BOOK REVIEW: Zadie Smith spins a ‘Beauty’ of a tale
Meet Zadie Smith, the author endorsed by MTV.
Well, not exactly. Unfortunately, however, her mention on an MTV ad might be the only way most Americans have ever heard of her.
At 31 years of age, she’s already written three novels, won countless literary awards and established herself as one of the most talented young writers in the world.
By the time she’s through, she might well be one of the most important literary voices of our generation. So why is she still unknown in the states? Perhaps it’s because she’s British; then again, ask anyone on the street if they know who J.K. Rowling is.
The point is, if you haven’t read Smith, now’s the time to get started.
Her latest work is the 2005 novel entitled “On Beauty.” This book marks Smith’s return to prominence after the slightly disappointing “The Autograph Man.” In her defense, almost any novel would seem to be a step down from her first book. “White Teeth” won almost every award possible and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 21st century. In many ways, “On Beauty” returns to the winning formula of “White Teeth,” exploring family dynamics and racial issues in a deftly comedic tone.
The story of “On Beauty” revolves around two families: the Belseys and the Kippses. The two fathers, Howard Belsey and Monty Kipps, are feuding professors at Wellington University, the fictional campus where most of the novel’s action takes place. Despite their animosity, both fathers find themselves unable to stop their families from forging connections to each other through a litany of love affairs and friendships. The result is a playful romp of a novel with an underlying social commentary.
Smith’s style effortlessly conveys the reader through the story, seamlessly moving through topics as diverse as racism, marriage, honesty, rap music, social class, gender roles and the value of art in today’s society.
The author manages to be hysterically funny – at times laugh-so-hard-that-you-have-to-put-down-the-book funny – without the comedy seeming forced or contrived in any way. Smith writes with unusual insight about the nature of families and universities, blending a variety of cultures and backgrounds in a flawless narration.
The only let-down in “On Beauty” is the somewhat anticlimactic ending. After stoking the feuds and infidelities of both families to a white heat, Smith concludes the story with a slightly ambiguous ending that leaves more questions than answers.
This technique, however, is still carried out beautifully enough to seem natural; given the nature of the characters’ problems, a little inconclusiveness is inevitable.
Still, the reader can’t help but feel a little cheated when such a terrific story comes to an end in a less-than-triumphant way. In many ways, Smith’s ending seems unfair only because the reader has formed such a strong attachment to her characters.
Any disappointment, however, is far outweighed by the brilliant writing that carries through every page of the novel. With “On Beauty,” Smith proves herself to be a voice of a generation – the multicultural, slightly confused generation of the 21st Century – and an amazingly humorous writer.
“On Beauty” is an enthralling, exhilarating ride of a book whose humor is particularly enjoyable to anyone familiar with the university environment. It is a must-read for any student who sees the comedy in their college experience.
Ben Clarke is a book critic for The Utah Statesman. Comments and suggestions can be sent to him at
benclarke@cc.usu.edu