Reviews

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

longshelf's review against another edition

5.0

Loved the writing style from the first page, exactly how I love it: sprawling, messy, but beautiful and as a reader I felt almost drenched in ink and inspiration and love for the chronically flawed, human, experiences in this book. I can see how it may be exhausting and boring for some but for me it’s just the kind of read I like.
I liked how it kept repeating itself and had no charcters just there to fill pages. Only thing I would say is the ending is a bit… dissapointing? Maybe not that, but just you’d think it’d be more about the characters together rather than some reccuring theme that happened hundreds of pages ago and had completely slipped my mind. I liked how open the end was (but why mention Irie’s future at all if none of the other people’s was?) and there are bits where metaphors or similes are repeated (maybe that is intentional though?) but I love how the book leaves me yearning for more things to do with the families, for more plot, and leaves me thinking about the details and their intentions and whatnot. Definitely a favourite.

mjspice's review against another edition

Writing an article about Gaza and claiming "It's complicated" is NAGL
https://twitter.com/fatimazsaid/status/1787232864410411467?t=TY1Ea_Ge5UBgbUVo33XXgg&s=19
#SaveAndFreePalestine

christynhoover's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

All the theological musings and hair-splittings were almost too much for me. I nearly quit the novel --but am glad I persevered to the surprise ending.

nerdpastornate's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective 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

4.0

jwarach's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

tizo's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

helenlovesthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

nats2643's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective 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? It's complicated

2.0

So frustrating! I could see the absolute germs of genius within the text. The wry observations, the humour, the incredibly believable and detailed characters...but for all their 3D nature, I didn't care about a single one of them. The plot was weak, if not non existent, their were long rambling passages, conjectures and musings. I found myself listening on double speed and just willing myself through to the end.
I'd try a Zadie Smith novel again, but this for me was a big disappointment. I wanted to like it so much, but in the end I just found it irritating, long-winded and boring.

alextbrouwer's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

4.25

dean_the_bean's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.75