... fiction 1995 5. Beloved Pultizer Prize winner fiction 1988 6. Gilead Pultizer Prize winner fiction 2005 7. On Beauty Orange Broadband Prize 2006 8. 9. 10. 10 books that have been in my TBR pile for more than 12 months 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. ...

From the 1001 List 1.The Bell Jar 2.Unless 3.On Beauty 4.Passing 5.The Death of Ivan Ilyich 6.White Teeth 7.Lolita 8. 9. 10. Bonus:

2000's 1. Never Let Me Go 2. Saturday 3. On Beauty 7. The Red Queen 13. Cloud Atlas I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like this book 19. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 21. Elizabeth Costello 23. Family Matters 24. Fingersmith ...

Oh, I loved Whirligig, and also his Seedfolks! Also, Robin McKinley's Beauty TH White's Sword in the Stone, Creswick's Robin Hood, all the Narnia's, Secret Garden, Louisa May Alcott's stuff. I think I am dating myself here... but we read all of that to our daughters, too, and ...

... Angels (Joanna Bell) WORST MAY READ: Trixie at Glen Road (Julie Campbell) or, if not counting Trixie: Beauty (Robin McKinley) didn’t meet (rather high) expectations.

I did not find Beauty (Robin McKinley) to be as memorable as the author’s later retelling of the same story in Rose Daughter. I remember moderately liking this story, but finding the ending completely unsatisfactory: Beauty’s insecurity stemming from the Beast’s transformation – she ...

2000's House of Leaves The Blind Assassin Middlesex Fingersmith White Teeth On Beauty Never Let Me Go Bartleby and Co The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay Platforme Atonement Snow Kafka on the Shore The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime ...

... I've read that I wouldn't particularly recommend: The Inheritance of Loss The Autograph Man Half a Yellow Sun On Beauty Case Histories The Great Fire A Child's Book of Crime The Weight of Water The Poisonwood Bible

Out of the winners, I've read On Beauty, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Bel Canto. Bel Canto was my favourite, but that's not to say Kevin wasn't one of the most powerful books I've ever read. I just don't think I'll go back to re-read it (not without a lot of therapy first), ...

... four of the actual winners: When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville On Beauty by Zadie Smith Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Half of a Yellow Sun is, in my opinion, streets ahead of the other three, and also way ...

... Country is her most classically post-apocalyptic novel. However, for some other scenes of potential post-apocalypse, try Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper as well. Joan Slonczewski's The Wall Around Eden features alien intervention to preserve some humanity after a nuclear war. Esther ...

... 12. Walden 13. All Souls 14. Ethan Frome 15. Charlotte's Web 16. Infinite Jest 17. Paul Revere's Ride 18. On Beauty 19. Scarlet Letter 20. Carrie 21. John Adams 22. Blues 23. Breath, Eyes, Memory 24. Affliction 25. The Rascal King 26. Olive Kitteridge 27 ...

... a few possibilities already in my TBR pile: A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore Fingersmith by Sarah Waters On Beauty by Zadie Smith A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo Lottery by Patricia Wood So I think I have enough to keep me busy.

... be waiting for Tied up with Strings, the next installment. 34. Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley. I read and loved Beauty years ago, and the original folk tale has over the years fascinated me in its many permutations. I didn't enjoy Rose Daughter though, it seemed over-written to me ...

... one of my favorite books, which I also happily reread a few years ago, after my unhappy experience with Zadie Smith's On Beauty, which she wrote as a tribute to Howards End.

Finished On Beauty and The Power of Now. Both great books!! 'On Beauty' surprised me as I did not ...

Hey everyone, Finished On Beauty this afternoon and was really impressed. Zadie Smith's writing is so easy to read and I got so swept up in the story that it sort of surprised me. She describes characters actions, traits, speech etc amazingly. I want to try and finish The Power of Now ...

... definitely not a favourite. He has written some amazing books that I think will be very hard to beat!!! Am reading On Beauty By Zadie Smith and The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle this week. -pj77:)

... As for now, I know I said I was going to read On Beauty By Zadie Smith, but I was given a copy of Paulo Coelho's new book The Winner Stands Alone and seeing as he is one of my favourite authors I got straight into ...

... McEwan's writing and story (don't get me wrong), but I think the movie brilliantly portrayed McEwan's novel. Am reading On Beauty By Zadie Smith. Not sure if this qualifies as 'Literary Fiction' or not, but it has been waiting to be read for a while now and I have been intrigued by the mixed ...

... of my favorites have already been mentioned, but I'm just going to list a whole bunch: Robin McKinley's works (particularly Beauty), L.M. Montgomery (particularly The Blue Castle), The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Mitford series, Dorothy Sayers mysteries . ...

... ="http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_two.gif"> Am still reading The Power of Now in small bits at a time, but have started On Beauty by Zadie Smith as my next fiction novel. First few pages have already hooked me, so hopefully it will be a great read! :)

2007 books; +20/ 1. The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks On Beauty, Zadie Smith The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway +21/ 2. Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote +22/ 3. The Sea, John Banville +23/ 4. Wild Swans, +24/ 5. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell

Robin McKinley has several lovely retellings of fairtales - Beauty and Rose Daughter are two different takes on Beauty and the Beast. Spindle's End is Sleeping Beauty, and Deerskin is a take on a slightly more sinister fairy tale. I don't remember the latter two very well, but I ...

... Madness By William Styron 9. The Endless Steppe By Esther Hautzig 10. The Winner Stands Alone By Paulo Coelho 11. On Beauty By Zadie Smith 12. The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle 13. A Thousand Splendid Suns By Khaled Hosseini 14. The Eyre Affair By Jasper Fforde 15. Return to ...

50. On Beauty by Zadie Smith Well, it seems I'm on th good way of reading about 150 books this year! :D Would be great!

I had a response avaland posted here, but rereading ... I've decided to delete. I don't think anyone will miss the post. It's recoverable, if anyone wants it back.

#10 Zadie Smith : On Beauty Histoires d'amour et peines de coeur entremellées avec les toujours étonnantes péripéties de la vie universitaire. Traité avec finesse, délicatesse et un zest d'humour. J'ai beaucoup aimé.

Welcome to our group! Thanks for the reviews of On Beauty and A Tale of Love and Darkness; both are on my shelf, and I'll move them up. Have you read anything else by Amos Oz, particularly his novels? His newest novel, Rhyming Life and Death, has just been published.

... know much about and the world of poor working class Jews in early 20th century England sure was one of those places. On beauty I liked this Zadie Smith novel even better then White Teeth which I read some time back and that is saying something. It’s a very intelligent story ...

... You have read several books this year that I really liked including A Tale of Love and Darkness, The Invisible Wall and On beauty. Good choices! What did you think? Welcome to the group. Ceri

... the Clown by Salman Rushdie 4 The Invisible Wall : A Love Story That Broke Barriers by Harry Bernstein 5 On Beauty by Zadie Smith 6 Svensk maffia by Lasse Wierup 7 Grisfesten by Leif G. W. Persson 8 Smuts by Katarina Wennstam 9 The Gathering by Ann ...

From Audible: On Beauty by Zadie Smith Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch by Dai Sijie The Boat by Nam Le Sir Ralph Richardson Reads Keats A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin

I really enjoyed On Beauty and The Human Stain. Talk about page turners!

... the original for me... Here are the ones I've done so far: 2000's 1. Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro 2. On Beauty – Zadie Smith 3. The Plot Against America – Philip Roth 4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon 5. Middlesex – Jeffrey ...

... - 'The Children of Húrin' by J.R.R. Tolkien - Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller - Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - On Beauty by Zadie Smith - Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella - Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips - One Pair of ...

... home eleven charity shop books and seven library books. Oooops. BOUGHT: Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella (Mind) On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Mind) Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips (British Heart Foundation) Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (Oxfam) Prozac Nation by Eliza ...

I haven't read On Beauty yet, although I have it. What did you dislike about it, Rebecca?

Wow, I never thought of On Beauty as funny; I really disliked the book and couldn't believe I actually read it all the way through. So interesting to see the differences of opinions on books.

kidzdoc, Thanks for reminding me of Zadie Smith - On Beauty definitely made me laugh out loud and is worth mentioning in this thread. Christopher

... better judgment, because they sound interesting, but I have often been disappointed (e.g., The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, On Beauty. And, in still other cases, I've been known to hype books myself, most notoriously Half of a Yellow Sun. What I really rely on is who recommends a book ...

Another sunny day, another book - Masters of the Dew. Set in Haiti, it was actually a good book to follow On Beauty, which also talks about this country. The book reminded me of a Cuban film I saw a while back, especially as it deals with the common people's situation.

Just finished Northanger Abbey, the second of two Jane Austen books on my list and am currently on On Beauty. I am enjoying this much more than The Autograph Man, which I read a few years back. The story really grabs you.

... good amount of time to read -- without being interrupted with things like web surfing :). In my last post, I'd completed On Beauty by Zadie Smith and The Real Life of Sebastian Knight by Nabokov. I'm currently reading Anna Karenin, but got side tracked by The Wind in the Willows which I ...

... ere) The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley Spindle's End by Robin McKinley (her Beauty was good and I heard her Damar stories were the best) My book buying habits have changed so much since last year - I absolutely never bought or read fantasy on ...

I haven't read On Beauty but I have read Lunch at the Piccadilly. MrA, I salute you! It's nice not to have to worry whether there will be someone who can say they've read the new book I list!

I've never read The Cay, but I have read On Beauty

Well, even though I stated I would start On Beauty, I actually started with a book that has been an LT recommendation over and over: The Great Fire. I loved it!!! I still hope to get to On Beauty soon...

... Boyle, 2006 313. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, 2005 314. The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, 2005 315. *On Beauty by Zadie Smith, 2005 316 *Saturday by Ian McEwan, 2006 317. *Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro,2006

... Things Stardust The Fairy Godmother alice through the looking glassdonedo alice in wonderlanddone Coraline Beauty Son of A Witch done *********************************** WILD CARD CATEGORY Dead and Gone done the naughty bits done Kama Sutra including the seven ...

... -bought Unless by Carol Shields--already had and read this week The Little Friend by Donna Tartt--already had On Beauty by Zadie Smith--already had Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood--already had I thought I had Arlington Park, too, but I can't seem to find it, so I ...

cmt, #28, I was one of the people who didn't like On Beauty either. Looking at what's on my TBR that's also Orange, The Idea of Perfection seems to be about it, although I've read quite a few of the short list titles already. Maybe this will inspire me to go out and buy something new (not ...

... I didn't love Bel Canto but can't remember why - it was ages ago - and I really couldn't see what the fuss was over On Beauty, so I'm not rushing to read White Teeth, but I know both were very popular.

... functioning. It was a sad and low key story, and they all eventually just fade into the snow and the night. On Beauty by Zadie Smith Set in modern day, in a New England university town. The story is about a mixed race family and their struggles with each other and with society ...

... History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka (READ: 31 Jan 09) 8. Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel 9. On Beauty by Zadie Smith

... Acres – Smiley Jazz – Morrison The Road – McCarthy Anna Karenina – Tolstoy Howards End – Forster On Beauty – Smith An Equal Music – Seth Ground Beneath Her Feet – Rushdie Fury – Rushdie Fine Just the Way It Is – Proulx Snow Falling on Cedars – ...

... not one of the many reformed survivors who at one time was a child soldier. Nasty, Brutish, and mercifully Short. Read On Beauty by Zadie Smith It was an OK read. I was interested in the lives of the characters, but didn't actually care about them. I thought the ending was a fizzle. I ...

... - Radclyffe Hall White Boots - Noel Streatfeild Affinity - Sarah Waters These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer Beauty - Robin McKinley Invitation to the Waltz - Rosamond Lehmann Sorcery and Cecelia - Patricia Wrede Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman

Thanks for posting this challenge. It will motivate me to read On Beauty by Zadie Smith which has been on my shelf for at least 1 year. I had not reviewed the Orange Prize lists before. It is an interesting mix of works I loved, such as Poisonwood Bible, Bel Canto, Amy and Isabelle, ...

Thanks for posting this challenge. It will motivate me to read On Beauty by Zadie Smith which has been on my shelf for at least 1 year. I had not reviewed the Orange Prize lists before. It is an interesting mix of works I loved, such as Poisonwood Bible, Bel Canto, Amy and Isabelle, ...

I finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith It was an OK read. I was interested in the lives of the characters, but didn't actually care about them. I thought the ending was a fizzle. I thought the writing was awkward and stiff, and the attempt to create American characters and dialog, didn't quite ...

I am reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith It has had very mixed reviews, and I see why. I am about half way through. I think the writing is stiff and awkward, the dialog is not authentic, and the characters are unlikeable, Its not terrible, and while the life of the characters is mildly ...

On beauty was terrible and I gave up, although white teeth was brilliant.

... 7. De mysterieuze vlam van Koningin Loana van Umberto Eco 8. De welwillenden van Jonathan Littell 9. Over schoonheid van Zadie Smith.

Finished On Beauty and I wasn't disappointed, though perhaps a little more could have been made of the ending. Now I've started Daylight by Elizabeth Knox. I bought it on a trip back home two years ago, and decided it was time it saw... daylight.

Howards End, Ada, or Ardor, and On Beauty are still on the TBR list. Two more weeks left of crazy amounts of work before the semester ends and I'm free to do four weeks of reading that I want to!

I'm about 4/5 through On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Ages ago, I read Howard's End, since On Beauty is meant to be a retelling/updating/reworking of the story. Now it's so long ago, I'm struggling to remember what happened! Still, bits are coming back. I'm actually really enjoying it, ...

... family. Clunkers I have yet to read I have to read The Shack for one of my RL book groups (for December), On Beauty The Spanish Bride Inversions Dreamers of the Day Everything is Illuminated City of Saints and Madmen Consider Phlebas and The Player of Games ...

Cain's work is a wonder of few words containing so much! However, I, too, didn't care for On Beauty, although I've read Autograph Man and enjoyed it much more. Some interesting reads, though! Congrats.

... a Lonely Hunter but liked both Things Fall Apart and The Prime of Miss Jean Brody better. And.... I didn't like On Beauty as much as White Teeth which I read this summer. There was something about the ending of On Beauty that didn't set quite right with me. I haven't read Autogra ...

Chalice is her new one. It's on my wish list. But Beauty is my favorite.

... book. There was such soul in it. I have read Autograph Man by Smith fairly recenlty also and have wondered about On Beauty. What did you think? I have been looking for a used copy of The Postman Always Rings Twice for so long now. I am an avid scrounger - looking in used book ...

1.Having loved White Teeth I thought On Beauty was going to be as great. It was disappointing and I gave up on it part way through. 2. The High Flyer by Susan Howatch Because of her continual use of the following terms: flufette, Tiger-thumper, nutterguff, dinosaurs, ...

I'm nudging On Beauty which I thought was very good. This book really divided LThing - some loved it, some hated it.

Here is my reading list for the first half of November. 132. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe . 133. On Beauty by Zadie Smith 134. The Prime of Miss Jean Brody by Muriel Sparks 135 Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 136. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson ...

The only one of these I've read is On Beauty. I can't in all good conscience nudge it - it wasn't bad per se, but it wasn't really anything particularly special either (and then my boss's boss picked on it at the Edinburgh Book Festival for sloppy writing....). Just a three-star book. Admitted ...

Wonderful list, I have read almost all. My first impulse is to nudge On Beauty which I loved BUT then when I went back and started rereading Howards End I got quite upset. Of course Zadie Smith acknowledges the obvious debt. But there is just so much Howards End in On Beauty that some of ...

Ooh, some great books in your pile that I haven't read! A de-nudge from me for On Beauty. It was ok, and I liked it enough to finish it, but 18 months after I've read it I can't remember it at all. I usually like books with academic settings but this one just didn't do it for me.

... be nudgoids! (refer to the glossary). So, Midnight's Children appeared on my tbr and I hope to tackle it soon. On Beauty I really liked despite the general criticism it received so I'm going to nudge that. Although... were it my tbr pile, I would be keen to grit my teeth and ...

I really loved On Beauty and others Zadie Smith has written. She seems to be one of those polarizing figures- equal numbers love or loathe her works. I would also nudge you to Midnight's Children because I've been looking into it and planning on buying it soon.

... I started it I didn't get on with it. Really enjoyed it when I tried a second time, so that's my nudge. And a nudgoid for On Beauty - not particularly memorable, but an enjoyable read, I seem to remember.

... height="231" alt="nudge 01" /> The Son of Circus by John Irving Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby On Beauty by Zadie Smith Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje The Informer by L ...

... of "Beauty and the Beast." Rose Daughter is actually her second reworking of "Beauty and the Beast." Her earlier work Beauty is quite good as well. Disney ripped off a good bit of Beauty for its movie (and gave no credit to good ideas). I also enjoyed Deerskin. I've read one Iain P ...

... you owe it to yourself to pick this up as it is an incredibly moving and beautifully-written book. Howards End and On Beauty are now in my immediate 1001 future.

It's official: Orlando is vanquished! Next week is The Hours, followed the week after by Zadie Smith's On Beauty, which leads me to think that I'll need to find the time to finish Howards End before I can start that one.

... Season of Migration from the North 4. Fantasy/Fairy/Folk tales (originals or rewrites) COMPLETE 1. Beauty, McKinley 2. Son of a Witch, Gregory Maguire 3. American Gods, Gaiman 4. The Host, Stephanie Mey ...

Reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith. It`s been quite good so far.

Two books read: From my "Fiction by authors whose other work I've enjoyed" list, On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Familiar themes from her other novels--biracial families, the awkward clash of classes--this time set in New England academia. I love how she loves her characters, warts and all. Not ...

Loved white teeth but thought on beauty was predictable and very consciously 'academic fiction' in its writing.

... t. Counter to most post posts above, count me as one who thought Tree of Smoke was only brilliant in parts, and enjoyed On Beauty. In Tree of Smoke, the two main characters fell flat for me. But then I found several characters brilliant, especially the priest and Jimmy. I found On Beauty ...

I agree - woman in white is excellent and captivating. Re: white teeth, I read it years ago before on beauty and thought it was a brilliant read - unlike on beauty!

Well thats a bummer. I think its the second negative report I have heard about On Beauty, and I just brought it home.

>107: AMQS, yes you should reconsider. White Teeth was a great book. I detested On Beauty too and gave up when I was not even a third through. But I had read White Teeth first, thank goodness because if I had read On Beauty first, I'm likely not to even have given White Teeth a chance.

#106 The Tortoise, I had White Teeth in my TBR pile until I read On Beauty. I disliked On Beauty so much I returned White Teeth to its owner unread. Should I reconsider?

>104 mrsradcliffe: I thought it was me - I abandoned On Beauty as well. Not as good as White Teeth, which I loved. - TT

Started On Beauty but had to abandon it. Have now started Small Favour instead but am determined to read something high(er) brow soon!!

Not getting on with On Beauty at all!

... William Faulkner. My first Faulkner too. Not sure I will read him again. I think either he's for you or not. 50. On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Read during my books-set-in-Boston shtick. Most parts are slow.

#22 FicusFan, On Beauty has many fans, too, so I don't want to discourage you.

#21 AMQS, thats so wild you posted about On Beauty. I was just browsing through the site looking at the ratings and reviews for the books I got. Too late to start adding them now. Anyway, I just saw your rating for the book. Too funny. Glad to hear the other book is good.

... my favorite books when I was growing up. I'd like to re-read it. What a great book for a book club. My book club read On Beauty a couple of years ago. It is an interesting look at culture wars, but I couldn't stand any of the characters.

... is a coming of age story and follows her as she grows, lives and suffers. And while I was in the Smiths, my eye fell on On Beauty by Zade Smith, and I had heard interesting things about it, so I picked it up. It is described as a send up of the culture wars that we are living through. ...

... and poetry, of which I've read neither. One case where I did do some background reading is for Zadie Smith's novel On Beauty (which I've just started reading and am enjoying). Reviews said it was inspired by E.M. Forster's Howards End, so I read that first. Hopefully it will lend ...

120. On Beauty by Zadie Smith - Enjoyed this. Good characterization. Very engrossing.

... Harris A Perfect Spy--John Le Carre Tis--Frank McCourt The Bowl is Already Broken--Mary Kay Zuravleff On Beauty--Zadie Smith Library Sale Books: A Swiftly Tilting Planet--Madeleine L'Engle On People Management--Mary Kay Ash Chrome Circle-Mercedes Lackey/Larry D ...

... dead beat at the library - part of the dresden files series about a supernatural detective - is brilliant so far. Thus On beauty gets put back on the shelf for now.

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Never Let Me Go Saturday On Beauty Slow Man Adjunct: An Undigest The Sea The Red Queen The Plot Against America The Master Vanishing Point The Lambs of London Dining on Stones Cloud Atlas Drop City The Colour Thursbitch The Light of Day What I Love ...

Never Let Me Go Saturday On Beauty Slow Man Adjunct: An Undigest

According to my professor, whom I trust implicitly (for better or worse), On Beauty is a modern recasting of Howards End. The latter is our read for this week, while the former is the last book we'll read in December. I'll of course let you all know how it goes!

Thanks, dczapka - totally agree with Nickelini - what a wonderful reading list. I wasn't aware On Beauty had any links with Bloomsbury. It's on Mount Toobie and now I have a new perspective before launching into it later on this year. Thanks also for fiddling with the touchstones... that was a ...

... Three Guineas, To the Lighthouse Michael Cunningham -- The Hours Robin Lippincott -- Mr. Dalloway Zadie Smith -- On Beauty (Edited to fix touchstones that didn't work the first time.)

OOh I want to read it now to judge for myself! Just started On beauty - thought it was a bit pretentious, then realised that's the point for the plot etc., and liking it now - although still only about 30 pages in.

If your choice is between Beauty: a retelling of the story of Beauty and The Beast or Rose Daughter, read Beauty. Maybe it's girlish of me, but I loved the dress descriptions, and Greatheart. I also really wanted the Beast's library! Between The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown... I ...

... So hopefully I'll be able to read some of that tonight. Other than that though I'm still reading The Golem's Eye and Beauty. Thanks again guys. You made me feel better =)

Reading Bleak House, I am not quite as enthusiastic as hemlokgang > 58 because I wish I was actually reading On Beauty which I am looking forward to reading next. In fact, I have just decided I am not going to wait - I will read them together! -TT

... I have only read so far 8/64, so this will go on into the 889 or 999! Challenge. For my 1001 category I have lined up On Beauty and for my Classics category after Bleak House The Age of Innocence, then I am going to start on my other categories. This is a great challenge as it broadens ...

... people were looking for Jane Austen books a while ago. I have just posted a paperback of Emma. I'm also going to post On Beauty soon. Leave a comment for me if you would like it reserved for you. I haven't weighed it, but I will probably only be willing to send it to the US or Canada.

... for the Group Read - Classics. Finished Section One - Chapters 1-7 See my reviews there. >3 What did you think of On Beauty by Zadie Smith? Or anyone else who has read it. I will be reading it soon. I thought White Teeth was brilliant when I read it in December 2000.

... Steps by John Buchan The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende I loved her book Daughter of Fortune On Beauty by Zadie Smith I loved her book White Teeth Ross Poldark by Winston Graham Demelza by Winston Graham Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham W ...

Both of these books are amazing. I loved Beauty but Rose Daughter has something to it that the other doesn't. I relate more to the character from Beauty, but the castle and grounds in Rose Daughter is more fantastical than any other one. By all means, read both - it won't take that long!

... --in the past it seemed to me that literary criticism was monopolized by men. Simultaneously, I will be reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith, a new author for me and I'm looking forward to reading her novel. And so begins August.

I just started On Beauty.

Still working on What I Loved. It's an excellent book. It feels like what On Beauty was trying to be.

I just finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith and am starting Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates for my library book discussion group.

... line with The Red Tent and since it is an easy read, I will probably finish it and go on to read Zadie Smith's On Beauty fairly quickly. I hope to get back to some non-fiction titles after that. I just discovered an otherwise unknown to me source of some wonderful books in my ...

... 106. Middlesex 107. Kafka on the Shore 108. Unless 109. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 110. On Beauty 111. Never Let Me Go

... I post here more? You guys are fun people! #92 - I'm also reading Vanity Fair! However, I'm alternating it with On Beauty by Zadie Smith, so it's taking a while. I'm quite enjoying it though. I like Thackeray's light, slightly tongue-in-cheek tone.

Book bonanza day for me: From Goodwill: On Writing by Stephen King The Photograph by Penelope Lively On Beauty by Zadie Smith Unsuitable Attachments by Barbara Pym and when I got home, in the mailbox from two faraway friends: Music and Silence by Rose Tr ...

In On Beauty Kiki is black (loved her!) and Howard is white; the kids are mixed race but how exactly does colonialism work into what is - or was - a love match? Are you saying it's an allegory for the colonial dual culture experience? (I haven't read White Teeth)

19. On Beauty

From BookMooch: How to Be Good by Nick Hornby From B&N: On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Remaindered hardcover, so it was on the bargan table) The Accidental by Ali Smith (audiobook, also on the bargain table) And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander The Assault by Harry Mulisch So ...

... in Ordinary Time, and Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas. Veronika Decides to Die came in the mail and yesterday I got On Beauty. I have more coming from Amazon too. Wow, perhaps I should stop. Naah.

On Beauty and Remembrance of Things Past (still...Volume 1...of course...) -- M1001

... cheerful! So I picked up in the end the name of the rose, the golden notebook and then went to the charity shop and got on beauty and the accidentals So I'm well stocked up, but not sure of the order in which to read them, but I still have to find out what on earth happened to this pesky ...

I couldn't finish The Alchemist fast enough -- just to be rid of it. I also did not care for On Beauty by Zadie Smith, Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach, and The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier. I had a hard time with The News from Paraguay by Lily Tuck because it is by far the most violent ...

I've started on Surfacing, by Margaret Atwood. > 81 I didn't enjoy On Beauty, and gave up on it. Hope you fare better.

... Remembrance of Things Past. I will probably be cutting and pasting this touchstone for quite a while :). Started On Beauty. Still too early to comment. -- M1001

... (1986) 17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez (1988) 18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990) 19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005) 20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998) 21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000) 22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot D ...

... has different ideas about authors and we can all get so militant about them! I've just Mooched another Zadie Smith, On Beauty, in case it was just White Teeth I hated .... we'll see!

... The Gate to Women's Country at the time, but I don't think it would hold up on rereading. Grass left me indifferent. Beauty I had an adverse reaction to and abandoned after 100 pages.

... character and how introspective it was. I love being able to delve into someone's mind, fictional or otherwise. I loved Beauty because she followed the traditional folk-tale style, while still managing to keep her own voice. I'll admit I wasn't overly fond of Sherwood, but merely ...

Once Upon a Time, on The Far Side of The Island of the Blue Dolphins, there lived A Little Princess. She had great Beauty, but she was very Wicked.

... a year between the two, which I regretted.) I liked Prep, but I know many people did not. I was not terribly fond of On Beauty (I think White Teeth is much better). The Night Watch was lovely. I really enjoyed the structure of the novel, as well as the story within. I am a big fan ...

... ory Marilynne Robinson, Gilead Curtis Sittenfeld, Prep Ali Smith, The Accidental - shortlist Zadie Smith, On Beauty - winner Carrie Tiffany, Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living - shortlist Célestine Hitiura Vaite, Frangipani Sarah Waters, The Night Wat ...

I read that. How about On Beauty by Zadie Smith?

It's my first Wodehouse. I'm pretty excited about it, actually. And I'm glad to hear that you liked On Beauty - I've heard mixed reviews, but it sounded interesting.

I loved On Beauty and The Uncommon Reader! Very different but both so wonderful. And of course anything by P.G. Wodehouse.

From bookstore: On Beauty by Zadie Smith - only $6.00! The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett because I kept reading here on LT how wonderful it is Three Plays: Blithe Spirit, Hay Fever, and Private Lives by Noel Coward From the library: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan ...

I got Speed of Dark, by Elizabeth Moon, Beauty by Sheri S Tepper and Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'brien, All new writers for me, . Plus another myth and legend book The Golden Age of Myth and Legend all second hand

... but haven't felt inclined to read it yet. Maybe next year. #11 klarusu - I totally agree about Zadie Smith. Tried On Beauty and White Teeth and couldn't continue. There's just something about her writing that I abhor.

Thanks for the comments! I have since started two new books, The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel and On Beauty by Zadie Smith. I had previously read a couple of Hempel's stories and found them equally captivating, mystifying and heartbreaking, so I'm excited to run through her whole ...

... 37. L'Homme à l'envers by Fred Vargas 38. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai 39. La Chute by Albert Camus 40. On Beauty by Zadie Smith 41. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton 42. The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari

... imo. But then again, this can be what academia is all about to some people, can't it?:-) I'm thinking of Howard in On Beauty here.

I am continuing to listen to On Beauty by Zadie Smith, unabridged, and am loving it. I had not cared for either White Teeth or Autograph Man that much, but this one is for some reason really resonating with me. I am very much aware of E.M. Forster nodding approvingly as On Beauty ...

I am listening to On Beauty on audio, unabridged, and am loving it. I had not cared for either White Teeth or Autograph Man that much, but this one is for some reason really resonating with me. I am very much aware of E.M. Forster nodding approvingly as On Beauty unfolds.

Just finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith. I guess that'll have to be my goal for this month. Since it took me so long to read that one, the odds of getting in another one this month are slim. Liked it, though!

... had a bad experience, either with a well-received book, or one read by the author? I am now two days into listening to On Beauty by Zadie Smith and am greatly enjoying it.

... oss The Observations Afterwards The Blood of Flowers The Gathering And I have five more in my TBR stacks: On Beauty A History of Love The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox The Outcast The Septembers of Shiraz

... 1967 by Tom Segev - are aiming to scoop the top prize which has been won in previous years by notable authors including Zadie Smith, Amos Oz and Imre Kertesz. In deciding on the shortlist, judge Francine Stock said: "This shortlist runs from a monumental work of history to brief, ...

... countryside tales like Precious Bane and when I read the latter, I could see the echoes clearly. Zadie Smith On Beauty was an homage to Howard's End - again, I read that second and there was a whole HEAP of very clever echoes. Hope that helps

#24/#25 - I was the other way, I read On Beauty but haven't settled to White Teeth any time I've picked it up. I can't say I enjoyed reading On Beauty either though, I can't think of one character in it that I liked or cared about. #24 - I have been thinking about buying Kavalier and Clay ...

--> 24 My guess is that you're not missing anything special with On Beauty. That was one I gave up right away, even though I liked White Teeth quite a lot.

Both On Beauty and The Space Between Us have been sitting on my TBR shelf for awhile, so I may choose one of those.

... Rupa Bajwa The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar Books by Toni Morrison Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys White Teeth, On Beauty by Zadie Smith Property by Valerie Martin

I have to say I'm curious! Beauty by McKinley is an old favorite of mine, as are the Earthsea books by LeGuin. On the other hand, I started Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and never got past the first bit, and I really didn't care for The Story of Forgetting. I also really like Dumas and ...

... very strong women protagonists are Louise Marley and Sheri Tepper. I esp. love the main character in Tepper's Beauty. Edited to fix typo.

>9 Ooh, someone else is having trouble with On Beauty? I got it for my birthday, and therefore feel honor-bound to finish it, but a lot of the people in the book spend a lot of time on ideas I don't care for and/or have no time for, and it bugs the crap out of me. Anyhow, what I've got on ...

#23 sandragon: Beauty was my first Tepper novel, and I thought it so brilliant that I've read almost every other Tepper novel I could get my hands on. You're quite right about its being dark and bleak, but it has stayed with me for over 20 years! Have you read Gate to Women's Country or Grass ...

I often read my old faves and 'comfort books' ie The Blue Sword and Beauty by Robin McKinley Pern Books But I discovered a couple of years ago when I was early into my depression and seriously stressed out, and had NO concentration, that I could read anything by Nora Roberts This ...

I often read my old faves and 'comfort books' ie The Blue Sword and Beauty by Robin McKinley Pern Books But I discovered a couple of years ago when I was early into my depression and seriously stressed out, and had NO concentration, that I could read anything by Nora Roberts This ...

... and winning novels I have read; however, I have liked some more than others. I much prefer Half of a Yellow Sun over On Beauty, although I did like the latter very much and thought the character of Kiki was developed well enough. I'm looking forward to the longlist when it comes out in Mar ...

I did like On Beauty, so I tried another one of her books White Teeth and quit about half through. Just too boring.

I too disliked On Beauty. As I said in an earlier thread, I thought the characters were poorly developed and that there was a lot of very self-indulgent writing, including subplots and characters who only seemed to be there so Smith could make some topical points. But maybe I would have liked it ...

I dare. I can't stand the Zadie Smith book, On Beauty, that won in 2006.

... justified the time the time it took to read. Reminded me a little of the ending to the movie "Titanic," and also Beauty by Sheri Tepper for some reason.

... by Oscar Wilde. Self retells the story, setting it in 1980s Britain. Highly recommended. I haven't read Zadie Smith's On Beauty, but isn't that a reworking of Howard's End? And it's not really the same thing, but Jasper Fforde's books include lots of literary in-jokes: e.g. his main ...

... her books, though I didn't care for The Outlaws of Sherwood. Of her fairy tale books, I especially liked Deerskin and Beauty. Sunshine is great, but not a fairy tale.

... off some books on my TBR Pile. Here's the topics/books I've come up with so far... 1001 Books to Read Before I Die: 1. On Beauty by Zadie Smith 2. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 3. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 4. The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood 5. Saturday by Ia ...

... to capture your interest? I didn't feel this way about The Ministry of Special Cases but I sure did when I tried to read On Beauty by Zadie Smith (although I loved White Teeth). I think that The Ministry of Special Cases was reviewed harshly by professional reviewers because of its ...

3. On Beauty, Zadie Smith I got this for myself when xmas shopping for 2006. It is part of 1,001 books you must read before you die. I gave up on it. I just didn't care about the middle-class white liberal family.

26. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - a real pleasure, I wouldn't have purchased because I did not really enjoy On Beauty all that much but since it was a b'day gift I felt obliged and I'm really happy I did - it's a much better all around story.

Just finished 14. White Teeth by Zadie Smith and I'm happy to say I liked it a lot better than 15. On Beauty which I am also including as a recently read along with 16. The Human Stain by Philip Roth, because I read them both this August. White teeth was really excellent - lots of ...

... I don't think I've yet read the worst book, but this year I grew so frustrated with the wordiness and lack of action in On Beauty, that I'd put on my list for 2007.

... (one to add onto a coupling mentioned earlier): Howards End (E.M. Forster), Nice Work (David Lodge), and On Beauty (Zadie Smith) The Aspern Papers (Henry James), Felony (Emma Tennant), and The Master (Colm Toibin)

White Teeth - Zadie Smith Killeymoon in What Are You Reading Now? : Book "Couplings" (Nov 12, 2007, 11:33am)

... I'm thinking of books by different authors from different eras, like: Mrs Dalloway and The Hours Howard's End and On Beauty Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea

lol, I totally understand that reaction. I've actually had the same instinct due to a lot of negative reaction to On Beauty by Zadie Smith in the "What are you reading?" group. I'll definitely be interested to see what you have to say about it.

#154, erelsi183, I"m glad you enjoyed On Beauty a lot more than I did. Basically, I thought the characters were poorly developed and that there was a lot of very self-indulgent writing, including subplots and characters who only seemed to be there so Smith could make some topical points. But ...

13. On Beauty by Zadie Smith The third in my class series of Howards End and related books. It follows the story of the Belsey family, a mixed-race couple and their three children, in the town of Wellington, MA. Themes of race and, to a lesser degree, religion are addressed, replacing ...

#80 rebeccanyc: Finally, I've finished On Beauty! Overall I liked it, though I fluctuated between loving it and kind of not really being impressed throughout. There were a few parts that seemed absolutely real to me, and others that seemed boring or unnecessary. The dialogue was very well ...

I just finished a few non 1001 books, but now I'm starting White Teeth by Zadie Smith.

... always nice to learn a little more about a new group member. I agree with christiguc. A comparison of Nice Work and On Beauty would be very welcome. I haven't read either, so you will expand my reading horizons. And sometimes comparisons of rather obvious pairs can result in surprising ...

erelsi183--I would be interested in reading how Nice Work and On Beauty compare. It is telling what choices the author makes about what to include. Also, how an author incorporates the ideas into the storyline and writing styles is interesting. I haven't read the two books that you mentioned. ...

... them that seems comparable to you? And do people mind rather obvious picks? For example, we just read Nice Work and On Beauty, both of which are based on Howards End by E.M. Forster. Since they're based on the same book, there are obviously similarities. However, I think it's ...

#80 rebeccanyc: I'm only half way through On Beauty, so I'll hold my judgment until I'm done. I can say that the beginning didn't interest me at all, though I finally got into it. More to follow (it's due Thursday, so I have to finish it by then!)... #81 hazelk: for our James section, we did ...

#80, rebeccanyc: I was surprised to find that I enjoyed On Beauty more than I thought I would- being rather curmudgeonly in advance about Zadie Smith ,I suppose, in thinking 'oh, one of literature's bright new things ...'. I particularly liked the zip and flow of the dialogue. I enjoyed Forster ...

... I love Howard's End-- hope you do too. #46, erelsi193 and #75, hazelk, Since you've read both Howard's End and On Beauty, as I have, I wonder what you thought of On Beauty in comparison. I have to say I read it because I love Howard's End, although with trepidation but, I hoped, ...

>46(erelsi183):-regarding intertextuality (Howards End and On Beauty) could you let me know what the other related books are as I've read the two just mentioned but couldn't think of any others picking up on that theme and I'd be interested. Thanks in advance.

Working on Zadie Smith's On Beauty for school (the third in our series of intertextual novels based on Howards End). Also still working on The Book Thief, which I'm fascinated by.

hmmm what will I read next? I have 2 books out from the library: Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates and On Beauty by Zadie Smith. I have some new books I have bought from Borders and not yet read: Life of Pi by Yann Martel and Playing for Pizza: a novel by John Grisham and No ...

... and it's the middle of a series of 3 related works (the first being Howards End by E.M. Forster and the third being On Beauty by Zadie Smith). It's hard for me to separate it from the others and evaluate it as a book on its own. However, I did enjoy it. Lodge does a really nice ...

... novel based on events that led Alexander Pope to write The Rape of the Lock. Not sure what I'll pick up next. Maybe On Beauty by Zadie Smith or The Accidental by Ali Smith. Anyone have recommendations on either?

I did love On Beauty especially the ending - so many times the endings disappoint. I moved on to White Teeth and I just didn't love it as much. October has been slow. After White Teeth I read Bridges over Madison County because someone had loaned it to me quite some time ago and I need to ...

... Drawings: Maus by Art Spiegelman 793 Indoor Games and Amusements: Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis 813 Fiction: Beauty by Robin McKinley 818 Miscellaneous Writings: Molvania by Santo Cilaruo 822 English Drama: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 823 English Fict ...

On Beauty was the Zadie Smith Pulitzer book. I enjoyed it enough that I am now reading her White Teeth. Two families that the dads are rivals, but the moms become friends, and the children...well you will just have to read it to see how their relationships with eachother are, and the ...

Just finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith and I liked it well enough that I am reading White Teeth. I have several more Pulizers lined up to read.

... at so it's unlikely the books will be re-called by another student. I picked up Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates and On Beauty by Zadie Smith

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Dorian by Will Self. I haven't read On Beauty by Zadie Smith, but I hear it's a reworking of E M Forster's Howard's End.

... the good guys are all merrily egalitarian, physically affectionate, and totally alien to the Regency period. 68. Beauty by Robin McKinley I read this novel -- a cozy retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" -- so many times as a child that the words are burned into my subconscious. Re- ...

... An Illustrated Record of Voyages, Travels and Adventures in All Parts of the Globe Vol. 3 & 4 by William Ainsworth The Wreath of Beauty by John Rose Greene Hassard

#14 On Beauty by Zadie Smith (May): A literary novel: character-driven and thoroughly entertaining. Already a Zadie Smith fan (based on her White Teeth), I didn’t know what to expect with this one, as I had read a pan of it on LibraryThing, and the essay-like title made me wonder. In any ...

#44, 45, 47. I was one of the ones who didn't line Zadie Smith's On Beauty: A Novel. I thought the characters were poorly developed and that there was a lot of very self-indulgent writing, including subplots and characters who only seemed to be there so Smith could make some topical points. ...

Finished On Beauty:A Novel last night ... a belated read for my book group. It was okay but not fantastic. Started Pope Joan:A Novel (also for my book group) last night and finished it today. Very enjoyable. Now reading Dominion. It's been on my TBR list for a while now. So far so ...

Currently reading On Beauty: A Novel by Zadie Smith. My book group read it last month but I didn't get it done. I've also started Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully but haven't gotten very far yet. Also listening to Ho ...

... a fabulous bookstore that sells discounted books but looks like a neighborhood bookstore, I bought Portrait of a Lady and Diana Mosley: Mitford Beauty, British Fascist, Hitler's Angel by Anne De Courcy.

... in Teheran. And, yes, who could ever forget Possession. Do books that stand on the shoulders of other books count? On Beauty, a novel shadowing Howards End or Ahab's Wife Moby Dick or the parody of Gone with the Wind in The Wind Done Gone? I recently heard a Robert Coover ...

>12, Mrsd22 I finally gave up on On Beauty, after managing approx. 70 pages in a month-or-more. I have gladly swapped it for Murder in Clichy, an Aimee Leduc Investigation, by Cara Black. Not read anything by her before ~ this is the 5th in the series. I'm hoping it will help to get me " ...

... Pencil by Christopher Brookmyre, enjoyed them all, all very different. Have a few lined up, I am half way through On Beauty byZadie Smith, I stopped reading that to read the others. Also just started The Two of Us by Sheila Hancock and bought The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak ...

--> I'm really stuggling w/ On Beauty... I had to give up reading On Beauty, wonderlake. I was bored by the story and disliked the characters. I am really disappointed by Zadie Smith. I found her debut novel, White Teeth, extremely funny and engaging, but was very disappointed ...

I'm really stuggling w/ On Beauty, an abysmal 64 pages into it. Maybe if I actually set aside some time to have a good go at it I might be able to get my teeth into it. So far I've just been dipping into in on my lunchbreak at work, where often it's too noisy to concentrate properly &I end up ...

... Having read now five of the six titles on the shortlist, History of Love is definitely my pick for winner (the winner was On Beauty).

Finished On Beauty finally, have started Middlesex.

I also read the The Birth House. I really loved it. I recently finished On beauty by Zadie Smith and wrote a review on my blog here: http://ibrakeforyarnhooksandbooks.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-beauty-by-zadie-smith.html I also liked Harvey & Eck, a very sweet story.

Thanks for that link! I'm listening to On Beauty on audio now and loving (particularly Kiki).

Zadie Smith's White Teeth and On Beauty examines black mothers of bi-racial daughters. Recommend both highly. Not sure this is high literature, but it's so compelling and human, it doesn't really matter. Diane Rehm interviewed Smith when "On Beauty" came out in 2005. Listen here: ...

#40 and #41, I'm finishing up On Beauty on audio and have been very much enjoying it. I adore the characters - but while I may not get caught up in them as I have with characters in other books (the exception perhaps being Kiki), I find the parts they play in the satire intriguing. Levi, for ...

I read On Beauty and although it is funny, sharp and well written I didn't warm to the characters. The Lucky Jim comparison is valid, I think. I am reading Patrick Cockburn 's Occupation, a factual, straightforward account of what has gone wrong in Iraq by a reporter who works outside the Green ...

I finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith although it took a little longer than I anticipated as I was cross referencing with Rembrandt's eyes, which was conveniently sitting on the book shelf, saying, "Here I am. Read me." My initial reservations were overcome because there is much to think and ...

On Beauty by Zadie Smith On p28. Kiki describes how her husband, Howard has a "profound fear of carcinogens", on p29. aforementioned husband Howard gets off a tube, walks out onto the street "where he might roll a cigarette and smoke it"

... well. Other books suggested on LT that I am happy that I read are: Uglies The Blue Girl I am The Messenger Beauty

#72 & #77, I was one of the ones who wasn't a big fan of On Beauty but I heartily recommend Howards End, a wonderful book. Of course, if I hadn't read it first, On Beauty might not have annoyed me as much.

#72 I'm listening to On Beauty on audio and very much enjoying it. Makes me want to reread Howard's End (wrong touchstone?). Here is Helen Dunmore's review in the TimesOnline which might aid the reading of it a little (although skip the last paragraph to avoid spoilers). http://www.timesonli ...

I started On Beauty, by Zadie Smith last night, bought it in a 3-for-2 offer at Waterstones before Xmas; I wonder how many of the 1001 I can get thru in 2007 ?

I just started On beauty last night, as per 1001 books you must read before you die. Previous comments in this thread >38, 44 lead me to believe this novel might not quite as "glorious" as all the rave reviews in the blurb. I have read White Teeth previously, but it made no lasting ...

... that some of you seem to do. lizzier -- felt the same way about White Teeth -- not in hurry, but haven't ruled out On Beauty . . she is so tangential -- and I am realizing alot of her schtick is stolen from Salman Rushdie

... ... In the meantime the good news for the Reader here is that it's cold, grey, murky and gloomy outside so it's back to On beauty in the hope of polishing it off this weekend. Can't say I am particularly grabbed and think I'm unlikely to be a fully paid up member of the Z.S. fanclub until ...

... interesting. This thread has stayed with me and pops up in my head at the most interesting times. While listening to On Beauty on audio in the car, I got to thinking about African-American literature and whether the parables and morality tales as defined by Reich, are evident in them. Of ...

Here is what I've read this month: Stake That! by Mari Mancusi Tall, Dark, & Dead by Tate Hallaway (NOT YA) Beauty by Nancy Butcher Pop! by Aury Wallington Vamped by David Sosnowski (NOT YA) Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood Powers by Deborah Lynn Jacobs You can check my blog ...

... upcoming reads for the week include, Alone on a wide, wide sea by Michael Morpurgo, which is for work purposes , On Beauty for one of my reading groups and re-reading The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin for the other reading group.

... Middle East. My dad's book was from Waterstones, on offer so I also "treated" myself to We Need To Talk About Kevin and On Beauty ;) I'm still reading The Wasp Factory at the moment.

I'm listening to On Beauty now on audio and am very much enjoying it. The reader is wonderful with a variety of accents, which I think enhances the story. I'll let you know what I think when I finish it. mdbenoit, I think I disagree that Perdido Street Station is primarily a love story, but ...

... this year, and in comparison there weren't that many duds which I am thankful for :) Here's what a (shudder) remember: On Beauty - I also could not finish this book. I found that I had no sympathy for the characters, nor did I particularly care what happened to them. I have White Teeth on ...

amandameale #58, I was one of the people who didn't like On Beauty, but I also didn't like Special Topics in Calamity Physics, although I didn't hate it. I thought it was very clever, but much too pleased with its own cleverness, and that it didn't hang together as a story. If the story had ...

I liked On Beauty and disagree with all of the criticisms. I could only offer a counter-argument if we were talking about specific passages or sections of the book. Despite,that, however, I would say that I liked it, not loved it. What interests me is when a book polarises opinion like this. The ...

tunarubber, Some of the reasons I didn't like On Beauty are the same as GreyHead's: poorly developed characters and a lot of self-indulgent writing. I also felt there was no need for some of the characters and subplots (if you can call them that) except to allow Zadie Smith to make some ...

... the author abd the protagonist were biracial. I wanted to see how this fact played out in the book. The characters in On Beauty were boring and annoying. It was at a point in the middle of this book, that I realized I could care less about what happened to them and simply gave up reading ...

On Beauty was definitely one of my lowest points of the year, though I did finish it. As I saw it, and it was a few months ago so my thoughts might have mellowed - there was precious little story line, a rather self-indulgent ramble round a few snippets of lives,it certainly had no sense of ...

... its merits for months), I'm not sure that I would love it as much as I did. I wonder if people feel the same way about On Beauty. It's another one that I just love, but people here seem to hate. As for what I'm currently reading, I'm undecided. I just picked up a huge stack from the ...

I am amazed to see how many people really didn't like On Beauty. That was one of my favorite reads this year! I love Zadie Smith's style. I think she has a fresh voice and tells a damn good story. Why didn't you like it? I've heard many people talk about how they hate it, but no one really ...

... the Protestant Reformation...The REFORMATION!...uninteresting quite simply beggars the imagination. Yet here it is. On Beauty was a ghastly disappointment. I won't belabor the point, since so many here have done so before. American Gods by Neil Gaiman was a disappointment, too. ...

I started listening to On Beauty on a trip to Maine this week and am really enjoying it. The reader has a wonderful grasp of various accents: British, Caribbean, various American... Of course, the story is fabulous also.

... probably not all bad. I just didn't want to finish any of these. Wicked - Gregory Maguire - totally unabsorbing On Beauty – Zadie Smith - annoying characters, nothing happens How to be Alone (essays) – Jonathan Franzen - got bored Baltimore Noir (short stories—crime) ...

... given the hype. I don't think I can come up with 5, but in the disappointing category I'd list the following. On Beauty by Zadie Smith Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk There were parts I enjoyed in all of these, ...

... And to correct my earlier post, it is Lynn Redgrave, not Vanessa, that reads the part of Vida. Now the choices are On Beauty or One Thousand White Women...decisions, decisions...

demonlover: I *loved* Beauty! I'm a total sucker for retold fairy tales regardless, but still. Fantastic. Robin McKinley and Donna Jo Napoli are wonderful discoveries I made during a YA Services course in library school. Hallelujah for that! Anyhow, I just picked up The Book Thief from ...

I've finally succumbed to reading the media-hype that is On Beauty by Zadie Smith. I'm about 50 pages in, and am finding it all right so far. It's very readable, but it is yet to strike me as utterly brilliant.

... by Pete Hautman, not Anne Coulter! 7/23/2006 The Stolen Child 8/20/2006 The Confessions of Max Tivoli 9/24/2006 On Beauty 10/22/2006 The Pale Blue Eye 11/19/2006 Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

... Saturday; James Meek, The People's Act of Love; Haruki Murakami, Kafka On The Shore; Zadie Smith, On Beauty. REJECTED: Tash Aw, The Harmony Silk Factory; Brian Castro, The Garden Book; Geraldine Brooks, March;Bryce Courtenay, White Thorn; Eliza ...

Oo, now I'm just a bit more intrigued about On Beauty, which, sadly, I have not yet read. It is my understanding that it is a satire; could it be a satirical rewriting of Howard's End? The new books are piling up and in a few months the new long list will be out so I've picked up the audio of ...

HoldenCarver: why do you think that On Beauty is a re-write of Brideshead Revisited?

... prizes exclude female writers so why should this one exclude male writers? HoldenCarver - agree with your opinion about On Beauty, Zadie Smith has a big reputation that hasn't really been earned yet. I remember one cynical editor stating she was a publisher's dream - attractive, mixed-rac ...

I have a big problem with Zadie Smith's On Beauty; namely that it is little more than a re-writing of Brideshead Revisited, and not a very good one at that. To echo Trapnel, I felt that The Accidental was by far a better book, and while I can't judge on accessiblity, I'd say it ...

... Birds Any Wednesday I'm yours by Marya Santos-Febres Broken Verses An Iraqi in Paris The Method Actors On Beauty The Accidental Trance Father Michael's Lottery by Johan Steyn

Having just finished The History of Love I would say that it is a better book than On Beauty. I preferred the style, especially that used for the character of Leon; I loved the character Leon whereas I didn't care too much for anyone in Smith's novel; and I loved the ending where all is ...

You know, I had On Beauty on my wish list and I took it off and for the life of me I can't remember why I wanted to read it or why I changed my mind. Glad to hear you liked it, I am goign to give it another look. Thanks for the other info, too. I would NEVER pick up 1776 on my own (bad Ame ...

... was not my favorite. It's a book I really hated, but am still glad I read it. My favorite book we've read was probably On Beauty. I also really liked The Center of Everything which could be classified as YA and was written by a local author, so that was fun for our group. Personally, I'm ...

This year I've stopped four times. These were the books... Wicked by Gregory Maguire On Beauty by Zadie Smith How to Be Alone (essays) by Jonathan Franzen Baltimore Noir (short stories--crime) edited by Laura Lipmann

... by Pete Hautman, not Anne Coulter! 7/23/2006 The Stolen Child 8/20/2006 The Confessions of Max Tivoli 9/24/2006 On Beauty 10/22/2006 The Pale Blue Eye 11/19/2006 Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight Our group is in the same position in that we haven't read quite as many ...

... (and condemnations!) of books have influenced my choice of what to read next from the TBR pile. For instance, I've had On Beauty for several months now, but haven't gotten around to reading it as most people seem to have had a luke-warm reaction to it at best.

Looking at the winners for the past six years - On Beauty, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Small Island, Property and Bel Canto - I would say that all are accessible. None are what I would describe as 'difficult'. Excellence: all I can offer is my own opinion that they were all very well ...

Apart from the usual reading of a literature undergrad, I've just finished On Beauty by the excellent Zadie Smith. I was thrilled to learn that she, too, is a fan of E.M. Forster - the novel does owe itself somewhat to him, but that's no weak point in my opinion. I'm currently burdening ...

... you read it, you will want to talk about it. Interestingly, Rape a Love Story has a similar effect.