October '12 / Orange Prize Winners Reading: On Beauty

[Scheherazade]

In October, we will be reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Please share your thoughts and impressions in this thread.

[Jackson Richardson]

I have read it, and would recommend you read E M Foster's Howard's End first, on which it is closely based. You can have a lot of fun discussing the considerable parallels.

(I read Smith's White Teeth and you could have knocked me down with a feather when a friend pointed out Smith was a great admirer of Foster. I'd never have guessed. Smith went to King's Cambridge, like Foster.)

[Scheherazade]

Just started reading this after a long wait from the library. Quite enjoying it so far as the writer's style is quite effortless but not boring.

I am not sure what to make of the storyline as yet... Race is an subject that gets brought up again and again but the mixed-race marriage is a different take on it. Also, I find having a very conservative black family attacking the liberal style of another one interesting.

I am not sure what to make of Kiki. Is she a stereotype?

[Jackson Richardson]

Is Kiki the mother figure in the liberal family? If so, I can't think she was any particular stereotype. AFAICR there is not a mother figure in the parallel liberal family inHoward's End.

On Beauty has a far more conventional narrative and indeed prose style than Smith's earlier White Teeth or her later The Autograph Man.

[Scheherazade]

~ SPOILERS ~

The notion of Kiki being a stereotype passed my mind during the first quarter of the book because of her depiction (her physique, particularly); however, now that I have read some more, I don't think she is so.

I find her determination to befriend Monty's wife very interesting (her conservative partner). As if she is trying (maybe longing?) to reach that traditional way of life even though she knows (and maybe cannot bring herself to) that it is not for her.

The whole affair between Howards and Claire left me rather upset.

[Scheherazade]

I read Howard's End some time ago and I cannot say I remember much of it. Maybe I should pick it up again.

Finished On Beauty, last week and I think it is a good introduction to Smith. I like the story and how it manages to deal with many issues without causing the reader get distracted. I am almost longing for a sequel to see what will happen to the family next.

A good read over all.

[Jackson Richardson]

I've read her other two novels (she might have published a fourth since then) and On Beauty is far the most conventional in terms of narrative and prose style (not that there's anything the matter with that). It is certainly a good read, but I got the impression it was trying to cover too much - race, sex, parents/children, liberal/conservative - and didn't altogether deal with them. I don't want pat answers but there was something up-in-the-air about the ending, as you suggest. The book had promised too much, I felt.

[mona amon]

I haven't read any of her other books, but I really liked this one. Don't remember it much, but when Mrs something leaves Kiki the valuable picture, I remember thinking my God she's ripped off Howard's End! Then I read the introduction and discovered it was a tribute to E M Forster, which makes me think - what is the difference between homage and ripping off? That friendship between the two women was an important part of the book.

[Scheherazade]

I am hoping to read Howards End again next week or so to compare the two books.

You pose a good question, Mona. Based on what I can remember, I am inclined to say that Smith's is a homage because she actually bring in her own story and themes into the story rather than simply echoing Forster's storyline but I need to refresh my understanding of Howards End before making a sound argument either way.

Nice to see you posting, Mona

[Scheherazade]

Just started reading Howard's End and I am very surprised at the parallels between the two stories.