Swing Time - General Discussion, No Spoilers (April 2017)

[Suzy]

Hi everyone - this is the thread for general comments, reviews, etc. I'll be back over the weekend to add some content here as well as a couple of more threads for our discussion of Swing Time. In the meantime, here's a tasty appetizer - a Zadie Smith short story from a recent New Yorker magazine about Billy Holiday and her Chihuahua. You can read or listen to her read it. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...

I read Swing Time last fall in print and plan to listen to it for our group read. Please let us know if you plan to participate. I'm eager to learn what 21st Century members think!

[Amanda]

I will be joining. I have a print copy. This will be my first Zadie Smith. I've read a lot of interviews with her and know a bit about her books and writing but haven't read any of her novels so I'm looking forward to it. Planning on starting this weekend.

[Suzy]

Amanda wrote: "I will be joining. I have a print copy. This will be my first Zadie Smith. I've read a lot of interviews with her and know a bit about her books and writing but haven't read any of her novels so I'..."

Great, Amanda! I have only read one other Zadie, but saw the tv series White Teeth many years ago. I like her perspective on culture.

[Viv]

I haven't read any Zadie Smith before either, though I have been meaning to for a long time!

I'm doing this as audio, and I'm about a third of the way through. The narrator (Pippa Bennett-Warner) is very good, so I would recommend this format if anyone is considering going doing the audiobook route.

[Hugh]

I will probably wait for the paperback before readireading this - the hardback is very expensive. I have read all of Zadie Smith's previous novels so I expect it to be good...

[Hugh]

Why is Android predictive text so annoying!

[LindaJ^]

Hugh, it is no better with Apple!

I've read all of Zadie Smith's novels, but I only wrote a review for this one and NW. I think she's a brilliant writer and that she really captures place and time. But, for the most part, I don't like her characters. I look forward to the discussion. I read this in audio so probably won't be able participate much until we do the whole book!

[Gargi]

I have an ebook for this one and I started reading it yesterday. The font size in my phone puts the number of pages at around 1400, and it was a breeze reading a hundred of them yesterday. I expect to be done in a week or so.

As for the book, it has a really interesting narrative, and I like the adult narrator's commentary about her childhood experiences. Can't wait to reach the events related to the Prologue!

[Suzy]

Gargi wrote: "I have an ebook for this one and I started reading it yesterday. The font size in my phone puts the number of pages at around 1400, and it was a breeze reading a hundred of them yesterday. I expect..."

I had the same hope, Gargi, that we would loop back around to the events in the Prologue. I like that device in setting up a book - starting in the present, going back and then ending up in the present.

[Anita]

I listened to it and enjoyed the narrative. The reader was excellent. While I believe I "get" more from some books by reading rather than listening, I don't think thisis one of them. Enjoy.

[Suzy]

Anita wrote: "I listened to it and enjoyed the narrative. The reader was excellent. While I believe I "get" more from some books by reading rather than listening, I don't think thisis one of them. Enjoy."

I'm loving the audio! Will you join us in the "whole book discussion" where we're going more in-depth about our reactions?

[Anita]

Absolutely, just don't have time today for lots of thinking. lol