Kristen Boelcke-stennes
asked:
There were many things to love about this ambitious book. I felt the author was disdainful of most of the characters (with the exception of Clara and maybe Irie). However, I listened to this on audio book. So I am wondering if this was the tone used by the narrator. What were others' impressions, those who read the book?
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White Teeth,
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Sage
I didn't think that the author was disdainful of most of the characters, with the exception of maybe Joyce Chalfen. My interpretation was that the author was trying to portray characters with many flaws and eccentricities. Some of the characters are stupid, or scheming, or stuck in the past, but I could say the same of some members of my own family.
I've listened to audio books where the reader does effect the tone of the novel, so my guess is that's why you felt the characters were treated with disdain, but then maybe we just interpreted the story differently.
I've listened to audio books where the reader does effect the tone of the novel, so my guess is that's why you felt the characters were treated with disdain, but then maybe we just interpreted the story differently.
Jeanne
I really felt like she loved most of the characters but they didn't really love themselves. I don't like books where the author doesn't like the characters but I didn't get that impression at all here. I enjoyed the book and spending time with those characters, even the Chalfens.
Cynthia Arrieu-King
I listened on audiobook as well, and I felt that the feeling towards the characters was both positive or warm with some "this is how this person goes wrong." Everyone is kind of careening through their lives and feelings about each other, and there's something very humorous (to me) about how these people have taken on each others' cultures or adapted or absolutely have not adapted. It makes sense to me that Smith claims Dickens as a model. She also claimed she didn't care for this book so much. I guess from the point of view of a person of color, there is much humor, as empire's ambitions end up being evicerated. "The British: who else steals from you and also wants to teach you something?" But their ultimate dreams not coming to fruition sounds sad to me. I can see how the accents would rub one the wrong way (I'm from the USA).
Ron
I did! The first 200 pages I had to force myself reading. What made me reading after that was the part where Samad was complaining that Magid did enjoy his stay abroad too much. Suddenly I grasped the meaning of the author. I added a new theme /technic in my password protected Word-doc: Law of Retention of Misery.
Later on, I added that Zadie Smith was creating an explosive substantion and some potential ignitors, slowly bringing them together.
Later on, I added that Zadie Smith was creating an explosive substantion and some potential ignitors, slowly bringing them together.
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