Comments on: Review: On Beauty, Zadie Smith

By: zibilee

zibilee — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:15:41 +0000

Great review! I have passed up this book in the past after reading some lukewarm reviews, but after reading yours, I think I might give it a chance.

By: Nish

Nish — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:57:56 +0000

I liked this book too. I loved the way she dealt with a man’s middle age angst. Not too many woman writers can capture a man’s mind and heart as, I believe she did very realistically. I also loved how she captured the multi-racial aspect, and the confusion of the people trying to find their identity.

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:49:39 +0000

Oh, I’m glad you liked it. I like books that are mostly “interesting” rather than “good” or “bad” and this sounds just right. Everyone I know has picked it up lately for one reason or another so I thought I’d take a stab. I’ll definitely let you know what I think!

By: Kay

Kay — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:19:32 +0000

This sounds like an interesting read. I had no idea either that it had received bad reviews; on my side, I’ve heard mostly good! But sometimes hearing negative reviews do help you appreciate the book more! In fact, I prefer that to the opposite, when there’s so much hype and you end up disappointed.

By: claire

claire — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:13:44 +0000

I almost, almost picked this up the other week at the bookstore, just entirely because of that cover! Well, actually, I’ve been meaning to read it for some years now, but haven’t gotten around to because of those negative to mediocre reviews I’ve seen as well. But. As you really liked it, and also Nymeth did, then I’ve no reason not to pick it up the next time I visit.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:12:59 +0000

I don’t know… this book sounds a little too deep for me. Would you say this book satirizes the upper-middle class like Babbitt? Because it kind of sounds similar to that to me.

By: Lezlie

Lezlie — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:39:06 +0000

Sometimes low expectations do make it easy to really enjoy a book. I’m glad you liked this one. It’s on my TBR, too.

Lezlie

By: lilly

lilly — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:22:59 +0000

I’m glad you read it and liked it so much. I often see reviews for books just published or about to be published but rarely for older books which for me is a problem because I own an abundance of those. I own On Beauty as well and just didn’t know anything about it so it’s good you reviewed it here. Now I can reach for it a little more relaxed.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:10:56 +0000

I had no idea it had gotten mediocre reviews – I absolutely adored it, it was one of my favourite reads of last year. I’m glad you enjoyed it too! I have White Teeth on my tbr pile also, and I also need to read Howards Ends, of which I hear this is a sort of modern retelling.