A review by vivakresh
The Fraud by Zadie Smith

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? No

5.0

Excellent concept and execution! Loved the short chapters, the well-wrought sentences, and the way the story unfolded while folding back on itself in the way memory does naturally as we age. Loved the history, the period details, the ethical considerations, and the unwavering commitment to telling stories truly. I did occasionally find myself skimming when we spent a bit more time on William and his naval gazing novel writing, but with such short chapters…and ultimately they served to elevate the superior character of Eliza and the better writing of Zadie Smith herself! And the comparisons to Dickens were funny. A bit meta, but I appreciated it!