It is good for every reader to read outside their comfort zone every now and then. I find myself doing this more and more often, and I notice that I really need it. The Most Secret Memory of Men by Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr (born in 1990) is one such book I have been eyeing for a while, but haven’t dared to tackle. Until now. Needless to say, I have read it in Dutch since this novel is originally published in French. An English translation is also available, translated by Lara Vergnaud. How did I enjoy this challenge?

About the book

The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
Published by Simon & Schuster on September 26, 2023
Pages: 475
ISBN: 9781668005682
Genres: Adult, General fiction, Literary fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A masterful coming-of-age novel and a gripping investigation into the life of a mysterious author who disappeared without a trace, by the first writer from sub-Saharan Africa to be awarded France’s prestigious Prix Goncourt.
Paris, 2018. Diégane Latyr Faye, a young Senegalese writer, discovers a legendary book published in 1938 titled The Maze of Inhumanity. No one knows what happened to the author, T.C. Elimane, once referred to as the “Black Rimbaud.” After he was accused of plagiarism, his reputation was destroyed by the critics. He subsequently disappeared without a trace.
Curiosity turns to obsession, and Faye embarks on a quest to uncover the fate of the mysterious T.C. Elimane. His search weaves past and present, countries and continents, following the author’s labyrinthine trail from Senegal to Argentina and France and confronting the great tragedies of history.
Alongside his investigation, Faye becomes part of a group of young African writers in Paris. They talk, drink, make love, and philosophize about the role of exile in artistic creation. He becomes particularly close to two women: the seductive Siga, keeper of secrets, and the fleeting photojournalist Aïda.
But throughout, a question persists: will he get to the truth at the center of the maze?
A gripping detective novel without a detective and a masterpiece of perpetual reinvention, The Most Secret Memory of Men confronts the impact of colonialism and neo-colonialism, the holocaust in Europe, dictatorships in South America and the Caribbean, genocide in Africa, and collaboration and resistance everywhere. Above all, it is a love song to literature and its timeless power. 

My review

Before reading

I can’t deny that I found this hefty novel quite intimidating, hence why it sat unread on my TBR for so long. Reviewers are usually very positive, but they do mention that this is a challenging one. I’m always a bit more cautious with heavier literary fiction, as this is a genre I don’t normally pick up. This book has been awarded the highest literary award in France, the Prix Goncourt. All the more reason to be cautious. Yet I was also curious, because I enjoyed that other intimidating book, The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischwili as well. And that one is three times the size of this one in Dutch. So, my expectations were somewhat mixed: I was curious but also approached this reading challenge with some trepidation.

Characters

Identifying the characters in this novel proves to be your first challenge. Sarr introduces several characters, but you primarily get to know them through the eyes of others. The protagonist is Diégane, a Senegalese writer living in Paris. One day, he stumbles upon a long-lost cult classic by author T.C. Elimane, who also has roots in Senegal. After the publication of his successful novel, no one has ever heard of this certain Elimane. Diégane is intrigued and decides to track him down. He encounters several characters, primarily through the stories of one of them. All these characters have a connection to Elimane, which leads you to suspect that this will also be true for Diégane. Because you primarily meet other important figures around Elimane, the protagonist remains somewhat obscure. What is clearly portrayed is his sense of displacement. He feels neither entirely at home in Paris nor in Senegal anymore. He finds it difficult to keep in touch with his family and everyone who connects him to his homeland. The author gradually reveals more about him, but it is not enough to fully delve into his mind. This is easier with the other characters, and they are therefore more interesting to read from.

Writing

The writing is another factor that makes the novel so challenging. The author jumps back and forth between past and present, allowing T.C. Elimane’s story to take shape. Meanwhile, Diégane’s quest also demands space. As we follow multiple narrators and the research is based on documentation, the reader is constantly piecing together the puzzle. Nevertheless, the story maintains a chronological structure, particularly evident in its division into several parts. Moreover, the writing style is poetic, and Sarr uses many metaphors to express his ideas. This rich language makes this novel unsuitable for less experienced readers.

Plot

The plot of this book revolves primarily around Diégane’s search for the author of the cult classic that intrigues him so much. The first few chapters left me wondering what I had gotten myself into, but as the story progressed, I became more and more engrossed. Once the plot grabs you, it is hard to put the book down. The search for T.C. Elimane is intriguing because it’s not just a search for him. Because his book was published in 1938, addressing themes like both WWI and WWII, (the legacy of) colonialism, and racism is inevitable. More than a century later, the protagonist Diégane still feels the impact of history and the complicated relationship between France and Senegal. Elimane found himself right in the middle of it all. The characters and their generations forever bear the scars of this history, and the author doesn’t leave this untouched. These serious themes give the book depth, making it a challenging read.

Final thoughts

The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr is a challenge, but one that’s completely worth taking on. It’s not a book for everyone; it’s not necessarily recommended for the less experienced reader. You get to know the characters primarily through the eyes of other narrators, and the writing style is challenging. The rich language, with its many metaphors, sometimes requires you to read between the lines. It’s a constant puzzle you’re piecing together, with both the search for T.C. Elimane and the themes the author explores. These are serious, but they offer a good understanding of history and its scars that younger generations still carry. Nevertheless, this novel is intriguing, but you’ll have to persevere through the first few chapters. Are you ready to read far outside your comfort zone and are you up for a challenging read? Then this book is for you. The awards it has received are understandable.