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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
reflective
fast-paced
“I do feel comforted to discover I'm not the only person on this earth who has no idea what life is for, nor what is to be done with all this time aside from filling it.”
I've never read Zadie Smith before but I think I made the right choice to start with this essay collection and get a taste of her writing. Unfortunately, this wasn't as memorable as I hoped it would. It felt a bit superficial, and I think it would've been better if she went deeper into the topics she discusses throughout the book.
Still, I think this an interesting look into life at the beginning of a global pandemic before shit going down.
I've never read Zadie Smith before but I think I made the right choice to start with this essay collection and get a taste of her writing. Unfortunately, this wasn't as memorable as I hoped it would. It felt a bit superficial, and I think it would've been better if she went deeper into the topics she discusses throughout the book.
Still, I think this an interesting look into life at the beginning of a global pandemic before shit going down.
Zadie Smith in this group of essays puts into words the many half-formed thoughts I've had when thinking of quarantine. My favorite essay, "Suffering like Mel Gibson" goes into the deep pain that everyone is feeling at the moment as well as discussing how that suffering seems invalid when compared to others suffering. Her perspective on the complete chaos of 2020 brings to the forefront discussions of race and class inequities rearing their head in the past year. This group of essays is definitely one that I will reread in the future to remind myself of the past year, and ensure that my memory (which is inclined to nostalgia) does not paint this year in a rosy glow.
"Death comes to all-but in America it has long been considered reasonable to offer the best chance of delay to the highest bidder." (pg 17)
"The rest of us have been suddenly confronted with the perennial problem of artists: time, and what to do with it." (pg 23)
"Everyone learns the irrelevance of these matters next to 'real suffering." (pg 31)
"Death comes to all-but in America it has long been considered reasonable to offer the best chance of delay to the highest bidder." (pg 17)
"The rest of us have been suddenly confronted with the perennial problem of artists: time, and what to do with it." (pg 23)
"Everyone learns the irrelevance of these matters next to 'real suffering." (pg 31)
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
smith has such a clever with and all of her observations and perspectives are so brilliant and fresh. she tows a delicate line between universal experience and a unique freshness that with grace and genius style. i want to crawl inside her world and experience life the way she does.
I really enjoyed this collection of essays and loved how Smith has this amazing ability to relate small instances of life to the world at large. As with any essay collection, some essays are more enjoyable than others but I think overall I liked 5/6 of them which is pretty impressive. Smith's writing is superb and the way she describes people makes you picture them instantly and exactly. I think 'Intimations: Debts & Lessons' was my favourite essay as I loved the idea of taking a person from your life or a specific time in your life and summarizing what they mean to you or the mark they left on you.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Some absolute great essays in here. Good quick read.
reflective
fast-paced