Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

10 reviews

lanid's review against another edition

emotional funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Islamophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Gun violence, War, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

noahsingh's review

2.0

reaaally don't get why people love this book, it's super Islamophobic and also why does Zadie Smith hate fat people so much.... Get a grip

Also frustrating ending with no real closure re: the marriages, the twins, etc 

soooo many things I disliked about this but saving a Nazi twice as a plot point really killed me what is this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Sexism, Slavery, Islamophobia, Fatphobia, and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, War, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Self harm, Cancer, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation

saskiahill's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Infidelity, War, Animal cruelty, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Racism, Violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, and Gun violence

caylacolclasure's review

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, War, Infidelity, and Islamophobia

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The way that Zadie Smith writes people is uniquely complex and compelling. I was surprised at the depth of my hatred for these characters and then by the equal depth of my sympathy and appreciation for the same characters. (Neena was the only character who escaped without hatred from me. And niece of shame is a kickass nickname.) Their convoluted natures and equally, if not more, convicted relationships with each other were the thread that tied the whole novel together and made the ending of it feel like something more than it was—though I would’ve liked to know even more. Some of the scenes of prejudice in this book wrenched a visceral reaction from me, especially in the casualness of their presentation. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Racism, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia

nelliecdownie's review

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Racism, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

donkeykong's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy

linesiunderline's review

challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book is SO MUCH. It has so much life, so many themes, characters, layers… it’s a book you need to devote yourself to, not a casual kind of reading experience. I’m glad to have finally picked it up, but I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t effortful at times.

A few words to describe Smith’s debut:

Crowded

Meandering 

Rich

Funny

Chaotic 

Epic
Intimate

Because of the sometimes chaotic feel, I didn’t feel consistently connected to the narrative and there were moments when I had to knuckle down and push on to get to the next section. Still, I was ultimately rewarded by it all.

I’ve been mixed reviews on the ending, but I thought it was outstanding.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and War

fionac326's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

alomie's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I feel like if I'd have read this when it was first published I would have thought it was an excellent comment on culture.
As it was I found it a real struggle to relate to it. 
At its core I can see that it's objectively a good book, but i personally found it dated, which is weird but I think because it's set in recent(ish) modern times it just feels like looking at old pictures from the 80s and laughing at the perms and shoulder pads. 
It was most definitely character driven and honestly the characters were for the most part infuriating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Hate crime, Cursing, and Cancer

Minor: Gun violence