21st Century Literature discussion

I've added this thread as a place for us to share critical reviews, our own reviews and thoughts about Zadie's writing and body of work. I know that discussion of any one of Smith's books can quickly move to our favorite of her books, our feelings/thoughts about her writing in general and not just about a particular book. I thought it would be nice to have a home for those things. I'll get us started:

Here's a video where she and Jeffrey Eugenides talk about how they write. http://www.newyorker.com/culture/new-...

Slate's Audio Book Club featured Swing Time in early March. The style of the three women discussing the book was somewhat annoying (unfinished questions, sentences, etc.), but they brought up some interesting questions about Swing Time and veered off into talking about their favorite ZM books. http://www.slate.com/articles/podcast...

Here are a number of critical reviews - one thing I found interesting in reading these is that there is a wide variety of things that critics highlight in their reviews. (obviously read at your own risk if you want to read Swing Time with fresh eyes):

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...
Vulture: http://www.vulture.com/2016/10/zadie-...
NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/bo... Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...
NPR: http://www.npr.org/2016/11/16/5014840...
Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...

Please add critical reviews you have liked to add to my U.S.-centric ones and post your own reviews.

Lastly, are you a Zadie Smith fan? If yes, what are your favorite books of hers and why? What do you like about her writing?

Hmm I thought White Teeth was great! I hated The Autograph Man. I didn't mind On Beauty but not a book I would re-read. I haven't read NW and I've got Swing Time in Hardback but I'm waiting for the right moment ( just not in the mood right now)

White Teeth is the best. I liked On Beauty and some parts of NW, but was less keen on The Autograph Man. The essay collection Changing My Mind was very impressive too...

I agree with Hugh's league table. I love her but feel she still hasn't quite written the great novel you sense she's capable of. Still young though.

Here are two reviews from the NY Times by different reviewers --
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/bo... and https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/bo... -- and my review --https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Am I a Zadie Smith fan? I'd say yes. I like that she doesn't have a set style and that whatever style she chooses, she does it well. However, none of her novels so far have completely captured me. I have only written reviews for NW (see https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and this one. After reading the reviews for Swing Time and Hugh's comment, I think I need to read some of her non-fiction.

Hmmm. I read On Beauty, but it didn't captivate me, so am ambivalent about picking up another one of her books. I have enjoyed stories she's written in the New Yorker and elsewhere, so perhaps I should give her another chance. Will await everyone's thoughts on Swing Time.

I loved Swing Time! I picked it for the wrong reasons ( as a balet lover I'm interested in dance and ballet themes), but it turned out to be much more. So many issues raised in this book, it left a deep mark in my heart and mind. Race, class, the nature of feminism, the hypocrisy of politics and the intricate real work behind NGOs.. The only thing I might add is that this is truly the story of one girl, with second one somewhere in the background. The childhood scenes, especially the horrors of school really shook me.. I loved that this book is many dimensional and even ambivalent in some ways. Amazing!

Dramatika, not a Zadie Smith book, but you might be interested in Astonish Me if you haven't read it yet.

I've only read Smith's On Beauty, but it impressed me. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to read Swing Time in time for the discussion.

I have loved interviews I have seen & read with Zadie Smith, and her interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard was the best I have seen with him. She asked all the right questions in a way that drew the answers out of him. Typically he seems a bit more closed. Anyway, I was hoping to love her book, because I like her on many levels. This was my first book of hers, and I am struggling to get through it. I am 3/4 of the way in, and I think the main reason I have not given up is that the narrator of the audio book is incredible. Zadie Smith writes lovely sentences, so I have no doubt of her skill, but I can't seem to engage with these characters or the story.

Jill wrote: "I have loved interviews I have seen & read with Zadie Smith, and her interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard was the best I have seen with him. She asked all the right questions in a way that drew the a..."

Do you have a link to the Knausgaard intereview, Jill? That sounds incredible. I read ST in print and am starting the audio today. I'll be interested to see what additional/different things I connect with

Dramatika wrote: "I loved Swing Time! I picked it for the wrong reasons ( as a balet lover I'm interested in dance and ballet themes), but it turned out to be much more. So many issues raised in this book, it left a..."

Please port over to "whole book discussion" with additional thoughts, Dramatika. (I also loved this one and hope we have a lively discussion - pros and cons - in that thread.)

Robert wrote: "Hmm I thought White Teeth was great! I hated The Autograph Man. I didn't mind On Beauty but not a book I would re-read. I haven't read NW and I've got Swing Time in Hardback but I'm waiting for the..."

Sorry to hear you're not in the mood to read right now and join our conversation, but you can always come back to these threads at a later date once you've read the book! I have only read Autograph Man (also not a fan) and watched the tv mini-series of White Teeth. I plan to read that one sometime this year.

Hugh wrote: "White Teeth is the best. I liked On Beauty and some parts of NW, but was less keen on The Autograph Man. The essay collection [book:Changing My M..."

Sorry you won't be joining the conversation, Hugh! You always have so much to contribute, so hoping you come back to the threads once you read this.

I loved White Teeth which I read all those years ago but haven't felt tempted to read any more from Zadie Smith. So reading Swing Time as part of the book group is a good opportunity for me to reconnect with her work.

Suzy wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have loved interviews I have seen & read with Zadie Smith, and her interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard was the best I have seen with him. She asked all the right questions in a way th..."

I believe the ZS interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard is in several sections on youtube. If you search for their two names it comes up right away. I've watched many of his interviews and I like hers the best!
I will be interested in how the audio compared to the print version for you. I am almost finished with the audio, and I think the narrator is one of the best I have heard. I am struggling to connect with the sections with Aimee in Africa while I much prefer the parts of the book with Tracey. Looking forward to hearing other opinions as we go.

Jill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have loved interviews I have seen & read with Zadie Smith, and her interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard was the best I have seen with him. She asked all the right question..."

I also prefer the richness of the writing about the Narrator's relationship with Tracey. The multitude of commas feel like run-on sentences to me which are difficult to follow when I lose interest mid-stream - particularly in the Africa sections.

Jill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have loved interviews I have seen & read with Zadie Smith, and her interview with Karl Ove Knausgaard was the best I have seen with him. She asked all the right question..."

I'm loving the audio!! You are right that this narrator is really outstanding. I'm connecting with different things in the audio than I did in print - nice to get an expanded perspective.