Teju Cole

Teju Cole is een flaneur langs het mogelijke en nog ongedefinieerde. In Tremor biedt hij een geheel van verschillende intrigerende onderwerpen en invalshoeken. Teju Cole onderzoekt met een volkomen open blik de onderwerpen en invalshoeken van alle mogelijke kanten. Niet als een denker die zich doelgericht van A naar B begeeft, maar als een flaneur die zich laat verrassen door alles op zijn geïmproviseerde pad. Niet als een schrijver die de werkelijkheid in eenduidige definities wil vatten of fixeren, maar als een essayist die alle verborgen mogelijkheden wil exploreren en aftasten in al hun grillige rijkdom en verrassende veelvormigheid.

Heerlijk impressionistisch, maar toch exact. Allen in het een na laatste hoofdstuk is het moeilijk om geconcentreerd te blijven door de veelheid aan hoofdpersonen en verhalen. Anders was de waardering nog hoger geweest.… (altro)

Much like Toni Morrison's Recitatif this book, Tremor by Teju Cole seems to give the finger to bigoted readers. But just like Morrison, Cole still feels the need to devote a novel to the issue.

The main character of this novel is a refined person, as is shown by his life, work and interests. He could be "Everyman". Still his particular intrinsic knowledge of African masks identifies him as an African or African-American man. Throughout the rest of the novel this is merely a possibility, but not necessarily so.

Tremor is a very well-written novel. Like Morrison's work it is a step in the direction of the ultimate emancipation of African-American writers, of becoming indistinguishably equivalent. Though topics and style would still be personal, there ought not to be a reckoning based on ethnicity or background. The international guild of writers, joined around a big table shared by writers from all ages and all continents, as envisioned by E. M. Forster come true. Cole's Tremor is already much closer to this ideal, as he no longer poses descent as a problem. Stll, complete equivalence is not quite there, but very close.

It seems that this awareness is still much stronger in American writers than elsewhere, although as a white person this is hard to gauge and appreciate. Perhaps ultimately, because of history and the critical movement, well-educated African-Americans will be better able to reflect on and understand history, than there white counterparts. In any case, from my perception this is a great novel.… (altro)

Teju Cole is obviously a very skilled writer and this book is like eating a really well-prepared fancy meal when your tastes go more for comfort food. The is really no plot, but rather a series of musings by the Nigerian born narrator who is a professor of art/photography in some elite eastern college. There are so many illusions to obscure art and music pieces; I looked up some but some just not worth it.

A discussion of a painting called "The Slave Ship" also known as "Slavers throwing overboard the dead" which was interesting because I had just read "The Sacred Hunger" which is an account of that event which was more about whether or not insurance would cover than the dead of the slaves.

Cole points the ubiquity of white supremacy in Western culture. Why is the values of European white men more important than those cultures of Africa. There are many interesting little unknown "stories" but sometimes it was overwhelming.

I did enjoy the short paragraphs regarding people living in Lagos. It does give a peek into lives, beliefs, and values that are different than mine.

I probably could have enjoyed the book more if I had taken the time, but honestly, I was waiting for something more to happen which the author was just giving me food for thought.… (altro)