July book of the month: Swing Time by Zadie Smith. Catch up on the webchat with Zadie

[RachelMumsnet]

Our July book of the month is Zadie Smith's brilliant novel Swing Time. We hope you'll join us by reading the book ahead of the webchat with Zadie - on * Wednesday 2 August from 9pm *

Swing Time is Zadie's fifth novel and tells the story of two young girls who meet in a West London dance class. Find out more about the book.

If you didn't win a free copy, you're still welcome to join us by buying the book or downloading the e-book, or just posting a question to Zadie about her award-winning back catalogue.

So pleased to hear the books have finally arrived. We're waiting to hear about a new date for the webchat with Zadie and will post on the thread as soon as we hear. Thanks for your patience!

We've had confirmation from Penguin that Zadie will be joining us for the webchat on Thursday 3rd August at 9pm. That gives you just over a week to finish the book! Happy Reading and look forward to seeing you on this thread for the webchat next week.

Starting it today. I'll be there for the webchat.

Oh great.

Looking forward to the chat. I will be on holiday but hopefully the WiFi will work.

We've just had the word from Penguin that something has come up and Zadie can no longer do Thursday 3rd. She has agreed to join us however on Wednesday next week - so please put the date in your diary. Zadie Smith Webchat - Wednesday 2nd August, 9pm.

THANKS

That's a shame, I'll be on a caravan site without Internet on Wednesday!

Hi, I'm in a caravan then too but will sort out a wifi signal from somewhere so I can join in. Just need to finish the book now!

@Penygirl

That's a shame, I'll be on a caravan site without Internet on Wednesday!

Feel free to post a Q in advance for Zadie. We're sorry about the date changes - couldn't be helped this time I'm afraid.

Just finished this (DH surprised me with a copy). Couldn't put it down. I loved it even more because I was a similar age to the main character so could really reminisce. One of those books you keep thinking about afterwards. I loved the way the different eras weaved in and out of each other.

I'll be there. Looking forward to it.

Marking place as reading this now

I enjoyed this book a lot, particularly the descriptions of the friendship with Tracey, the differences and similarities in their backgrounds, and how their relationship changed over time. The chapters about Africa were also beautifully written, although at times I found it a little confusing when it kept jumping back and forth in time. It's the third of Zadie's novels that I have read (the others being White Teeth and On Beauty) and my favourite so far.

I'd like to ask the following questions:

1. Why did you decide not to name the narrator?

1. The idea of revenge seems to occur a few times - the narrator retaliating at Aimee for firing her, which in turn was Aimee getting back at her for sleeping with Lamin, and then Tracey posting the childhood video to show the narrator in an unflattering light. Was this something you wanted to explore in particular?

Ooh, good questions Ghosts I'm going to have to post questions beforehand as well, as I'll be in a meeting at 9pm on Wednesday 9th August. Thanks for the book, I'm about a third of the way through due to its late arrival. Good thing the web chat has been put back!

I just finished this book and really enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Zadie and I'm also from North West London so recognise a lot of the places which provide the backdrop.

Thank you for the book, I enjoyed it a lot.
I particularly liked the insights on entitlement, and on how our background and upbringing affects us.
I appreciate the way the narrator (and possibly Zadie herself) are allergic to bragging – love the naming of the Noted Activist.
The description of the narrator’s well-meaning but cold mother and the humourless Miriam are precise and at times funny.
My question for Zadie is how do you stay so finely attuned to London ways and attitudes when you spend a lot of time in America?

Hello Zadie! Love all your work. As a Kilburn girl myself - now moved away - 'Swing Time' and 'NW' made me so nostalgic!

I read 'Swing Time' in 48 hours (on holiday in Shanghai in the raging heat) and laughed and cried and nodded in recognition at the description of the two main characters and their friendship. Tracy reminds me of a lot of the girls I grew up with. She breaks my heart a little bit, actually.

Anyway...waffle, waffle...my question is:

How do you continue to write now you are a mother of young children? I know thats a lame question (and I'm sure Martin frigging Amis has never been asked it), but lets be real - its hard.

Do you have full-time childcare? Do you treat it like a day job? Or do you ever have to go away without the kids so you can get into a zone and write the damn thing? And how do does your partner (also a writer) do it? Do you both write at the same time? I find the lives of people who actually write and don't just talk about it fascinating, as you can probably tell .

p.s. As we say in NW.. big up yourself!

Only half way through but enjoying it very much. My question for Zadie: Are any parts of the story autobiographical?

Really enjoying this, another person from North London, I have enjoyed all your books from the first time I read White teeth. My question is do you think that on the whole they appeal to city dwellers and would part of that be because we recognize the different characters

Really enjoyed Swing Time, although didn't take the time to savour it as much as I would have done without the web chat deadline! I particularly liked the London-set sections and learning about the history of dance (e.g.origins of tap dancing, Fred Astaire changing his surname, rediscovered dancers).

My questions for Zadie are:

1. Did you do a lot of research about the history of dance and musicals, or is this an area you were already expert in?
2. As you are drawn back to Willesden, have any of the same characters living there appeared in more than one of your novels? Or have you ever been tempted to do this?

Many thanks (and thanks for the free copy too!).

Hi,

I'm not sure if I will be back in time for webchat tonight but still wanted to participate.

Firstly I want to say thanks to Mumsnet to introducing me to a new author. I am really enjoying this book and I am looking forward to finding out how it ends, and exploring Zadie's previous novels.

My questions for Zadie are:

1 - I love the dancing references - do you have a background in dance?
2 - I read that you live in New York (very jel!) what do you miss most about the UK?

Hopefully I will be back in time to join in later so will try and think of some more questions.

Thanks,

Katie

I found this book really readable and engaging. I was intrigued by the decision not to name the narrator and felt it fitting given how passive she was as a character. It seemed at times as she simply got swept along by life. I thought it was a hugely ambitious book with so many important issues touched upon. However I found the relationship between the narrator and Tracey the most interesting. Since finishing the book I keep reflecting upon it and I'm now convinced the narrator romantically loved Tracey!

Looking forward to the discussion tonight!

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Hi Zadie!

"swing time" has been talked about a lot for its portrayal of the particular complexities of female friendship. But would you also agree that it says quite a lot about motherhood - the expectations mothers have for their children, the idea of "bettering oneself", the fear of letting our mothers down, and, in the case of Aimee - what even makes a mother?