books with a well structured plot and strong on characterization.
All in all I think it is a good book. I'd like to read it again in a few years and see how it works for me then. 

Journal Entry 11 by Lisa-B on Monday, August 02, 2004

I am mailing The Autograph Man to robbiesmum today. 

Journal Entry 12 by Robbiesmum from Thirsk, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 10, 2004

This arrived this a.m. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks Kernow8 

Journal Entry 13 by Robbiesmum from Thirsk, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 23, 2004

I'm sorry, I've kept this long enough. I seem to go through phases of the types of books I enjoy. Sadly, this caught me in a fast read mode and is not suiting the book's style.

I can't cope with page long paragraphs. I just think "Aargh description" and skip it. Sorry.

I'll pass on to Talkland. 

Journal Entry 14 by Robbiesmum from Thirsk, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Talkland has asked to be skipped as she has another copy. I'll PM Tuz next 

Journal Entry 15 by Robbiesmum from Thirsk, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Just to add, this book has been posted to CaptainJack by air so should be there by next week. Sorry for the delay, I have had a bad cold and have not been out for a few days. 

Journal Entry 16 by CaptainJack from Duluth, Georgia USA on Monday, September 20, 2004

This book arrived today, so it made pretty good time! I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 17 by CaptainJack from Duluth, Georgia USA on Thursday, October 14, 2004

I'm having a hard time getting into this book. I will try another ten pages, then decide whether to finish it. 

Journal Entry 18 by CaptainJack from Duluth, Georgia USA on Sunday, October 17, 2004

I am crying "uncle" and sending this on to the next person. This is just not the time for me to read this. Thank you for sharing, though!!! 

Journal Entry 19 by CaptainJack from Duluth, Georgia USA on Saturday, November 06, 2004

This book was mailed today. Sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 20 by jag624 from Fairfax Station, Virginia USA on Wednesday, December 22, 2004

received today, will start reading after the holidays 

Journal Entry 21 by jag624 from Fairfax Station, Virginia USA on Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Well, it took me a while to finish this book. I thought about quitting it several times but never did; it's really rare for me to quit a book. I didn't like Alex or the other characters that much and did not understand a lot of what was happening or it was confusing. I did not like this book very much.
 

Journal Entry 22 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Thursday, March 03, 2005

The book has arrived. I will read it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 23 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Monday, April 04, 2005

The book has it's faults but over all I liked it. It remeinded me a bit of Manchild if the characters had been recast as younger and Jewish. They are just as shallow and obsessed as their older goyish counterparts. The writing style reminds me of Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and the Damned in how it flits between prose and play with the occassional diagram thrown in. The book though is awkward in its presentation and expiramentation and could use some editing -- a fifty page prologue is too long. While the author probably loved the backstory she had created for Alex-Li Tandem, knowing how his father died is not neccessary to appreciate the story. It would have been better to introduce the details throughout the story rather than up front.

As Hathya appears to be too busy for BookCrossing right now and Kernow8 has decided to turn this ring into a ray, I've offered this book up to someone who has it on her wishlist. I'm just waiting for an address before releasing it. 

Journal Entry 24 by caligula03 at on Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/30/2005 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to ShellyAnn as a wishlist RABCK. 

Journal Entry 25 by shellyann from Montrose, Colorado USA on Saturday, April 23, 2005

came 4/22-thank you