Edwin Blair answers “I have read thousands of books but this is...”

Sydney Salter asked this question about White Teeth:

I have read thousands of books but this is one of only 2 books that i just could not finish as it irritated and bored me in equal measures. I asked all of my friends and colleagues and they have all told me that they did not finish it either!! Please help - what is the summary of the book? Please don't make me read it !

Edwin Blair I cannot wrap my head around on how a person who read 'thousands' of books could not grasp its essentials, (which are not new to literature nor life) …moreI cannot wrap my head around on how a person who read 'thousands' of books could not grasp its essentials, (which are not new to literature nor life) presented in this book. I will concede that it was somewhat, of an over-ambitious undertaking for a writer's first novel. But the motifs were there very clearly, early and often. The main theme being CHANGE, freedom from the old outdated beliefs & traditions etc; with the intentions to find one's own identity, by escaping the labels and limitations placed on them through social constructs such as race, religion, social class, and status. The youth wanted to change, and so did the 'damaged' and in opposition, there was the traditionalist, the staunch religious and so on, who failed to see and accept that change is the only inevitable constant. These were all characters of very different backgrounds, of varying religions, and race in a country where it doesn't matter if you were born in it, they will still feel like foreigners and struggle with identity issues because of this leading them to seek change; forms to reinvent themselves to somehow fit in. Zadie Smith is one of these people, being multi-racial in the UK. She possesses an uncanny understanding of human nature and the human psyche which she expresses with humor, wit and refreshing insight. This is why pre-skimming even works of fiction are extremely useful and have always been suggested. You'll gain some understanding and direction of the work, and if you decided to read it, you'll do so with a purpose. And we all know its almost impossible to be bored at, lose focus of anything approached with a sense of purpose and preview of what you are about to engage in.(less)

flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more