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byronic_reader 's review for:
On Beauty
by Zadie Smith
You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.
-Amy Bloom.
My concept of beauty lies in the imperfections. What is beauty to you? Is it about the skin? Is it about a person's character? Or is it about their body? Or is it about perfections and imperfections? Smith explores this concept of beauty with her keen observations in On Beauty.
On Beauty is a story that spans between two rival families. Each family members have their own opinions and beliefs that are in an entirely different league. Another thing that I found interesting in this book is the concept of identity. The characters try to confine themselves into one identity and when that identity doesn't represent who they are, they try to change it. Then they are worried that their identity might be mistaken for something they are not. They are in a constant state of dilemma that can be identified with the modern space.
Throughout the book, this contrast appears again and again. A distinction between nationality, race, beliefs, percipience and economical backgrounds set the tone of the story. Smith uses dry humour to render every little and big things. She doesn't shy away from showing the people for what they are. The hypocrisy, crisis of faith, exploration of relationships everything has a representation. She represents anyone and everyone.
With that being said, I found the characters in this book irritable, pompous, and entitled. They were all occupied by their selfishness and hypocrisy to notice that are hurting others. One character that stood out from this description is Kiki Belsey. Her character shone throughout the book. While the others wallow in their beauty or lack of it, Kiki embraces the change with all her heart. Her grace and personality that slip through the sliver of pages are what makes one of the vital points of the story.
The book on its own read like a sitcom. You have two rival families who are shown miles apart in literally everything. And characters that are beautiful, ugly, radical, conservative, witty, dry, ambitious and talented. And the sharp contrast between physical beauty and beauty beyond it. The struggle to find one's identity beyond one skin colour in a predominantly white background, all makes On Beauty an exciting satire.
-Amy Bloom.
My concept of beauty lies in the imperfections. What is beauty to you? Is it about the skin? Is it about a person's character? Or is it about their body? Or is it about perfections and imperfections? Smith explores this concept of beauty with her keen observations in On Beauty.
On Beauty is a story that spans between two rival families. Each family members have their own opinions and beliefs that are in an entirely different league. Another thing that I found interesting in this book is the concept of identity. The characters try to confine themselves into one identity and when that identity doesn't represent who they are, they try to change it. Then they are worried that their identity might be mistaken for something they are not. They are in a constant state of dilemma that can be identified with the modern space.
Throughout the book, this contrast appears again and again. A distinction between nationality, race, beliefs, percipience and economical backgrounds set the tone of the story. Smith uses dry humour to render every little and big things. She doesn't shy away from showing the people for what they are. The hypocrisy, crisis of faith, exploration of relationships everything has a representation. She represents anyone and everyone.
With that being said, I found the characters in this book irritable, pompous, and entitled. They were all occupied by their selfishness and hypocrisy to notice that are hurting others. One character that stood out from this description is Kiki Belsey. Her character shone throughout the book. While the others wallow in their beauty or lack of it, Kiki embraces the change with all her heart. Her grace and personality that slip through the sliver of pages are what makes one of the vital points of the story.
The book on its own read like a sitcom. You have two rival families who are shown miles apart in literally everything. And characters that are beautiful, ugly, radical, conservative, witty, dry, ambitious and talented. And the sharp contrast between physical beauty and beauty beyond it. The struggle to find one's identity beyond one skin colour in a predominantly white background, all makes On Beauty an exciting satire.