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Monday, February 19, 2018

White Teeth by Zadie Smith - her debut novel - 1999







“White Teeth” was the debut novel of Zadie Smith.  It turned her into a literary superstar.  I have previously posted on three of her novels, Swing Time, On Beauty, and NW as well as several of her great short stories.  I have also read a few of her essays.  Her new essay collection, Feel Free, is getting rave notices.

I am getting a bit behind in my posting so I will be keeping this to a reading journal format.  

Set in working class London, it revolves around two men, one from Bangladesh and one London, who served together in the British Army, in Italy, during World War Two.  There adventures in the war are fun and exciting.  Back in London we follow them and their families for many years.  All in all a wonderful read full of delightful prose and sharply observed social insights

I hope to read her Autograph Man soon.

2 comments:

  1. Her work sounds very compelling, Mel. Thank you for the introduction to Zadie Smith.

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  2. In a recent interview, I think I heard her express some misgivings with how she wrote this particular book, but not unkindly, more that she realised she couldn't have written it any differently based on the experience she had at that time (and the experience she had with writing). I remember being very impressed at the time (except for the update at the end - that made me crazy!) and it sounds like you enjoyed it quite a bit too.

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