Open city is a book that can be read again and again, with each reading bringing the reward of further insights. And this perhaps is the strongest asset of the novel. Teju coles first novel follows a lugubrious narrator as he wanders. A novel about spatial relations, it is also effective at dramatising the relationship between objective and. In fact, i began rationing the pages, about a chapter or two a day, so that this unforgettable book wouldnt end too quickly. Teju cole was born in the united states in 1975 and raised in nigeria. 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. 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. The story follows the main character, julius, who is a nigerian doctor doing his psychiatric residency in new york city.
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. Along the streets of manhattan, a young nigerian doctor doing his resi. The very first words in open city, an indelible debut novel by teju cole, imply an inevitability, connecting the narrators past with his present. An immigrants quest for identity in the open city teju coles debut novel, open city, follows julius, a halfnigerian and halfgerman. I savored every page of teju cole s debut novel, open city. 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. The main character is julius, a nigerian doctor, who is completing his residency in psychiatry at a hospital in new york. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today.
The novel is primarily set in new york city, and concerns a nigerian immigrant, julius, who has recently broken up with his girlfriend. Open city, every day is for the thief, known and strange things, blind spot, human. Open city is indeed largely set in a multiracial new york the open city of. The novel received praise for its prose and depiction of 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. 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. 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. 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. Part of the delight of coles book is how it exploits refinement until julius reveals himself as a. Winner of the hemingway foundationpen award for a distinguished first book of fiction finalist for the national book critics circle award r. C ritics on both sides of the pond are hailing teju cole s novel open city as a startling, sparkling and original debut. 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 open city follows the peripatetic ramblings of its narrator through the streets of new york city.