by Zadie Smith
First published 2002
Alex-Li Tandem is an autograph dealer haunted by his father's disappearance. As he hunts for the elusive signature of a forgotten movie star, Alex navigates a world of collectors, rabbis, and his own existential crisis. Torn between the lure of celebrity and the search for spiritual enlightenment, Alex must confront the emptiness at the heart of his business and his life. Can he find the autograph, and himself, before it's too late?
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, search-for-self
Setting: England
Period: 1990-
347 pages · Paperback · Vintage