A review by davygibbs
Blind Spot by Teju Cole

4.0

Cole's photos don't always hit me in the same way that they obviously hit him. That's a given, of course, any time we look at photographs, but since Cole is such a prolific communicator when it comes to his images, there's a degree of expectation there that is a bit more demanding, even intimidating. In Blind Spot, every single image is accompanied by a short lyric essay. They vary in tone, clarity, and directness. The conversational ones seem, in the moment, to be more successful ("Oh, yes, I too see the image of a face in that water stain"), while the more oblique passages can confuse the issue all the more. So there are instances, many of them in fact, where the demanding quality Cole's work is emphasized. But about 2/3 of the way through, something magical happens. The oblique references begin to enhance the parallel structures in the images, they begin to talk to one another. You find yourself flipping back several pages to hone in on a new frequency. Connections are made. The mind races. It's a dazzling effect, and one not arrived at easily. I would encourage frustrated readers to slow down and stick with it. Give the text room to breathe, dwell on the images, even idly. Shapes will emerge. The book will come together.