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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

On Beauty

15 replies

bagpussmice · 22/10/2006 20:27

has anyone read it? just finished it and quite enjoyed it, though it was a hefty read. Just wondered what anyone else thought of it?

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 27/10/2006 18:09

I liked it. I thought it was reasonably subtle and interesting, although it felt like something was missing ... I guess I didn't really find any of the characters pleasant, and the ending was a bit pat, from what I remember ...

Majorca · 27/10/2006 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gillian76 · 27/10/2006 21:43

Is that Zadie Smith? Was considering this one last week.

MrsMuddle · 27/10/2006 22:07

I loved this book. I thought it was beautifully written, but no-one else in my book group liked it. I've not tried White Teeth, but I have bought it. Like Majorca, I'll maybe keep it for my next holiday.

deaconblue · 10/11/2006 13:50

I really enjoyed it - thought it was loads better than Autograph Man but not as good as White Teeth. I love her quirky characters - not sure about title - what does she actually say "on beauty"?

MrsSpoon · 15/11/2006 15:59

I'm reading this just now and really struggling with it. I just can't seem to keep all the characters in my head, Kippses and Belseys, can't remember who's who from one page to the next. On about page 70 and starting to consider chucking it.

I read White Teeth about a month ago and thought it was fantastically well written (although shockingly badly researched) and was really looking forward to On Beauty.

clerkKent · 17/11/2006 13:01

Just think of the Cosby Show. It doesn't matter much which character is which. Most of the time the Kippses are Brits in America and the Belseys are yanks in the UK (or vice versa).

Daisybump · 17/11/2006 14:04

Gave up after a few chapters...by paying homage to Howard's End at the beginning she thinks she can get away with what appeared to me to be an out and out act of plagiarism.....updated to our time and moved to another country but the story exactly the same.

Heathcliffscathy · 17/11/2006 14:07

thought it was fine...enjoyed it, good holiday read.

nothing like as good as white teeth though.

MrsSpoon · 17/11/2006 22:05

On to the next section of the book and it is getting better, starting to get a handle on the characters, although there is one that I'm not sure if he belongs to any of the two families!

MrsSpoon · 05/12/2006 22:45

Still wading my way through this, don't have any desire to read it, almost gave up but I only have about 100 pages to go so may as well see it through. I feel nothing for any of the characters, just wish they would hurry up and get out of my life.

No where near as good as White Teeth.

MrsSpoon · 12/12/2006 22:44

Still reading...

MrsSpoon · 18/12/2006 22:52

I'm sure notbody's remotely interested but I finally finished this on Friday. Thought it was OK, my enjoyment probably not helped by the fact that I never read more than 10 pages in one sitting, it just didn't grip me that much.

KateF · 18/12/2006 23:03

I was like you MrsSpoon-read it because "I've started so I'll finish" but never really felt engaged with it and couldn't empathise with the characters.

MrsSpoon · 18/12/2006 23:08

KateF, I'm a bit like that, hate giving up on a book, always have the feeling the story is just about to take off and I'll be engrossed but sometimes it doesn't happen.

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