A new york times notable book one of the ten top novels of the year time and npr named a best book on more than twenty. In fact, i began rationing the pages, about a chapter or two a day, so that this unforgettable book wouldnt end too quickly. Publishers now pitch their books like hollywood concepts, so teju coles first novel, open city random house. Open city is a book that can be read again and again, with each reading bringing the reward of further insights. Open city is indeed largely set in a multiracial new york the open city of.
The main character is julius, a nigerian doctor, who is completing his residency in psychiatry at a hospital in new york. He is the author of every day is for the thief and open city, which won the penhemingway award, the internationaler literaturpreis, the rosenthal family foundation more about teju cole. An immigrants quest for identity in the open city february, 2011 teju coles debut novel, open city, follows julius, a halfnigerian and. Teju cole takes us into the mind of julius, the narrator throughout the entire journey that is open city. Open city, the story of a young nigeriangerman psychiatrist in new york city five years after 911, was published by random house, named a finalist for the national book critics circle award and the ondaatje prize of the royal society of literature, and won the penhemingway award, the internationaler literaturpreis, the rosenthal award of the american academy of arts and letters, and the new. Teju cole s masterful use of words and phrases to poetic effect. The novel received praise for its prose and depiction of new york. A novel about spatial relations, it is also effective at dramatising the relationship between objective and. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. An immigrants quest for identity in the open city teju coles debut novel, open city, follows julius, a halfnigerian and halfgerman. Open city, every day is for the thief, known and strange things, blind spot, human. The story follows the main character, julius, who is a nigerian doctor doing his psychiatric residency in new york city.
The very first words in open city, an indelible debut novel by teju cole, imply an inevitability, connecting the narrators past with his present task, that of explaining his place in the. Open city is a 2011 novel by nigerianamerican writer teju cole. The title of teju coles open city takes its meaning from a particular wartime terminology. Teju cole was born in the united states in 1975 and raised in nigeria. Julius begins to take nightly walks as solace after breaking up with a girlfriend, but the travels soon take on a momentum of their own, offering opportunity for him to process the chaos. Teju coles first novel follows a lugubrious narrator as he wanders. The very first words in open city, an indelible debut novel by teju cole, imply an inevitability, connecting the narrators past with his present. This busy campaign for allies does a disfavor to teju coles beautiful, subtle, and, finally, original novel. It was included on several end of year lists of the best books published in 2011. Winner of the hemingway foundationpen award for a distinguished first book of fiction finalist for the national book critics circle award r. Part of the delight of coles book is how it exploits refinement until julius reveals himself as a. C ritics on both sides of the pond are hailing teju cole s novel open city as a startling, sparkling and original debut.
He is the author of every day is for the thief and open city,which won the penhemingway award, the internationaler literaturpreis, the rosenthal family foundation award for fiction from the american academy of arts and letters, and the new york city book award, and was nominated for the national book critics circle award. And this perhaps is the strongest asset of the novel. Teju cole s open city follows the peripatetic ramblings of its narrator through the streets of new york city. I savored every page of teju cole s debut novel, open city. Along the streets of manhattan, a young nigerian doctor doing his resi. Newsweekdaily beast writers favorite books 2011 this year, literary discovery came, for me, in the form of teju coles debut novel, open city, a deceptively. Written by teju cole, audiobook narrated by teju cole.