Mbougar Sarr certainly deserves the Prix Goncourt for this magnificent novel. The young Senegalese writer introduces the reader to many characters, but his main protagonists are T.C. Elimane and Diegane Latyr Faye. In 1938 Elimane, in Paris, publishes his sensational novel The Labyrinth of Inhumanity. Shortly after he is accused of plagiarism, and copies of his book are destroyed and he disappears. In 2018 Faye, another young Senegalese writer in Paris, discovers Elimane’s book and becomes obsessed with the book and the author. He begins a quest to learn about the author and attempt to understand the novel. Themes in this novel are colonialism and post colonial writing, non-White writers, political unrest (Argentina, Senegal), the Holocaust, etc.

Unfortunately, I couldn't connect woth this book. I kept picking it up and putting it down again and wasn't able to finish it. Would like to try again in the future when I'm in the right mood. Thanks for the #gifted e-copy.

Evocative, compelling, and complex!

The Most Secret Memory of Men is a captivating, immersive tale that takes you into the life of Diégane Latyr Faye, a young Senegalese writer living in France who, after stumbling across a controversial novel that affects him deeply, The Labyrinth of Inhumanity, decides to unravel the mystery and the scandal that caused the novel to be quickly pulled from shelves shortly after its release in the late 1930s and it’s author seemingly missing without a trace.

The prose is lyrical and rich. The characters are multilayered, inquisitive, and determined. And the plot, using stories within the story, is an astute, coming-of-age tale about life, loss, friendship, family, secrets, self-identity, curiosity, racism, infamy, culture, love affairs, literature, and the importance of finding one’s own voice.

Overall, The Most Secret Memory of Men is an atmospheric, philosophical, insightful tale by Mbourgar Sarr that does a beautiful job of highlighting the inherent struggles faced by writers and by those whose lives are continually and irrevocably changed due to colonization and political upheaval.

A powerful exploration of the discrimination faced by marginalized...

How did the book make me feel/think?

“The Most Secret Memory of Men” is a literal masterpiece, a tour de force. Readers are taken on a journey exploring thought-provoking themes such as race, privilege, identity, and the challenges African writers face in a world that resists appreciating their work.

This story delves into the experiences of people who are seen as different in a French society that is primarily white. It is a powerful exploration of marginalized communities' discrimination and the extreme measures an individual may take to abandon their heritage and blend in.

People with fairer skin receive less literary criticism than African writers, as illustrated in the novel. Even within the arts, the world is never a level playing field. The story blends heavier themes with the concepts of love and the “whitening” of culture.

Within the pages, the concept of the colonization of the mind is a powerful metaphor, suggesting conformity can sometimes be a means of achieving success or recognition. Still, it may also limit individual expression and creativity.

“The Secret Memory of Men” tells a compelling story and offers a lens through which readers can explore important social and cultural issues, sparking meaningful conversations and reflections on these topics. At the very least, readers will become lost in the book’s lyrical prose.

WRITTEN: 11 September 2023

Delighted to include this title in the September edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)