Fiction

On Beauty

On Beauty

  • Downloads：1782
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-08-04 09:53:27
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Zadie Smith
  • ISBN：0141026669
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Summary

Set in New England mainly and London partly， On Beauty concerns a pair of feuding families - the Belseys and the Kipps - and a clutch of doomed affairs。 It puts low morals among high ideals and asks some searching questions about what life does to love。 For the Belseys and the Kipps， the confusions - both personal and political - of our uncertain age are about to be brought close to home: right to the heart of family。

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Reviews

Vishal Choradiya ，

Zadie Smith’s “On Beauty” is a delightfully funny， and warmly observed social satire set in Wellington， New England—a fictitious college town near Boston， Massachusetts， with marked similarities to Harvard and Cambridge。 It follows the clichéd midlife crisis of a white， untenured art history professor from England， who is struggling to not only make progress on his long-overdue book-length critique of Rembrandt’s “genius”， but also to salvage his deeply affectionate but strained marriage to a fu Zadie Smith’s “On Beauty” is a delightfully funny， and warmly observed social satire set in Wellington， New England—a fictitious college town near Boston， Massachusetts， with marked similarities to Harvard and Cambridge。 It follows the clichéd midlife crisis of a white， untenured art history professor from England， who is struggling to not only make progress on his long-overdue book-length critique of Rembrandt’s “genius”， but also to salvage his deeply affectionate but strained marriage to a full-bodied black American nurse。 The progressive mixed-race couple， and their three adolescent children （each with a unique， wilful personality） find themselves in various entanglements with the family of a conservative Caribbean public intellectual—a fierce ideological rival of the protagonist who is given to speechifying against the “liberal” in “liberal arts”。 What ensues is a richly entertaining and thoughtful portrayal of contemporary academic and family life that is grappling with questions of identity， fidelity， and social justice。Smith brings great wit and emotional intelligence to her rendering of the central couple’s negotiations with their own advancing age as well as the burgeoning political and religious consciousness of their children。 But even as the narrative is replete with weighty concerns—of free speech， affirmative action， class conflict， artistic dissent， and racial and sexual exploitation—she does not resort to lazy binaries or propaganda， foregrounding instead the messiness of ordinary relationships。 Her strength lies in humanising a diverse， companionable cast—including a slick performance poet， many jaded， antagonistic faculty members， and a range of immigrants and wage earners scraping by as street hawkers， mall attendants， cab drivers， and waiters—all just as capable of cynicism， sanctimony， and pettiness as they are of kindness， vulnerability， and love。 The prose， fluent and breezy throughout， comes especially alive in their pitch-perfect voices。 Remarkable also is how effortless the execution of the deftly-woven plot and perspectival shifts seem， yielding a highly readable， immersive comedy that is an absolute pleasure from start to finish。 。。。more

Amy ，

Satisfying and sprawling novel peopled with characters the author knows well， which means they are well rendered for the reader。 I absolutely love the scene where Howard is tickled to the point of involuntary laugher by the glee club singers and must run from the dinner to avoid continuing his "squealing" and "honking。" Also loved the scene where he returns home briefly to pay his father a visit and is reminded immediately of why he left。 Despite these beloved scenes， Howard was also capable of Satisfying and sprawling novel peopled with characters the author knows well， which means they are well rendered for the reader。 I absolutely love the scene where Howard is tickled to the point of involuntary laugher by the glee club singers and must run from the dinner to avoid continuing his "squealing" and "honking。" Also loved the scene where he returns home briefly to pay his father a visit and is reminded immediately of why he left。 Despite these beloved scenes， Howard was also capable of being incredibly "boring" and "obvious，" terms his daughter so aptly used to describe his affair with his beautiful student。 I was pleased by how Smith handled this turn of events among the family -- it was a surprise how it was revealed and handled。 。。。more

Josy ，

I read this ten years ago and still have vivid memories of some of the scenes described in this book。I absolutely loved it。

Olivia ，

took me too long to read but it was good

Nathalia ，

I felt this novel in my gut， and spent several days with a churning mess of emotions within。 Loved Kiki， hated Howard， had a hard time imagining anyone actually lived like this， but nevertheless I was gripped by the book and couldn’t put it down。

Shamavi Hasan ，

Extremely well written。 Witty and funny。 Not my cup of tea though。

Ava ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 really good work zadie。 unfortunately， i am still too dumb to understand。 What did i get from this experience？ -Do not get too caught up in theorizing-somethings in life are just good-somethings in life are just bad-people are more alike than we like to think-don't be pretentious （yah right） really good work zadie。 unfortunately， i am still too dumb to understand。 What did i get from this experience？ -Do not get too caught up in theorizing-somethings in life are just good-somethings in life are just bad-people are more alike than we like to think-don't be pretentious （yah right） 。。。more

Avram ，

I read this right after finishing my reread of Howard's End， which was just a fascinating experience。 I ended up loving both novels， but in very different ways， and each one framed the other in an interesting light。In some ways， On Beauty is very similar to Howard's End。 Especially in the beginning， there are entire passages that are noticeably lifted from that book and revised only slightly to fit the circumstances of On Beauty。 However， there are a few distinct and important differences， prima I read this right after finishing my reread of Howard's End， which was just a fascinating experience。 I ended up loving both novels， but in very different ways， and each one framed the other in an interesting light。In some ways， On Beauty is very similar to Howard's End。 Especially in the beginning， there are entire passages that are noticeably lifted from that book and revised only slightly to fit the circumstances of On Beauty。 However， there are a few distinct and important differences， primarily in tone and in the more intimate and playful treatment of the characters。 Also， the different "factions" of On Beauty are far more confrontational than those of Howard's End， perhaps as a reflection of our more divided time。Part of the reason this novel works is that Smith has the same talent of Forster for identifying and poking fun at real trends and people。 There is not a false lilt to her observations， nor a sour note of dialogue。 Each cadence rings true， which makes On Beauty feel so penetrating。 I found many things about this book's portrayal of a mixed raced family in particular to be shockingly relatable to my own life。 Of any book this year， I laughed the most at On Beauty， often at how successful Smith is at identifying real trends and tapping into real humanity。 She and Forster share this rare and valuable skill。Her writing is also top notch， as in Swing Time。 Smith is clearly less mature here than she is in that later novel and some of the observations or jokes feel a bit more "cutesy" （this maybe a result of On Beauty being a comedy as well）， however that "it" factor is still there。 Smith has this assuredness and confidence that propels you through the pages and gives you confidence that she knows exactly what she's doing。There are issues here for sure: some of the characters at some point became ludicrous caricatures， and I found it difficult to emotionally connect to them。 I think this is a result of the removed angle through which we view them （again， as necessitates a comedy。 Still annoying though）。 I also think the book can feel thematically unfocused， a recurring problem for Smith that was also present in Swing Time。 And in another repeat issue （though one that doesn't really bother me too much as it might other people） this is again a very heady novel and you get the feeling that it's an extension of Smith's brain that she decided to publish。 If that sounds horrible to you， then don't read this or anything by Smith。I found On Beauty a more flawed book than Howard's End， but also more spectacular and fun。 This evens them out for me。 I really enjoyed them both novels and would highly recommend reading them side by side if you have the time。 If not， than pick up whichever premise interests you more。 Both of them stand well on their own， as independently fantastic stories。 。。。more

Annum ，

This book is erudite - but also talks about race， culture， privilege， religion in interesting ways

Usseyyls ，

3。5

Daniel ，

Sophie， if you're reading this， I completely agree that this isn't a world I'd like to live in but I'd be lying if I said it was one I didn't enjoy reading about。 Sophie， if you're reading this， I completely agree that this isn't a world I'd like to live in but I'd be lying if I said it was one I didn't enjoy reading about。 。。。more

Nicolás ，

I’m not sure what to say about this book。 I liked it and at the same time didn’t care for it， if that makes any sense （it doesn’t）I knew this was a polarizing book and I get what Smith was trying to convey， but jesus， some chapters were just dreadful and then I found myself enjoying others， so I guess it's ok？ It was not the best idea reading it while preparing for 2 exams though， that’s on me。 Still， I’m definitely going to read Swing Time。 I’m not sure what to say about this book。 I liked it and at the same time didn’t care for it， if that makes any sense （it doesn’t）I knew this was a polarizing book and I get what Smith was trying to convey， but jesus， some chapters were just dreadful and then I found myself enjoying others， so I guess it's ok？ It was not the best idea reading it while preparing for 2 exams though， that’s on me。 Still， I’m definitely going to read Swing Time。 。。。more

McK Jones ，

80% boring。 Not bad， mostly uninteresting， enough poignant moments to keep me reading in hopes that it would become more engaging。

Gilberto ，

Yeah it was alright

Svenja ，

3，5*

linn ，

the book was written super well but at the same time it dragged on at times （3。5/5）

Cameron ，

What a joy this was to read

Debra ，

Still processing。 The novel pairs well with E。M。 Forster's Howards End， but was ultimately a disappointment for me。 Still processing。 The novel pairs well with E。M。 Forster's Howards End， but was ultimately a disappointment for me。 。。。more

Beth ，

I really enjoyed this offering from Zadie Smith， more than white teeth。 I really loved the characters in both feuding families and their wider social circles。 It had an american beauty kinda vibe to it which I quite liked。

Shelley Lawrence ，

I loved it。 Beautiful

Tina Ringenson ，

Hard to grade this book。 I could tell， intellectually， that it’s a good book。 So I should give it a four。 But since I started reading it several years ago， dropped it， picked it up again a year and half ago， read about half and then left it in my office and didn’t return （because of the pandemic） for almost a year and didn’t miss is makes me give it a three。 At no point did I long to continue reading this book。 When I picked it up once more it took me unusually long to finish it。 I’ve finished i Hard to grade this book。 I could tell， intellectually， that it’s a good book。 So I should give it a four。 But since I started reading it several years ago， dropped it， picked it up again a year and half ago， read about half and then left it in my office and didn’t return （because of the pandemic） for almost a year and didn’t miss is makes me give it a three。 At no point did I long to continue reading this book。 When I picked it up once more it took me unusually long to finish it。 I’ve finished it as a chore out of respect for the good quality I can tell it has。 。。。more

Akshaya Amarnath ，

🥲

Jindroush ，

Zatím za tři， možná to půjde později dolů， až si někdy přečtu román Howard's End， který měl být "inspirací"。Část knihy mě nechala chladným - typicky ty identitární tanečky， které neumím ocenit， když jsem vyrůstal v rasově a národnostně prakticky homogenní společnosti。 Sice dokážu pochopit onu na první pohled patrnou jinakost a právě ten primitivní rasismus "voni sou všici takoví， synku"， unikají mi ale potom ony nuance toho "moji lidé"， kterého se tam dovolává Kiki， což je prakticky jen jiný ras Zatím za tři， možná to půjde později dolů， až si někdy přečtu román Howard's End， který měl být "inspirací"。Část knihy mě nechala chladným - typicky ty identitární tanečky， které neumím ocenit， když jsem vyrůstal v rasově a národnostně prakticky homogenní společnosti。 Sice dokážu pochopit onu na první pohled patrnou jinakost a právě ten primitivní rasismus "voni sou všici takoví， synku"， unikají mi ale potom ony nuance toho "moji lidé"， kterého se tam dovolává Kiki， což je prakticky jen jiný rasismus， kulturní。Druhý problém je taková ta "běžná misandrie"， kde prakticky kladná mužská postava neexistuje （a principiálně existovat nemůže）。 Přitom právě ten přístup Kiki k celé té aféře byl ten odstrkovací， který na rozpadu manželství měl svůj silný podíl （ano， Howard byl ten， kdo selhal， ale Kiki byla ta， komu to vlastně bylo celkem lhostejné）。Jinak to bylo příjemné čtení， dost prostoru k myšlení， jen to nedostálo mým očekávání vzhledem k tomu hype/oceněním。 。。。more

Alfie ，

4/5 Stars

Janna ，

3，5 want Levi Belsey

Debra Moniz ，

Loved it - super clever take on Howard’s end。 So much to enjoy。 Fantastic writing

Traci ，

I liked this book。 The characters were so well developed， I felt that I knew them。 Unfortunately， some of them really got on my nerves by the end！ My favorite character was Kiki throughout。 I enjoyed the story， especially the way things wrapped up in the end。 I got a little bored with some of the lengthy descriptions and detailed conversations。

Maura Thomas ，

No one else is as courageous in description

José ，

Zadie Smith surely can write。 I loved White Teeth。 But the next book I read （Swing Time） was not nearly as good。 It didn't do anything for me。 At the time I wrote that I would stop reading books from this author。 But then I didn't have any other book to read but again one of Zadie Smith。 So I read this one too。 I must say that it is better than Swingtime。 But again I was disappointed。 The problem with Zadie is that she really can bring you into al kinds of situations and she leads you from one p Zadie Smith surely can write。 I loved White Teeth。 But the next book I read （Swing Time） was not nearly as good。 It didn't do anything for me。 At the time I wrote that I would stop reading books from this author。 But then I didn't have any other book to read but again one of Zadie Smith。 So I read this one too。 I must say that it is better than Swingtime。 But again I was disappointed。 The problem with Zadie is that she really can bring you into al kinds of situations and she leads you from one person to the other， from one event to the other。 But it goes on and ond， without a big plot。 I had the impression that this book would be a good script for a soap opera。 Every character has big issues。 And two families that apparently don't like eachother are meeting again and again。 And the things that happen are a bit to artificial， especially in the end。 。。。more

Leah-Louise ，

I enjoyed this book a LOT。 The characters read as people rather than characters。 Everyone in this book has an identity issue。 I personally enjoyed Kiki the most。 I found myself laughing out loud at Kikis response to her husband's asshole blame of her weight gain to his infidelity when she and Howard come to verbal blows in the morning in their kitchen。 I would recommend this book to friends in the future。 I enjoyed this book a LOT。 The characters read as people rather than characters。 Everyone in this book has an identity issue。 I personally enjoyed Kiki the most。 I found myself laughing out loud at Kikis response to her husband's asshole blame of her weight gain to his infidelity when she and Howard come to verbal blows in the morning in their kitchen。 I would recommend this book to friends in the future。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=On Beauty

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=On Beauty&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,On Beauty&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0