On Beauty - Zadie Smith

[€uroMeinke]

I just finished this book last night and really really enjoyed it. By the cover descriptions it not something I would have ever picked up, but when it got a Booker prize it got fast tracked in my queue.

At the highest level it's about two competeing academic families, one liberal, one conservative setting the stage to explore the current cultural wars. But what I really enjoyed about this book was there was so much depth beyond that original premise. It also explores the dynamics of family, self image, beliefs, what it means to be black, the alienation of politics, etc.

What I enjoyed most, was that Zadie Smith did a great job of capturing the internal lives of her main characters, thier intentions, hopes, desires, and frailties as well as their frustration in being able to express or even understand them.

The book takes some interesting twists and turns so I'll stop here before I create any spoilers and hope I at least spur some other readers into a future discussion.