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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
White Teeth is an ambitious novel that spans generations, primarily centered around two characters — Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal — whose friendship is formed and ultimately solidified at the tail-end of World War II. The novel explores the theme of roots and identity and how to capture that within the expectations, clashes and racism between two cultures, specifically Indians and the English.
The shackles of history are unbearably tight for the Iqbals, so much so that Samad feels forced to split up his twin children, sending Magad back to India while keeping Millat in England, the belief being the necessity of cultural preservation: “Roots were what saved, the ropes one throws out to rescue drowning men, to Save Their Souls.”
As Millat becomes a trouble maker tied up with an extremist Muslim group, Magad returns to England to partake in the creation of FutureMouse, a genetically modified mouse that could hold the answer to the eventual purification of genes, and the brain child of a Marcus Chalfen, a member of a family who is a representation of the quintessentially problematic white family in society.
As FutureMouse aims to offer a “tantalizing promise of a new phase in human history, where we are not victims of the random but instead directors and arbitrators of our own fate,” so too does Samad struggle with the binding nature of fate in developing his future. So oppressed is Samad that it drives his entire life, creating an unbearable burden on his family and kin: “the brothers will race toward the future only to find they more and more eloquently express their past, that place where they have just been. Because this is the other thing about immigrants… they cannot escape their history and more than you yourself can lose your shadow.”
When familial roots clash with individual and collective ideology of the self, the novel comes to its climax of conflict and tension among all its characters. And when secrets are revealed, so too are the bases of ties among both friends and families and a forceful reexamination of the past that has defined so much. It is ultimately a moment of freedom, where people rip themselves from the past and try to take control of their present, however unnatural it feels.
The shackles of history are unbearably tight for the Iqbals, so much so that Samad feels forced to split up his twin children, sending Magad back to India while keeping Millat in England, the belief being the necessity of cultural preservation: “Roots were what saved, the ropes one throws out to rescue drowning men, to Save Their Souls.”
As Millat becomes a trouble maker tied up with an extremist Muslim group, Magad returns to England to partake in the creation of FutureMouse, a genetically modified mouse that could hold the answer to the eventual purification of genes, and the brain child of a Marcus Chalfen, a member of a family who is a representation of the quintessentially problematic white family in society.
As FutureMouse aims to offer a “tantalizing promise of a new phase in human history, where we are not victims of the random but instead directors and arbitrators of our own fate,” so too does Samad struggle with the binding nature of fate in developing his future. So oppressed is Samad that it drives his entire life, creating an unbearable burden on his family and kin: “the brothers will race toward the future only to find they more and more eloquently express their past, that place where they have just been. Because this is the other thing about immigrants… they cannot escape their history and more than you yourself can lose your shadow.”
When familial roots clash with individual and collective ideology of the self, the novel comes to its climax of conflict and tension among all its characters. And when secrets are revealed, so too are the bases of ties among both friends and families and a forceful reexamination of the past that has defined so much. It is ultimately a moment of freedom, where people rip themselves from the past and try to take control of their present, however unnatural it feels.
adventurous
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It's a book you can't put down, effortlessly funny, realistic description of events, I'm in love.
I don't abandon a book without some thought first. Usually, I am willing to see how things develop.
But, the thing is ... I just don't care about Archie. The book opens with a bang, but then sizzles out for me.
Maybe I'll try it again some time.
But, the thing is ... I just don't care about Archie. The book opens with a bang, but then sizzles out for me.
Maybe I'll try it again some time.
reflective
medium-paced
The first quarter is dreadful. The second quarter is good. The third quarter is OK. The fourth quarter is way too long. The concluding two pages are excellent. The women in the book are all breasts and bums, not smart enough to be scientists, but yes, maybe dentists. The viewpoint characters are mostly men, and rather obnoxious ones at that.
And what to make of the fetish for women with either missing front teeth or gaps in their front teeth?
Some nice ideas in a messy package. Not worth the effort.
And what to make of the fetish for women with either missing front teeth or gaps in their front teeth?
Some nice ideas in a messy package. Not worth the effort.
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’m normally a sucker for these books that have expansive multi-generation spanning storylines and diverse characters and fun side details and all that jazz but I kind of hated reading this. So many pointless and pretentious parts that drag on just to show off the author’s writing skills. Confirms what I’ve always said about British humor: they don’t know when to end a joke. Not for me.
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced