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vegantrav's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
erinlcrane's review against another edition
4.0
It feels weird to say this felt like a roller coaster, but that is how it felt. Lots of emotional scenes, especially near the end. This book is so, so similar to Crossroads in themes and style - even the family dynamics. If you enjoyed Crossroads, you ought to try this.
I do want to note that I feel like this might be written differently post #MeToo. There are some uncomfortable relationships that I think are written as uncomfortable, but I think the thoughts and actions of characters would be different in today’s environment and Smith probably would have adjusted for that.
This book is full of unlikable characters that Smith gets me to care about anyway - to hate one moment and sympathize with the next. There are multiple very moving scenes. Overall the book feels sort of meandering, but I was so invested in this family, I was compelled to keep reading. In a way that is pretty rare with me.
Many themes are handled here - race, especially as it pertains to middle/upper class Black people, sex, academia politics, coming of age, classism, and - of course - beauty. I think the idea of beauty comes up in many ways - beautiful bodies, beautiful writing, beautiful art, beautiful people, beautiful speech, etc.
I’m not sure what to make of the ending. Perhaps Howard finally wants to say “I like the tomato”?
Favorite quotes:
If she were white, maybe it would refer only to sex, but she was not. And so her chest gave off a mass of signals beyond her direct control: sassy, sisterly, predatory, motherly, threatening, comforting – it was a mirror-world she had stepped into in her mid forties, a strange fabulation of the person she believed she was.
Jack was now faced with a task he dreaded: saying something after reading a poem.
A clearing opened in her mind, and in it she tried to restage one of her earliest memories of Howard – the night they first met and first slept together. But it could not be conjured so easily; for at least the past ten years the memory had presented itself to her like a stiff tin toy left out in the rain – so rusty, a museum piece, not her toy at all any more.
Then he laughed and looked at his son with fond wonder. What a period this was to live through! His children were old enough to make him laugh. They were real people who entertained and argued and existed entirely independently from him, although he had set the thing in motion. They had different thoughts and beliefs. They weren’t even the same colour as him. They were a kind of miracle.
I do want to note that I feel like this might be written differently post #MeToo. There are some uncomfortable relationships that I think are written as uncomfortable, but I think the thoughts and actions of characters would be different in today’s environment and Smith probably would have adjusted for that.
This book is full of unlikable characters that Smith gets me to care about anyway - to hate one moment and sympathize with the next. There are multiple very moving scenes. Overall the book feels sort of meandering, but I was so invested in this family, I was compelled to keep reading. In a way that is pretty rare with me.
Many themes are handled here - race, especially as it pertains to middle/upper class Black people, sex, academia politics, coming of age, classism, and - of course - beauty. I think the idea of beauty comes up in many ways - beautiful bodies, beautiful writing, beautiful art, beautiful people, beautiful speech, etc.
I’m not sure what to make of the ending. Perhaps Howard finally wants to say “I like the tomato”?
Favorite quotes:
If she were white, maybe it would refer only to sex, but she was not. And so her chest gave off a mass of signals beyond her direct control: sassy, sisterly, predatory, motherly, threatening, comforting – it was a mirror-world she had stepped into in her mid forties, a strange fabulation of the person she believed she was.
Jack was now faced with a task he dreaded: saying something after reading a poem.
A clearing opened in her mind, and in it she tried to restage one of her earliest memories of Howard – the night they first met and first slept together. But it could not be conjured so easily; for at least the past ten years the memory had presented itself to her like a stiff tin toy left out in the rain – so rusty, a museum piece, not her toy at all any more.
Then he laughed and looked at his son with fond wonder. What a period this was to live through! His children were old enough to make him laugh. They were real people who entertained and argued and existed entirely independently from him, although he had set the thing in motion. They had different thoughts and beliefs. They weren’t even the same colour as him. They were a kind of miracle.
obtusegrl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paddles1704's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.75
A really beautiful book, truly. A snapshot of life, through the eyes of different members in a family, who you cannot help but love, particularly Kiki, the mother. Unexpected, in some ways, with beautiful and clear descriptions throughout. Highly recommend.
bohoautumn's review against another edition
1.0
.
In my late teens I think I would have enjoyed this for what it is. Right now though, Smith and I don't gel. I enjoy being entertained, but I also want to read a well-constructed story, believable (if it's meant to be realism), tight prose, emotional insight, and I want to either love or hate the characters.
On Beauty has moments of dazzle, where Smith manages to pull together a string of words that arrow into human emotion and motivation. She also grapples admirably with social issues. Her ear for voice is sharp. Unfortunately, these remain moments.
Mostly, she gave me skeletal characters. None stirred an emotion stronger in me than annoyance or mild curiosity. The uninteresting plot was carried along by large coincidences. The beauty theme was butter-spread thin. The intellectual interjections became ostentatious. So I can't even claim it was entertaining to me.
On a few occasions, one of the characters makes a point that other people's failings/behaviours were dull in their obviousness. That's On Beauty in a nutshell - predictable, obvious, clichéd. I can understand many like it as a fun read, but how this won the Orange Prize and is listed in the 1001 Must Reads is beyond me.
full review @ ink + chai
In my late teens I think I would have enjoyed this for what it is. Right now though, Smith and I don't gel. I enjoy being entertained, but I also want to read a well-constructed story, believable (if it's meant to be realism), tight prose, emotional insight, and I want to either love or hate the characters.
On Beauty has moments of dazzle, where Smith manages to pull together a string of words that arrow into human emotion and motivation. She also grapples admirably with social issues. Her ear for voice is sharp. Unfortunately, these remain moments.
Mostly, she gave me skeletal characters. None stirred an emotion stronger in me than annoyance or mild curiosity. The uninteresting plot was carried along by large coincidences. The beauty theme was butter-spread thin. The intellectual interjections became ostentatious. So I can't even claim it was entertaining to me.
On a few occasions, one of the characters makes a point that other people's failings/behaviours were dull in their obviousness. That's On Beauty in a nutshell - predictable, obvious, clichéd. I can understand many like it as a fun read, but how this won the Orange Prize and is listed in the 1001 Must Reads is beyond me.
full review @ ink + chai
hannahmcaulay's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
cameroneader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? N/A
4.0
yarovit's review against another edition
definitely for a much older audience, couldn't connect to it at all
angelabeth995's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5