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On Beauty
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
Howard Belsey, a Rembrandt scholar who doesn't like Rembrandt, is an Englishman abroad and a long-suffering professor at Wellington, a liberal New England arts college. He has been married for thirty years to Kiki, an American woman who no longer resembles the sexy activist she once was. Their three children passionately pursue their own paths: Levi quests after authentic blackness, Zora believes that intellectuals can redeem everybody, and Jerome struggles to be a believer in a family of strict atheists. Faced with the oppressive enthusiasms of his children, Howard feels that the first two acts of his life are over and he has no clear plans for the finale. Or the encore.Then Jerome, Howard's older son, falls for Victoria, the stunning daughter of the right-wing icon Monty Kipps, and the two families find themselves thrown together in a beautiful corner of America, enacting a cultural and personal war against the background of real wars that they barely register. An infidelity, a death, and a legacy set in motion a chain of events that sees all parties forced to examine the unarticulated assumptions which underpin their lives. How do you choose the work on which to spend your life? Why do you love the people you love? Do you really believe what you claim to? And what is the beautiful thing, and how far will you go to get it?Set on both sides of the Atlantic, Zadie Smith's third novel is a brilliant analysis of family life, the institution of marriage, intersections of the personal and political, and an honest look at people's deceptions. It is also, as you might expect, very funny indeed.
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review
jack777
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
Pickpick

Her writing is truly engaging. She writes characters like no one else.

Read it in saint lucia.

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CatMS
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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My first Zadie Smith book, enjoying it. Love an academia story, especially one with humor.

Loved this book!!

Leftcoastzen I really loved this one ! 6mo
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Magdalenka
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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My Christmas books for may reading !

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smalldogs_bigbooks2419
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Bookish gifts are some of my favorite kinds. @AFrostCauseReads thanks for joining me in our own Jolabokaflod swap, after I missed the sign up date for the one here on Litsy. Bookmark from my 4 year old nephew, with help from my sister. We live by the same motto: READ ALL THE BOOKS!!

43 likes1 stack add
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Nis2
On Beauty | Zadie Smith

When you are guilty, all you can ask for is a deferral of the judgement.

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Nis2
On Beauty | Zadie Smith

Most of the cruelty in the world is just misplaced energy

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merelybookish
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing!! 2y
batsy I've only read this and White Teeth, but I agree! 😆 2y
jlhammar Agreed! Love this one. 2y
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Blackink_WhitePaper
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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This is a wonderful book. My next choice is An old fashioned girl 🤗

#alphabetgame #LetterO

Dilara I love this book! It has a perfect mix of plot, characterisation, observation, humour and theory. It‘s both thought-provoking and entertaining. 2y
batsy I really enjoyed this and An Old-Fashioned Girl! Nice picks. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 📚 2y
See All 6 Comments
Blackink_WhitePaper @Dilara yes 🙌 🥰 2y
Blackink_WhitePaper @batsy 👍🏻🤗💐 2y
33 likes6 comments
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Rissreads
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

Oh Howard you are a very naughty boy! Apparently this book is based loosely on Howard‘s end by EM Forster, a book I am yet to read.
I loved this book. Another fantastic book club pick!
The characters are all so messy, real people are messy, life is messy!
Smith is a fabulous writer, I can‘t wait to read more from her.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 💞 2y
CarolynM Lovely photo😍 Hope you're well, Nerissa😘 2y
jlhammar My favorite Zadie Smith! 2y
39 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Teresereading
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Book about London combined with a travel memory
#JulyJourneys

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 🙌🏻📚 3y
14 likes1 comment
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AFrostCauseReads
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Mehso-so

This book shows the complexity of human nature in regards to beauty. There‘s a lot of family drama, and most of the beauty in question is about appearance or personality (inner v outer). But the parts I liked the most were the analysis of paintings&poetry and the inspiration for them.

I kept waiting for a focal character, but it centers around two families, and keeps branching off. Most characters were very flawed, and real, but not likable

AFrostCauseReads @TheAromaofBooks this was my #bookspin pick for June! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
17 likes2 comments
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Hestapleton
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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#lmpbc #groupv any of these strike your fancy?

LiteraryinLawrence Great choices! I‘ve read Ove and On Beauty. My top choice would be Transcendent Kingdom followed by Veblen or Everything Here is Beautiful. 3y
HeathHof Same^!! I loved Ove but would like any of the others. 3y
staci.reads I've read Ove (wonderful!), and I really didn't like my last Zadie Smith, but I'm willing to try her again. I'm good with any of the others, but would vote for Transcendent Kingdom or Everything Here is Beautiful. 3y
See All 6 Comments
Hestapleton Looks like this is the top choice! I was rooting for this one so I‘m pumped! 3y
LiteraryinLawrence @Hestapleton Yay! I‘m excited for this one! 3y
staci.reads Sounds great 👍 3y
54 likes6 comments
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Gracelovesreading
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Currently reading this, my first Zadie Smith and I am starting to get the characters personalities but I am not quite gripped yet...

Cathythoughts I loved this book ❤️ 3y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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maddielikesbooks
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

absolutely stunning. on beauty is so insightful on issues such as classism, racism, sexism & fatphobia. she intertwines this discussion with plot so cleverly by placing these issues within reality rather than it feeling as if the scene is forced to allow discussion to take place. zadie is phenomenal. PHENOMENAL

Cathythoughts Beautiful book 3y
Leftcoastzen I adored this book! 3y
maddielikesbooks @Leftcoastzen it‘s probably my fave by zadie (closely followed by swing time!) 3y
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maddielikesbooks @Cathythoughts isn‘t it just!!!! i am always a lil taken aback by zadie‘s talent 🥺 3y
Leftcoastzen I will have to read Swing Time . 3y
Erinsuereads Helllllloooo 3y
maddielikesbooks @ErinSueMreads hellooooo to u too :p 3y
14 likes7 comments
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BekaReid
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Zadie Smith and am glad I gave it a chance after striking out with some of her others. (I love her essay collections but often struggle with her fiction for some reason.) On Beauty nods to E.M. Forester's Howards End and deals with issues of social conventions, cultural norms, and identity.

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BekaReid
On Beauty | Zadie Smith

"Even on this short trip to the bohemian end of Wellington – a journey that, having been traversed by car, offered no opportunity whatsoever for reading – she had brought along, in her knapsack, three novels and a short tract by De Beauvoir on ambiguity"

? Is this line me? ? (Never too many books!)

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BkClubCare
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Thank you @Cinfhen for tagging me - sorry, day got away from me! 1. No, my spouse is not a reader but he indulges me enough or at least without comment. 2. My parents are reading fiends, too. But not quite the same reading tastes. My mom will read what I read — the more fun stuff? But she can never remember what she just read 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ 3. I own a Zadie Smith but still haven‘t read anything she‘s written. Many authors are on my “must get to” list

Cinfhen Ha!! My parents are the same!!!! And I‘ve tried to read a few Zadie Smith books but we don‘t seem to get on 😜 3y
BkClubCare @Cinfhen - oh dear! Someday... but not soon. 🤓 3y
KVanRead I really enjoyed this one. 3y
16 likes3 comments
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Helen19
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

It took me a while to get into this, I think I probably need more plot-driven reads at a time when my life doesn‘t involve much plot! I was convinced that I didn‘t like any of these characters up until the last 50 pages when I was welling up, rooting for and worrying for some of them. It‘s been on my shelf for such a long time, now ticked off thanks to #authoramonth ! @Soubhiville

Caroline2 I‘ve had this on my shelf for ages too. 🙄 3y
Helen19 @Caroline2 If you‘re wanting fast paced reads then now is not the time to go for it but it was a good read. It would probably still be on my shelf if not for the challenge though! 3y
AmyG I enjoyed this book, too....but wow, some of the characters made some bad, bad choices. 🤣 3y
29 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth So this is loosely based on Howard‘s End by E.M.Forster ,a book I love .I really enjoyed this dark comedy of morals & culture of 2 families with ties to university.The Belseys, mix raced British/American family & their kids would be the more liberal faction, & are shocked when son Jerome becomes Christian after a brief liaison with the daughter of the academic conservative Monty Kipps , Howard Belseys nemesis.Absolutely adored it!

merelybookish This is her best novel, imo! 3y
Leftcoastzen @merelybookish Nice to hear you say that! I really could write 1000 words on the nuances of this novel.I love that I felt at times , many emotions, sly smiles , lols , eye rolls. 3y
LeahBergen I read this and Howards End back to back. 👌🏻 3y
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batsy I read this quite awhile back (in my 20s 😅) but I remember loving it and being utterly absorbed. 3y
emilyhaldi I loved this one too 😁 3y
Billypar @LeahBergen I did the same thing last year. I bought On Beauty without knowing the Howards End connection, so I got HE and read it first. It was my first novel for both authors, so I'm looking forward to reading more. 3y
Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen @Billypar It‘s hard to explain but after reading several of Forsters books & reading many authors of the same era , I felt he was undervalued. His books really had a big effect on me . 3y
Leftcoastzen @batsy I was really absorbed as well ! The perfect word for what was going on , it doesn‘t happen often enough ! 😀 3y
LeahBergen @Billypar @Leftcoastzen The only other Forster I‘ve read is A Room With a View (which I loved). I definitely need to read more, too! 3y
63 likes9 comments
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maich
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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The last 2days were to busy for me. And I didn't read so much. Doing some paperwork and driving around always tired me.
Today I took half hour and went to the library. I borrow On Beauty by Zadie Smith and The Flight on the Falcom by Daphne du Maurier for #aam (I missed january challenge).
And I also borrow a Collection of Vietnam National fairytales by Zdenka Jermanova for #FoodandLit

#slovenianedition #librarybooks #tbr

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LazyOwl
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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I'm really not feeling this. I hope it gets better. Yawn 😴

48 likes1 stack add
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Cinfhen
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Mehso-so

#AAM I don‘t think Zadie and I are a good fit. I was mildly amused by the first 2/3 of this book but by the time part 3 arrived, I had mentally checked out. I did manage to skim the last third but I was exhausted by the wordiness and pretentiousness. Nope 👎🏼 Between so-so and pan ~ span? #Pop21 #WomanFictionAwardWinner ( so, what do I know?!?)

AmyG Yes. A LOT of wordiness. And drama. 3y
Cinfhen I felt the same way when I read this one @AmyG 3y
emilyhaldi I am still shocked that I enjoyed this book so much 😂 I feel sure I would have aligned with your review except that I happened to pick it up at juuuuust the right time, and it clicked! 🤪 3y
emilyhaldi That being said, none of her other books have interested me and reviews I‘ve read have not been favorable... 3y
Cinfhen I bought her essay collection, so I‘m going to give it a go @emilyhaldi but I think I‘m gonna need to breakup with zadie 🙄 3y
85 likes5 comments
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Cinfhen
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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I‘m really enjoying my #AAM @Soubhiville
Sharp, witty writing but man....the print is teeny tiny😩😩😩
Yes, my flowers match the book cover 💁‍♀️

rockpools Urgh. Even with the reading glasses, that makes me want to throw the book across the room! But the book and flowers combo is perfect 🌺 3y
Cinfhen The struggle is real @rockpools 👵 3y
TrishB Great pic though ♥️ 3y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB This is my favorite Zadie Smith 💐 3y
Soubhiville Lovely photo! 3y
emilyhaldi Gorgeous!!! 3y
LeahBergen This is so pretty!! 3y
93 likes1 stack add7 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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#ShowSomeLove
#FaveBlackAuthor - I picked up White Teeth from the bargain bin at my university bookstore. The cover looked like a light, fun, comedy. What I read was something more, and I fell in love with her way with words. The Autograph Man was a stumble, On Beauty was bliss, and N-W reminded me of the possibilities of literary fiction at a time when I forgot that my brain really could handle work that required thought (baby brain is real).

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘ve got White Teeth and haven‘t gotten to it yet!! 3y
72 likes1 comment
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Leftcoastzen
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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February already? #AuthorAMonth Stopped by a local indie & snagged this used copy.The only book of Ms. Smiths I have read is White Teeth.I found it hard to get into at first, lots going on with many characters.When I found my rhythm ,I really enjoyed it.After scanning some reviews, I picked this one .

youneverarrived I love this book (and this cover is lovely!). Look forward to seeing what you think. 3y
42 likes1 comment
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AmyG
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

The story of two families, the Belseys and the Kipps....and how their lives intertwine while both men, professors and rivals, teach at Wellington College in Massachusetts. A good book, a bit long, lots of drama. 3 1/2 stars

#AuthoraMonth February @Soubhiville

I cheated a little and started this end of January. 🤣

Sleepswithbooks Looks good! I just added to my tbr 😀 3y
AmyG @Sleepswithbooks Stacy...I owe you a letter. I will just pass the book on to you. 😘 3y
Soubhiville Nice! This is the first Zadie Smith review of the month. 😊 3y
See All 6 Comments
Sleepswithbooks @AmyG - ohmygoodness!!! So sweet!!! 3y
AmyG @Sleepswithbooks My great pleasure. I don‘t keep most of the books I read, so I am thrilled to pass this one on. Ha! Anything else I read and post that you want, let me know. 🤣 3y
Sleepswithbooks @AmyG Thank you!!! 3y
95 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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AmyG
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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#24B4Monday @Andrew65

I finished my horror book, The Only Good Indians. I started Queenie for #SundayBuddyRead. And for #AuthoraMonth I managed to read a good half of the tagged book. So I did what I set out to do! 👍🏻

Andrew65 That‘s fantastic 👏👏👏🙌🍾🥂🍾🥂🎉🥳 Thanks for playing along. 3y
52 likes1 comment
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Read-y_Picker
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Finally my #bookspinbingo list for February!
A bunch of these have been sitting in my shopping cart but I‘ve gone and found them either at my libraries or on other sub services so I‘m gonna try to read them before my willpower caves completely 😬
#BookBan2021

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
26 likes1 comment
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CareBear
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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These are the 4 Zadie Smith books I have on my shelves. I doubt I‘ll get to all 4 this month but I will try...anyone have any favorites from this stack?
#authoramonth

Cathythoughts Loved On Beauty ❤️ 3y
readordierachel I really enjoyed NW and have heard great things about On Beauty. 3y
CareBear Thanks @Cathythoughts @readordierachel I think I‘ll start with On Beauty! 3y
57 likes3 comments
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TheBookHippie
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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@Soubhiville I‘m reading these four then I‘ll have read all her books ... For February #authoramonth

I only read one this month FYI of our author.

AmyG Wow! I will be reading On Beauty. I loved White Teeth. (edited) 3y
TheKidUpstairs On Beauty is my absolute favourite of her books, I hope you enjoy! On the other end of things, I bailed on multiple tries of The Autograph Man. She is one of my favourite authors, but that one just didn't work for me! I wish you better luck! 3y
TheBookHippie @TheKidUpstairs I figure if I get this done she‘ll put out another book 🤣 3y
See All 7 Comments
TheBookHippie @AmyG look up her articles the ones in the New Yorker are really good as are all her published essays. Just found out she has a book due in 2021 🤣🤣🤣 @TheKidUpstairs (edited) 3y
AmyG Oh, thanks! @TheBookHippie And good to know @TheKidUpstairs ...now I am more excited. 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick There's a super long wait on many of them through my library so I used an ebook credit to snag Swing Time. 3y
TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick oh I loved Swing Time you‘re going to enjoy it I think. 3y
61 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Megabooks
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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🚨Great deal on an #authoramonth #aam US kindle book!🚨

Soubhiville Thanks for posting! 3y
See All 26 Comments
Read-y_Picker Same in Canada though not advertised... 3y
Megabooks @Soubhiville no problem! 👍🏻 3y
Megabooks @Read-y_Picker fantastic 👏🏻 3y
Lcsmcat Thanks for sharing! 3y
Eggs Thx!! 3y
Pageturner1 👌😀 3y
Helen19 @Soubhiville I actually own this one as a physical copy so I‘ll be able to join in for Feb. This month hasn‘t quite gone to plan as all the local libraries have just closed - again! 3y
Mitch Wow - they must now it‘s our author this month - so kind! 🤣 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Mitch That‘s what I thought, last month there were a few Jemisin on sale in December so that worked out too. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Helen19 my physical library is closed , but I can still checkout ebooks with them online and read them on my phone or kindle, and mine is doing curbside service, so basically you tell what you need and if it‘s in, they check it out, bag it up, and you can just pick it up. Any chance your library is doing either of those...it‘s really nice, but I didn‘t know until I got an email and checked out my library‘s website. 3y
Helen19 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa They we‘re doing a choose and collect service but even that is on hold for now. I forgot to check for ebooks as I don‘t normally read that way but it may be the difference between joining in and not so thank you for the reminder! 3y
Nute Wow! This is working out nicely!🙂 3y
SconsinBookyBadger Thank you @Megabooks for the heads up! 3y
Cathythoughts Great book ❤️ 3y
Megabooks @Cathythoughts that‘s good to know! I have this and Grand Union on my kindle for next month. I‘m going to read/try at least one from each author each month. I know I like her nonfiction, but I‘m unsure about her fiction. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 3y
Megabooks @Nute it is!! 😊 (edited) 3y
Megabooks @AnansiGirl I hope you enjoy it! 3y
Megabooks @Lcsmcat @eggs @Pageturner1 enjoy y‘all! 👍🏻👍🏻 3y
Megabooks @Mitch lol, right?! 3y
Megabooks @Helen19 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa our library has been open on-and-off too. Fortunately they‘ve beefed up their e-library in titles, number of checkouts, and skip the line copies. I feel VERY lucky. Definitely check out and see if your library has Libby, overdrive and/or hoopla, Helen. It‘s been really good, safe way to get free books! 3y
Helen19 @Megabooks good idea, thank you! I miss browsing bookshelves so much! 3y
106 likes26 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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On sale on kindle in the US today #AuthorAMonth our author for February! @Soubhiville

TheKidUpstairs This is my favourite of her novels. Highly recommend! 3y
Soubhiville Thanks for sharing! 3y
CBee @Soubhiville I have a copy of White Teeth that I‘ll probably never read - if anyone participating in #authoramonth wants it, let me know! 3y
Soubhiville @CBee if you post it I‘ll tag everyone 😁 3y
CBee @Soubhiville cool! Will do now 👍🏻😁 3y
45 likes5 comments
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Blaire
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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This is up next after I finish “The Mothers.” It‘s been on my shelf for a decade at least. #integrateyourshelf

LiteraryinLawrence I‘ll be curious what you think! When I read this ages ago I considered it one of my favorite books. Then recently my sister read it and really didn‘t like it. Maybe it didn‘t age well? Or of course maybe people just have different opinions. 😋 4y
KVanRead @blaire @LiteraryinLititz I read this a few years ago and loved it, then found a friend hated it. So maybe it‘s one you love or hate. My friend wasn‘t aware it was inspired by Howard‘s End and said she wished she known that while reading it. 4y
KVanRead There‘s a passage in it describing Hampstead Heath that is one of the best things I‘ve ever read. 4y
Cathythoughts Oh I read this last spring & loved it ❤️ 4y
Blaire @KVanRead @Cathythoughts @literaryinlitz I know several people who adore this book and I love Howard‘s End so I‘m hoping I‘ll love it. I‘ll report back. 4y
51 likes5 comments
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jhod
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Re read!! I never re read books but this one is definitely worth it, can't believe how much a 15 year gap is a totally different read! And I will always love the cover. Staying in a lovely little flat in Whitby, eating lots of seafood nom nom

Cathythoughts I loved this one ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
LeahBergen Lucky you! 4y
squirrelbrain I did the same with White Teeth - got so much more out of it second time around.... enjoy your break in ‘sunny‘ Yorkshire - ha! 🌧 4y
See All 8 Comments
kezzlou85 Beautiful view. Have a fab time 4y
Oryx Lovely! Enjoy 4y
charl08 Gorgeous view! 4y
TrishB Lovely ♥️ 4y
JennyM Enjoy Whitby 💜 4y
92 likes4 stack adds8 comments
review
Esin
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
Pickpick

This book has such rhythm, insight, and justice to it. After just finishing it, I feel like I should read it again.

Cathythoughts Beautiful book 4y
5 likes1 comment
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prowlix
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Bedtime reading! I technically started this last night but only read first few pages to make sure I wanted it to be next. I‘m already loving these families feuding.

#blackvoices

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Cinfhen
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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callielafleur Wow, this cover 😍😍😍 4y
KarenUK It sure is pretty though! 💕 4y
Cinfhen I know!!!! Totally fell for that gorgeous cover @KarenUK @callielafleur 4y
See All 9 Comments
callielafleur Font size should always be listed in the description. 4y
Megabooks I hate small print!! 4y
Cinfhen That‘s why we LOVE AUDIO @Megabooks 😘 4y
TrishB My eyes are not for the small font anymore! 4y
emilyhaldi It IS pretty though!!! 😍 I actually just started this book today & I'm loving it so far. 4y
79 likes2 stack adds9 comments
review
Cathythoughts
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

A great book ! Lots of vibrant characters .. I loved Kiki & Zora .. I loved them all. An intelligent & beautiful work & a page turner to boot ... a readers ( this reader anyway) dream ✨✨✨✨✨

#BookReport I finished this beautiful book ✨

erzascarletbookgasm 💜 And such a gorgeous cover too! 4y
batsy Love the photo! Happy to hear it's a pick for you 💕 4y
TrishB And a lovely review ❤️ 4y
Cinfhen I was thinking the same thing @erzascarletbookgasm @batsy @TrishB 😁♥️📚 4y
youneverarrived Lovely review! Completely agree 💙 4y
82 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Cathythoughts
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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I‘m loving On Beauty so much , that I went & got 2 more of her books , on the last day Waterstones was open. I think I have a new favorite author. Great story , characters, writing , & a page turner ✨✨✨✨✨

tpixie It‘s so fun to fall in love with a new author!!! Mine is Fredrick Backman 4y
LeeRHarry White Teeth is a good one 😊 4y
Cathythoughts @tpixie It really is ! Nice title on your one 👍🏻❤️ 4y
See All 8 Comments
Cathythoughts @LeeRHarry good to hear 👍🏻❤️ 4y
youneverarrived 💙💙💙 4y
squirrelbrain I loved White Teeth too 4y
Redwritinghood Also loved White Teeth. A great book. 4y
tpixie @Cathythoughts yes! Long title! 😂 4y
81 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Cathythoughts
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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#BookReport beautiful page-turner ... progress is slow though , I keep being surprised when the characters go out to a social gathering... I want to warn them : social distancing & lock down ... worlds colliding
I can predict this is #weeklyforecast too
I would recommended it , a good read & more ❤️👍🏻

Tamra 😅 A whole new world inside vs outside our books. Beautiful match with the book cover! 4y
Lindy @Tamra Yes, a whole new world. It‘s obvious that our reading experience is filtered through our lived experiences. 4y
Cinfhen Beautiful cover!!! I was just thinking if new books will address our new norm🤔 4y
See All 6 Comments
batsy Yes, it's so funny that our recent past already feels like another time? Just the idea of people being together, in close spaces, without having to worry... 4y
Aussie_SFF I am soooo glad I am not the only one doing this. People in my book keep shaking hands and my gut reaction is “NOOOO“ hahahah. 4y
Cathythoughts @Tamra @Lindy @Cinfhen @batsy @Aussie_SFF Yes a strange new world, I was just listening to some writers being interviewed on the radio & they are saying they find it almost impossible to write. Life is on hold. I‘m going to really give reading my best shot today .... 👍🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4y
75 likes6 comments
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Cathythoughts
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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The first outdoor reading of the spring .... ❤️ loving this one so far

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love it!!! 🌸❤️ 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Looks like great weather! 🌞🌸❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thanks! 👍🏻❤️ 4y
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Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm first day nice enough to sit in the garden ❤️ 4y
TrishB Enjoy 😘 4y
Cathythoughts @TrishB Thanks ❤️ 4y
youneverarrived It‘s so nice outside today 💚 4y
julesG Lovely! Enjoy. 4y
BiblioLitten Lovely😍 4y
Cathythoughts @youneverarrived Isn‘t a lovely day !! We need this 👍🏻✨ 4y
Cathythoughts @julesG 👍🏻😘 4y
Cathythoughts @BiblioLitten Thanks, it‘s a lovely day here ❤️👍🏻 4y
jenniferw88 Just to let you know that there is a parcel for you but it will probably be late! 4y
Cathythoughts @jenniferw88 Thanks Jenny! Your very good , I‘ll look forward to it. Hope you are keeping well in these difficult times X 4y
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Cathythoughts
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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#bookreport #weeklyforecast

Finished .. Wolf Hall . ✨✨✨✨✨✨
Reading.. Did You Ever Have A Family .. very good ❤️👍🏻

Received On Beauty from the lovely @youneverarrived , I was very bold & opened it early , I wanted to post because our Katie will be very busy soon ❤️... I‘ve had a tiny read & it‘s so good , I know I will love it , thanks so much Katie X I will continue to read On Beauty this week

Suet624 Clegg‘s book was 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 4y
Cathythoughts @Suet624 👏🏻I agree , still reading , it‘s brilliant 4y
squirrelbrain Yay on finishing Wolf Hall! The book from Katie sounds fab! 4y
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Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain thanks! Wolf Hall 👍🏻 Katie‘s book is already so good 4y
JennyM I loved Clegg, too. Enjoy and sending hugs 🤗 4y
Billypar I read On Beauty in January and loved it: it's definitely the kind of book you can get lost in. Such memorable characters. 4y
Cathythoughts @JennyM hugs to you too ❤️ .. Clegg is excellent 4y
Cathythoughts @Billypar Yes only just into it , but I can see what your saying already ..., 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Centique I‘m so glad you loved Wolf Hall! 😍 4y
LeahBergen Oh, you should read Howards End by EM Forster right after! On Beauty is her homage to this classic and together they are 👌🏼 (edited) 4y
Cathythoughts @Centique Thanks Paula , I did ❤️👍🏻 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks! That‘s good to know , I remember watching the telly series of Howard‘s End ... I think I would love to read the book 👍🏻❤️ 4y
batsy What @LeahBergen said! Howards End is so good 💜 4y
youneverarrived I‘m happy that you‘re enjoying it so far 💙💙 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy I already have it downloaded on my kindle sinse @LeahBergen comment ... 😁I love Litsy ❤️ books leading to books.. fine tuning 4y
Cathythoughts @youneverarrived Thanks so much Katie , I‘m loving it 👍🏻❤️ 4y
66 likes16 comments
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bio_chem06
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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After a long hiatus, I started up a book club again. I chose On Beauty because Zadie Smith always delivers. This book was no exception! If anyone is familiar, do you have any discussion ideas?

review
jackday
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Her writing is truly engaging. She writes characters like no one else.

Read it in saint lucia.

review
Billypar
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

Smith's update of Howards End is a big novel with rich characters who grapple with weighty societal controversies involving race, class, justice, and family dynamics. Lots to unpack, but I enjoyed seeing the tradition of old novels about grand ideas applied in a modern context. The characters were all equally fascinating and her writing in dialect made them more real (even when it's not perfect). I also found the drama multilayered and intense.

Billypar Also: for all of Howard's problems, I found his art history theories intriguing: I want to learn more about real-life art historians who share his views. 4y
Taylor I always used to think this was a book of essays for some reason.... 4y
Billypar @Taylor I can see that - so many essay collections are titled 'On x'. The title is taken from a poem of the same name by Nick Laird 4y
youneverarrived Glad you liked it 👍 4y
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Billypar
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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I kept rereading this over and over. It's just an ordinary moment between and elderly father and his adult son, but...wow. So much in so few words.

AllieLovesBooks Wow, what a passage. 💔 4y
merelybookish I loved this book! 4y
BarbaraBB Wonderful and painful quote 💔 4y
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Cathythoughts Heartbreaking quote ... and seemingly done so easily ... stacking 4y
batsy This is one of my favourites by her. I waver back and forth about how I feel about ZS but this book really stood out. 4y
youneverarrived Now I want to read this again. 4y
Billypar @merelybookish @batsy @youneverarrived I'm very excited to finish it this weekend. Could be my first 5 star read of 2020 🤞 4y
Leftcoastzen ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
Suet624 That‘s so touching. 4y
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saigeofgreengables
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

A modern take on Howard's End. If you've read Howard's End, you'll enjoy her nudges to the original. It's a bit tough (not big words, just intense at times) to read, as she touches on some heavy topics that multicultural families deal with in modern society. This isn't an adventure novel, nor does it have an intense climactic point, but it really keeps you engaged and surprises you with every turn of a chapter.

Chelleo Welcome to Litsy! Here are links to #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: https://goo.gl/UrCpoU. There‘s lots of fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! #litsywelcomewagon  4y
saigeofgreengables @Chelleo thank you so much! I'm excited to be on here and share my love for reading with others!! 4y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🥳🎈 4y
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saigeofgreengables @Eggs thank you! 😊 4y
rachelm Welcome! I‘ve wanted to read this one and even have it on my shelf! Maybe in the new year. 4y
saigeofgreengables @rachelm thank you 😊 yes, it's an interesting read. I hope you enjoy it! 4y
RaimeyGallant Welcome! 4y
Nute Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a warm and friendly community. I know that you will enjoy yourself here. I‘m looking forward to getting to know you!🙂 4y
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SW-T
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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This poem is read from the top down, then from the bottom up. Very different messages.

Cultivate your inner beauty 💕

#poetry #poetrymatters #beauty #innerbeauty #selfesteem #confidence #selfcare

Weaponxgirl That‘s so clever. ❤️ 5y
Nute Very creative! 4y
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Morr_Books
On Beauty | Zadie Smith
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Pickpick

This book, graciously given to me by @Chili (thank you!), was a great way to end a wonderful month of reading Zadie Smith. I completed White Teeth, Swing Time, Feel Free and On Beauty. For a full review of all of these, check out my post https://greatmorrisonmigration.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/reading-zadie-smith-janu...

Chili @Morr_Books You are very welcome. I‘m glad you enjoyed it. 😁 5y
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