Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

13 reviews

rosinawrites7's review against another edition

I slowly realised at 50-60 pages that I did not care very much about any of the characters except for Clara (though I only just about found her story interesting enough to continue), and after looking at reviews

it seemed that many people felt this way after reading the whole novel, and Clara’s voice kind of disappears, strangely, so

I decided this wasn’t for me. In my opinion, any book needs a character to root for from the get-go - definitely within the first 10%! That’s a fundamental part of storytelling. Ah well, I tried.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

carolinebl's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My main complaint is that the end should have been longer! Such a build up just to finish without clarity.

I loved the scale of this novel, and as Smith’s debut it is especially impressive; I look forward to reading her later work. It is an interesting picture of Britain at the millennium.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Suicide attempt

Minor: War

bethvance's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, Infertility, and Pregnancy

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The way that Zadie Smith writes people is uniquely complex and compelling. I was surprised at the depth of my hatred for these characters and then by the equal depth of my sympathy and appreciation for the same characters. (Neena was the only character who escaped without hatred from me. And niece of shame is a kickass nickname.) Their convoluted natures and equally, if not more, convicted relationships with each other were the thread that tied the whole novel together and made the ending of it feel like something more than it was—though I would’ve liked to know even more. Some of the scenes of prejudice in this book wrenched a visceral reaction from me, especially in the casualness of their presentation. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Racism, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia

nelliecdownie's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Racism, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

donkeykong's review

dark emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy

afion's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual assault and Ableism

ellemwan's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt

oraclebykittie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

SHOWSTOPPING INCREDIBLE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. but seriously i think zadie smith writes in a way that brings so much life and interiority to ever single character introduced in this book, it is mesmerizing. the prose is a rlly engaging mix of meaningful and funny, and neither half conflicts the other. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Misogyny and Pregnancy

rrovezzi's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Body shaming