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tildahlia's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think I came to this book with the right frame of mind, but I confess to being an underappreciator of Zadie. Her use of language is wonderful but I don't find her writing to be as engaging as I want it to be. I also find a lot of her perspectives (despite often focused on pop culture) to feel older (read: more boomer) than I would expect, particularly as it relates to technology and social media. As someone who is also very On The Internet, I can tell she isn't - which is fine but sometimes is exposing in One The Internet-type topics.
friss_zucker's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
5.0
susqu's review against another edition
3.0
My first Zadie Smith, though perhaps an unconventional non-fiction first pick, is completed! In some ways, this book strayed from what I had anticipated, and many of her essays seemed merely like reviews of various films, books, or works of art which I wasn't quite interested in (referring to her commentary, not the actual subject matter). However others, especially those among the Feel Free chapter, which more so touched upon her personal life were particularly touching, thought-provoking, simply beautiful, etc. Overall, I greatly admire her writing style and will definitely be returning to her other works in the future!
khuizenga's review against another edition
4.0
A number of these essays were quite beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the ones on Jordan Peele, the Alte Frau, dancing, cultural appropriation, and her time in Rome and exploring gardens with her father. Some of the other ones eluded me, either because I wasn’t familiar with what she was reviewing or because I was listening to the audiobook. I think this particular book is more suited to reading a physical copy, which includes various photos of the artwork she talks about and makes it easier to notice when she has transitioned into quoting something, which could get a bit difficult with the audiobook if you weren’t paying complete attention. These are heady essays, but her thoughts are intriguing.
lucymccarthy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
luvandkiwi's review against another edition
4.0
Zadie short stories for the win! Able to jam in so many stories, characters who are brilliantly birthed every damn time. White Teeth is one of my favorite books... I’ve been waiting to feel that same energy for her other books. It’s back.