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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3679.On_Beauty?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="On Beauty" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165030310m/3679.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3679.On_Beauty?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">On Beauty</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2522.Zadie_Smith">Zadie Smith</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9640667?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 4 of 5 stars I liked this book. Having read several of the reviews for this book, I have to say that I agree with parts of each review that I read. Those who did not like the book often cited a lack of authenticity in the American "slang" speech patterns, and I'd have to agree that there was some unnaturalness to the vernacular in the book. However, I found myself interested enough in the themes and characters of the book to overlook the slight inaccuracies of speech patterns. 
 
 I should say, however, I am predisposed to liking this book to begin with, as I am extremely interested in the themes of beauty and cheating, and the motivations associated with each. The novel does a good job of exploring these themes, and I found Howard Belsey's actions especially interesting, and somewhat enlightening, though certainly not the end-all explanation for motivations for adultery, but more like an interesting glimpse into one man's...urges.
 
 The academic setting is something that I am also predisposed to as well, being familiar with academia. I am, therefore, very aware of the fact that intellectuals and academics are much, much more like messy, real people than some might think, and that academia is full of politics, gossip, and immoral behavior. This fully realized account from Zadie Smith is, at times, startlingly accurate and insightful, and I often had pangs of recognition -- sometimes painful, sometimes joyful -- from her descriptions, her character's actions, and the implications of things done and said in the book.
 
 Bottom line, a thoroughly engaging book that is full of charm and wit -- a surprisingly warm wit, rather than an acerbic one. Smith is a great observer of human behavior, a rather good writer, and she weaves a very interesting story, especially if the book's themes and setting happen to be perfectly tailored to your areas of interest! I wouldn't say that this is one of the "Great Books" that will be canonized or anything, but it is a great book to read if you'd like to be engaged, engrossed, and even a little bit enlightened. 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/645675?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Yanchovy's review
rating:

recommended for: the Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, Jonathan Lethem crowd.
status: Read in December, 2007

I liked this book. Having read several of the reviews for this book, I have to say that I agree with parts of each review that I read. Those who did not like the book often cited a lack of authenticity in the American "slang" speech patterns, and I'd have to agree that there was some unnaturalness to the vernacular in the book. However, I found myself interested enough in the themes and characters of the book to overlook the slight inaccuracies of speech patterns.

I should say, however, I am predisposed to liking this book to begin with, as I am extremely interested in the themes of beauty and cheating, and the motivations associated with each. The novel does a good job of exploring these themes, and I found Howard Belsey's actions especially interesting, and somewhat enlightening, though certainly not the end-all explanation for motivations for adultery, but more like an interesting glimpse into one man's...urges.

The academic setting is something that I am also predi...more I liked this book. Having read several of the reviews for this book, I have to say that I agree with parts of each review that I read. Those who did not like the book often cited a lack of authenticity in the American "slang" speech patterns, and I'd have to agree that there was some unnaturalness to the vernacular in the book. However, I found myself interested enough in the themes and characters of the book to overlook the slight inaccuracies of speech patterns.

I should say, however, I am predisposed to liking this book to begin with, as I am extremely interested in the themes of beauty and cheating, and the motivations associated with each. The novel does a good job of exploring these themes, and I found Howard Belsey's actions especially interesting, and somewhat enlightening, though certainly not the end-all explanation for motivations for adultery, but more like an interesting glimpse into one man's...urges.

The academic setting is something that I am also predisposed to as well, being familiar with academia. I am, therefore, very aware of the fact that intellectuals and academics are much, much more like messy, real people than some might think, and that academia is full of politics, gossip, and immoral behavior. This fully realized account from Zadie Smith is, at times, startlingly accurate and insightful, and I often had pangs of recognition -- sometimes painful, sometimes joyful -- from her descriptions, her character's actions, and the implications of things done and said in the book.

Bottom line, a thoroughly engaging book that is full of charm and wit -- a surprisingly warm wit, rather than an acerbic one. Smith is a great observer of human behavior, a rather good writer, and she weaves a very interesting story, especially if the book's themes and setting happen to be perfectly tailored to your areas of interest! I wouldn't say that this is one of the "Great Books" that will be canonized or anything, but it is a great book to read if you'd like to be engaged, engrossed, and even a little bit enlightened. ...less

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