So long glad someone else really liked 'The Poisonwood Bible'. Straight after finishing that I started White Teeth by Zadie Smith. I'm always suspicious of the much hyped book, especially when it's by someone young, a first novel and kind of 'hip'. But this is the exception that proves the rule. I'm knocked out by it. Such sureness of touch, incisive descriptive power and handling of a huge rambling story line is rare. I hope she can write another book as good.
I'm sure loads of you have read it - give us your opinions!
andrew pack (not verified) | March 31, 2001 - 19:45
Have to politely differ. I really wanted to like White Teeth, and the first fifty pages went by easily, lots of verve in the writing and a sort of narrative hovering nearby which was interesting.
But after reading a bit more, I just couldn't get any further. I think the principal problem was that if the author doesn't like her characters, why on earth should I like them ? I did find it very heavy going and had to stop.
But each to their own, I know many people who are horrified at my view of Dave Eggers book being hysterically funny.
Liana (not verified) | April 12, 2001 - 10:50
I bought White Teeth too, and was desperate to like it...judging a book by its cover, its so bright and punchy, and it's so thick!! Yum yum, l was in a readers desert at the time, nothing was grabbing me....and all the reviews were so good.
Alas I read about the first 150 pages, and now it languishes at the edge of my bed as I cant summon up the inclination to pick it up again.
Some of the descriptive passages are great, prompting me to grind my teeth in envy, but it took so long tying anything together, before flying off to a different point, I sort of lost interest.
Should l troggle on and pursue it?
Regards
Liana
Camtickle (not verified) | May 13, 2001 - 00:04
Have not read the book yet, got it, but not read it.
will do after i've read like another 15 books before it...besides i've lent White Teeth to a friend of mine.
Though if it does get hard going into it, then i'll probably stop too!
neil_the_auditor (not verified) | March 23, 2003 - 21:03
I love this book, witty and incisive and the girl's not yet thirty!
(It helps if you've got black and Asian friends and/or think that London is a right sh*thole)