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colwellcat's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katemdixon's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I am sad to say I was disappointed with this one. It sounded so good, but I don’t think it was executed how I would’ve liked it, and after all a book has to have more than a good idea. First of all, I found it too complicated. There were so many characters and so many names, and I found most of them to be of no consequence at all. Complicated isn’t always a bad thing, but I don’t think this was done well. There were seemingly meaningless and random time jumps, which only added to the frenzied feeling and awkward pacing. Secondly, each chapter was probably only about three pages or fewer, so you only really spend one scene with a character before a needless break or another arbitrary jump in time. I was disappointed and found it just generally slow and laborious to read. It is the first Zadie Smith I’ve read, and I really wanted to like her work, so maybe I’ll read another of hers later.
francesca_mirime's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wolfebh's review against another edition
The story was slow and challenging to follow
cmcaus's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
eileenmalone's review against another edition
informative
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Wonderful history driven plot line with a deep central character. Lived up to the promise of the author’s piece in the New Yorker.
nuhafariha's review against another edition
4.0
I'll say this is not my favorite Zadie Smith novel. However, I do not think the book necessarily deserves the bad reviews it has been receiving. To me, Smith was trying to mimic the form of the Victorian era novel while also critiquing its vapid presentation. I especially enjoyed the end of the novel where we get to see the protagonist, Eliza, actively challenged in her role as a white woman feminist by Henry, Bogle's son.
ficklefever's review against another edition
5.0
zadie smith is a literary genius and this book solidifies it
the last time i read a book where i kept stopping to marvel at the beauty of its writing was elena ferrante's neapolitan novels; this hit all the same notes of immersive world building and rich, complex characters. there's so much covered in this book -- history, ego, authorship, class, race, sapphic love -- and it ALL WORKS. one of my favorite reads of 2023!
the last time i read a book where i kept stopping to marvel at the beauty of its writing was elena ferrante's neapolitan novels; this hit all the same notes of immersive world building and rich, complex characters. there's so much covered in this book -- history, ego, authorship, class, race, sapphic love -- and it ALL WORKS. one of my favorite reads of 2023!