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The Most Secret Memory of Men
The Most Secret Memory of Men: A Novel | Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
6 posts | 6 read | 5 to read
A gripping literary mystery in the vein of Bolaos Savage Detectives, this coming-of-age novel unravels the fascinating life of a maligned Black author, based on Yambo Ouologuem. The first Sub-Saharan African winner of Frances top literary prize, the Goncourt. In 2018, Digane Latyr Faye, a young Senegalese writer in Paris, discovers a legendary book from the 1930s, The Labyrinth of Inhumanity. No one knows what became of its author, once hailed as the Black Rimbaud, after the book caused a scandal. Enthralled by this mystery, Digane decides to search for T.C. Elimane, going down a path that will force him to confront the great tragedies of history, from colonialism to the Holocaust. Alongside his investigation, Digane becomes part of a group of young African writers in Paris. Together they talk, drink, make love, philosophize about the role of exile in artistic creation. Digane grows particularly close to two women: the seductive Siga, who holds so many secrets, and the photojournalist Ada, impossible to pin down. The Most Secret Memory of Men is an astonishing novel about the choice between living and writing, and the desire to transcend the divide between Africa and the West. Above all, it is an ode to literature and its timelessness.
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

An aspiring writer comes across an unusual book that captivates him, sending this crackling book into motion as we learn more about the book and it‘s author. It moves from character to character and place to place as the story of the book and author come together. I really liked this one; it moved along faster than I expected.

NBA longlist, translated fiction

BethM You have snow?! 14mo
LiteraryinPA Whoa! It‘s going to be 80 degrees where I live on Saturday (New Jersey, so a place that should be fall weather)! 14mo
Hooked_on_books @BethM @LiteraryinLawrence I‘m in Montana, visiting the in-laws. It snowed and the temps stayed down, so it stuck around. Beautiful, huh? (I‘m definitely not in Hawaii right now! 😂) 14mo
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shawnmooney
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catsuit_mango
La plus secrte mmoire des hommes | Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
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I don't usually read the Goncourt nominées, but that was a présent 2 years ago. Giving it a shot and i have an easier book waiting after that.

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Pinta
La plus secrte mmoire des hommes | Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
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Literary mystery, referencing Bolaño‘s Savage Detectives & Yambo Ouologuem. Young Senegalese writer Diégane Faye traverses Europe researching life of T.C. Elimane, obscure author of haunting novel “Le Labyrinthe de l‘inhumain.” Literature as obsession, African writers‘ pressure to represent entire country/continent, author as god, as demon, ghosts, fate, coincidence, immigrants, literature as homeland. Remarkable reflections on lit & writing. 2021

BarbaraBB This sounds so good! 3y
Pinta SO good! A writer‘s/reader‘s book for sure, obsession with other writers, choosing between life vs. writing, immigrant choices. Sex scenes on the cheesy side, but hey 😄Work fast, translators! (edited) 3y
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Benthecatlover
La plus secrte mmoire des hommes | Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
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Winner of the Goncourt 2021, this book is about the journey of a man obsess by the life of the author T.C. Elimane who wrote “Le labyrinthe de l‘inhumain”. This will lead him to a compelling discovery about identity, immigration and the real meaning of being an author. Breathtaking!

Dilara Welcome to Litsy! Glad you enjoyed La plus secrète mémoire des hommes: I thought it was fantastic! 3y
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Dilara
La plus secrte mmoire des hommes | Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
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I'm about halfway through La plus secrète mémoire des hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, the latest Prix Goncourt (the most distinguished French literary prize). It was inspired by Yambo Ouologuem (pictured here), a Malian writer who was awarded the Prix Renaudot in 1968 at the age of 28, and then disappeared from literary life.

#Africa

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