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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
My first Zadie Smith, and fantastic. Smith nails her Forster. It is SO right. She totally understands that “only connect” doesn’t actually work as a motto or guiding principle for life. Life requires so much more than that, and Smith shows you the hows and whys, with such humor and pathos and BEAUTY. If you love Forster, this is a magnificent tribute. If you don’t love Forster, you will. Because it’s so fantastic, I’ll go ahead and say that I think her view of U.S. university employment is a bit off. And, she really skewers some of her characters in a way that makes me slightly uncomfortable, a Mavis Gallant kind of uncomfortable. But it’s such a wonderful book that you feel kind of grateful that there are errors, and places where she might lean a little too hard, because otherwise you might just go insane with pleasure.
http://alisonkinney.com/2014/07/24/zadie-smith-on-beauty/
http://alisonkinney.com/2014/07/24/zadie-smith-on-beauty/
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful prose, complicated family dynamics that still resonate with the average American family, and an ambitious take on race, affirmative action, and the contradictions and annoyances of liberal arts academia.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 STARS!!! It has been a while since I have enjoyed a book this much, adding to my list of all-time favorites.
Wow this book gives people big feelings. Reading it right after her first book, I lived that this had the same writing style while being more contained and tight (in terms of characters and the timeline). Obsessed with Kiki. I'm not sure if the discussion of bodies just isn't aging well for me or if I'm missing context, but the narrator's descriptions of Kiki were a miss for me, and undermined some of the book (I get that other characters might've talked that way, but having it be in the narration made me question it...). But otherwise this was a really interesting picture of very flawed humans!
I love the way Zadie Smith writes characters and family dynamics. It hops from focus to focus so it’s hard to ground yourself but also hard to get bored
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can’t express how much I loved this book
Zadie Smith has been on my reading list for a year now, and I finally found the opportunity to read this book. Her writing style and vocabulary are wonderful. Yet I struggled to see where the book was heading at any given moment, and was often disappointed by the end destination. From reading others comments and researching the author, I assume that’s the talent of Ms. Smith: she presents humans — not characters — and daily life, not an epic adventure.
The narrator’s voice is what I found most intriguing, and why I decided to finish the book despite my frustration with the “plot.” She/he treads the role of a commentator yet is often subjective. For example, when Howard and Kiki have makeup (or regret) sex, the narrator states “Howard reaches for Kiki’s cataclysmic breast.” This word choice made me question the narrator’s — and perhaps Zadie Smith’s own views — as opposed to Kiki’s opinion of herself or Howard’s views on Kiki.
Unsure if I would recommend this book or read more of Zadie Smith’s work.
The narrator’s voice is what I found most intriguing, and why I decided to finish the book despite my frustration with the “plot.” She/he treads the role of a commentator yet is often subjective. For example, when Howard and Kiki have makeup (or regret) sex, the narrator states “Howard reaches for Kiki’s cataclysmic breast.” This word choice made me question the narrator’s — and perhaps Zadie Smith’s own views — as opposed to Kiki’s opinion of herself or Howard’s views on Kiki.
Unsure if I would recommend this book or read more of Zadie Smith’s work.