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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Truly, I wanted to read this book. I tend toward more non-fiction and had asked my manager at work for a recommendation - she passed along this book. I found it difficult to get into - though I did like some of the characterizations (ie, fall leaving and slamming the door on the way out) - it just overall seemed like her writing wasn't very well integrated - in terms of the style(s) of writing in the book and the uneven development of characters.
I found the way the characters spoke to be distractingly unnatural - and found found the oblique physical descriptions of people (explicit for some characters, almost soft porn - and very vague for others) difficult to hook into. The drama and the sub plots - just not all worked out very well and in the end - not that interesting. I forced myself to finish it in the hopes it would improve - not sure I would bother with another of her books.
I found the way the characters spoke to be distractingly unnatural - and found found the oblique physical descriptions of people (explicit for some characters, almost soft porn - and very vague for others) difficult to hook into. The drama and the sub plots - just not all worked out very well and in the end - not that interesting. I forced myself to finish it in the hopes it would improve - not sure I would bother with another of her books.
I was slightly nervous upon embarking on this book. It is long and the reviews are very mixed; I was worried it wouldn't be worth my time. Thankfully, I loved On Beauty and couldn't put it down, reading it in about 8 sittings. This was my first Zadie Smith novel and I was not disappointed.
The characters are full-bodied and complex. They are flawed and often hypocritical, but simultaneously likeable. Smith masterfully makes the array of voices and narratives work. Set in a university, Smith definitely captures the pretension and, indeed, arrogance that riddles certain faculties of the arts. Smith showcases how the intellectual pursuit can become so detached from reality that it almost becomes absurd.
It is comedic and ironic whilst grappling with issues such as identity politics - race, religion and class. It seemed to me that the characters live in the shadow of 9/11 - the Belsey's anniversary party, Monty's neoconservatism, Howard's mysterious email - which was dubbed the "end of irony." I haven't found any other commentary on this element, so would be interested to read something on this device.
The characters are full-bodied and complex. They are flawed and often hypocritical, but simultaneously likeable. Smith masterfully makes the array of voices and narratives work. Set in a university, Smith definitely captures the pretension and, indeed, arrogance that riddles certain faculties of the arts. Smith showcases how the intellectual pursuit can become so detached from reality that it almost becomes absurd.
It is comedic and ironic whilst grappling with issues such as identity politics - race, religion and class. It seemed to me that the characters live in the shadow of 9/11 - the Belsey's anniversary party, Monty's neoconservatism, Howard's mysterious email - which was dubbed the "end of irony." I haven't found any other commentary on this element, so would be interested to read something on this device.
8/10: It took a bit to get into the story and complexity of each character, but I loved all of the tensions and relationships between the characters. The ending was a bit anticlimactic, though.
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
Zadie Smith has the knack for writing what starts off as introspective, smart into the chaos of human drama all thoughtfully written with quips and points of views. The themes of UK/US and white/black/mixed are a theme that are well executed. Set in academia this book turns characters you look up to into grotesquely human characters through time and reaction. I laughed, smiled, kicked my feet and closed it in anger all through what felt like a year or two shared with this messy, relatable (yet not at all) family.
I kept falling in and out of love with this book. I'm happy to say I ended the experience firmly on the "in" side. First, I must say I am absolutely blown away by Zadie Smith's attention to the inner lives of every member of her large cast. The level of insight she brings to humanity on an individual level is just insane. That the novel is generally very funny is a wonderful bonus.
This is a king of old fashioned book, but that's to be expected as it's loosely patterned on Forster. Basically, it's a very well constructed comedy of manners situated at the intersection of race, academia, and class. Many of the characters are all so well and empathetically observed, it is often if not always easy to ignore how insufferable they would be if met in real life. This is especially true of the man at the center of the narrative, Howard Belsey, who I imagine is the primary obstacle for the readers who do not enjoy this book. More than once I found myself wondering what I could possibly get out the slow motion implosion that represents Howard's end (bravo to Smith for this excellent joke), but by finish I found the complicated hint of grace in the final pages well worth my time. Deeply flawed, but not evil people coming to complex endings is an interesting enough idea to hold me.
Would kind of love a follow up novella for Kiki after the separation though.
This is a king of old fashioned book, but that's to be expected as it's loosely patterned on Forster. Basically, it's a very well constructed comedy of manners situated at the intersection of race, academia, and class. Many of the characters are all so well and empathetically observed, it is often if not always easy to ignore how insufferable they would be if met in real life. This is especially true of the man at the center of the narrative, Howard Belsey, who I imagine is the primary obstacle for the readers who do not enjoy this book. More than once I found myself wondering what I could possibly get out the slow motion implosion that represents Howard's end (bravo to Smith for this excellent joke), but by finish I found the complicated hint of grace in the final pages well worth my time. Deeply flawed, but not evil people coming to complex endings is an interesting enough idea to hold me.
Would kind of love a follow up novella for Kiki after the separation though.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Henkilöhahmoja oli omaan makuun liikaa, ja tarina oli siksi sekava. Uskon, että minulta meni ohi jotain olennaista, keskityin kai lähinnä miettimään, kuka kukin olikaan. Ihan ok lukukokemus.
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes