I just finished The Fraud by Zadie Smith and came here to hear your thoughts. This was my first read by Zadie Smith. I somehow missed the White Teeth bandwagon back in the day. I LOVED this book. The structure reminded me of Frankenstein with a story within a story with a story. I also found Eliza an extremely interesting protagonist.
The envy is real! You’ve gotten to interview Zadie Smith twice. Wow. There is a fascinating piece in this week’s New Yorker by her about The Fraud and it is easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Hearing such a wide range of views about The Story of the Forest. August Blue didn’t quite work for me as much as I wanted it to. I just couldn’t connect. Same with I’m a Fan. I had the same reaction you did to Children of Paradise. Cannot say enough about In Memoriam. Truly.
So cool you got to interview ZS!! I'm so embarrassed to say that I have nearly all of her books and I haven't read any of them yet! I memoriam is on reserve at the library. I'm a fan was not for me, 2* here.
I just read "The Fraud". I had hoped that it would have been Bogle's story. I was disappointed that it wasn't, but I found Eliza Touchet fascinating and her interactions with "the new Mrs. Ainsworth" thought provoking. Zadie Smith did her historical research well, but I found some of the geographical references in the Jamaica portion of the story confusing. I was also confounded by the characters Ellis and "mulatto Roger". They were both so underdeveloped that they might as well have been excluded from the text. Overall I enjoyed the novel but I don't think this is Zadie Smith's best work.
I felt a bit conflicted about I'm a Fan, like it was one of those books that objectively speaking are innovative and capturing the zeitgeist and all that, but I had trouble actually liking it. I liked the politico-cultural rants more than the plot and the characters. With Children of Paradise my main issue was that I wanted it to be weirder. I had seen a comparison with Angela Carter, and while I can see it as being Carteresque it wasn't quite there. I wanted more from it. I'm looking forward to The Fraud. Historical fiction isn't my favourite, but every now and then there is one that appeals to me.
The Fraud is my most anticipated new release for the second half of the year. I am also encouraged to reread some of her earlier books, especially White Teeth and On Beauty.
@@EricKarlAnderson I just finished reading The Fraud. I'm going to sit with it for a while I think, because I'm not sure how I feel about it however I acknowledge it is written in a Victorian style and namedrops a lot of authors which was quite fun. I found the changing time periods in the novel a bit confusing though, and there were some sections I had to re read.
I'm glad that you said that you can never be behind in your reading because I have White Teeth and On Beauty glaring at me unread from my bookshelf and now I want to read Zadie Smith's new one! That's ironic that the characters in "I'm a Fan" are unlikeable. Another one I'm yet to get to. I didn't rate Tommi Parrish's Perfect Hair very highly so I might give the new one a miss. I'm still keen to read Children of Paradise, sounds interesting. Biography of X sounds really interesting thanks for the heads up. In Memoriam is definitely on my TBR this year. Thanks again for your reviews Eric.
Yeah, I have to constantly remind myself of it when it feels like everyone is discussing the same books at the same time. Sometimes it’s nice to read a book after all the hoopla. 😄📚
Hi Eric, another great wrap up. I'm keen to read The Fraud and Children of Paradise has been on my Kindle for a while. Please sort out that weather in the UK! I'm heading over soon and want some warm sunshine.
I have just finished listening to audio book 'Strange Sally Diamond' simply the best book of the year so far...absolutely loved the twists & turns. The audio realyy brings the 2 lived experiences to life. Recommend this to anyone who loves a psychology thriller. Has lots of trauma issues, so take this in mind too.
Congrats on the interview. I only have one of her books but haven’t read it yet - On Beauty - but I’ve been meaning to get to her and might likely start with SwingTime as I was a teen in the 80s and it brings back lots of nostalgia for me…or I may start with this most recent as I love 1800s historical fiction as well!!
Congratulations on the ZS interview 😊 I’ve just started When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà and it’s beautiful. I’m also on a book prize panel (books in a different language) so I’m busy with that, but amazing the talented authors you come across with these things. 😊
I'm a bit ashamed to say that I've never read anything by Zadie Smith before. The Fraud sounds so interesting, it might be the right way to start! June was a pretty good reading month for me, and I even found a new favorite: Faces in the Water, by Janet Frame. So poignant and tender, and beautifully written.
I tried to read Zadie Smith a few years ago, On Beauty and White Teeth, but couldn't get into either of them. I think now that it was a case of me just not being ready for her writing and would like to give her another shot. Anyone want to recommend which book I should start with?
No intention to hijack your post, but hoped to share with fellow Claire Fuller fans that she will be doing an online "Developing Character" 2-hour writing workshop through Women's Prize on September 27. You can view it for a month after the live feed. There is a fee; it seemed fair to me. I imagine we devoted readers could also audit. I hope so!
I've been reading August Blue and, like you, couldn't separate Deborah from Elsa so I had a very distorted feeling about Elsa's age. Because of you, I'm reading the Birthday Party - now I'm too scared to go to sleep!
I thought I'm a Fan was brilliant and the best book of the women's prize longlist. I think every character and situation is so magnificently written that I recognised so many people in their thoughts and actions. I wouldn't say the outlook is negative at all, but realistic. If there had been some sort of positive/upbeat ending, it would have felt false to me. It didn't feel like it wallowed in misery or negativity. Conversely, Children of Paradise was my least fave of the longlist because I felt the novel just got too weighed down by the bodily fluids and the ugliness after a while.
The best thing I read for my all Pride Reading month was Stone Fruit, a graphic novel that has exceptional art and spare, devastating text about the complications within a lesbian relationship and struggles with mental health. I highly recommend it and it’s a quick, but deeply emotional read.
Picking up "Biography of X" after I finished Lorrie Moore's new novel. I thought "I'm A Fan" was very provocative in a good way, but ultimately the characters were so awful it was hard to empathise with their concerns. I really didn't like the Grudova novel at all, but then I'm not a cinephile
You seem like such a nice guy Eric, I can't believe that someone wouldn't like to have you as a neighbor. You seem like the ideal neighbour to me. I suppose they wouldn't mind if you were straight and abused your wife or children.
I love Zadie Smith, and White Teeth changed my literary life forever. Seeing you two together had me reeling with excitement!!
Thank you! She’s excellent!
I just finished The Fraud by Zadie Smith and came here to hear your thoughts. This was my first read by Zadie Smith. I somehow missed the White Teeth bandwagon back in the day. I LOVED this book. The structure reminded me of Frankenstein with a story within a story with a story. I also found Eliza an extremely interesting protagonist.
The envy is real! You’ve gotten to interview Zadie Smith twice. Wow. There is a fascinating piece in this week’s New Yorker by her about The Fraud and it is easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Hearing such a wide range of views about The Story of the Forest. August Blue didn’t quite work for me as much as I wanted it to. I just couldn’t connect. Same with I’m a Fan. I had the same reaction you did to Children of Paradise. Cannot say enough about In Memoriam. Truly.
I feel really honoured to be able to interview her. That article came out the same day I spoke to her.
And yeah, In Memoriam is so wonderful. ❤
So cool you got to interview ZS!! I'm so embarrassed to say that I have nearly all of her books and I haven't read any of them yet!
I memoriam is on reserve at the library.
I'm a fan was not for me, 2* here.
A new Zadie Smith!!
📓📓📓🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰👏👏. Love the long novels 📸📸. I guess Luminaries it's a mangum opus.
I just read "The Fraud". I had hoped that it would have been Bogle's story. I was disappointed that it wasn't, but I found Eliza Touchet fascinating and her interactions with "the new Mrs. Ainsworth" thought provoking. Zadie Smith did her historical research well, but I found some of the geographical references in the Jamaica portion of the story confusing. I was also confounded by the characters Ellis and "mulatto Roger". They were both so underdeveloped that they might as well have been excluded from the text. Overall I enjoyed the novel but I don't think this is Zadie Smith's best work.
I love your channel so much. You have such lovely energy , and it's clear how much you enjoy sharing your reads. Thank you. :)
Thank you so much! That’s wonderful to hear. 😊📚
I felt a bit conflicted about I'm a Fan, like it was one of those books that objectively speaking are innovative and capturing the zeitgeist and all that, but I had trouble actually liking it. I liked the politico-cultural rants more than the plot and the characters. With Children of Paradise my main issue was that I wanted it to be weirder. I had seen a comparison with Angela Carter, and while I can see it as being Carteresque it wasn't quite there. I wanted more from it. I'm looking forward to The Fraud. Historical fiction isn't my favourite, but every now and then there is one that appeals to me.
Zadie Smith's New Yorker article (July 10-17 issue) "Killing Dickens" is great fun. I look forward to reading The Fraud!
Yes! Coincidentally, that article came out on the day I interviewed her.
The Fraud is my most anticipated new release for the second half of the year. I am also encouraged to reread some of her earlier books, especially White Teeth and On Beauty.
Great, hope you enjoy it!
@@EricKarlAnderson I just finished reading The Fraud. I'm going to sit with it for a while I think, because I'm not sure how I feel about it however I acknowledge it is written in a Victorian style and namedrops a lot of authors which was quite fun. I found the changing time periods in the novel a bit confusing though, and there were some sections I had to re read.
I'm glad that you said that you can never be behind in your reading because I have White Teeth and On Beauty glaring at me unread from my bookshelf and now I want to read Zadie Smith's new one! That's ironic that the characters in "I'm a Fan" are unlikeable. Another one I'm yet to get to.
I didn't rate Tommi Parrish's Perfect Hair very highly so I might give the new one a miss.
I'm still keen to read Children of Paradise, sounds interesting.
Biography of X sounds really interesting thanks for the heads up. In Memoriam is definitely on my TBR this year. Thanks again for your reviews Eric.
Yeah, I have to constantly remind myself of it when it feels like everyone is discussing the same books at the same time. Sometimes it’s nice to read a book after all the hoopla. 😄📚
Hi Eric, another great wrap up. I'm keen to read The Fraud and Children of Paradise has been on my Kindle for a while. Please sort out that weather in the UK! I'm heading over soon and want some warm sunshine.
Thank you! I wish I could. It's very warm today but expected to rain every day for the next week or so.😕
I have just finished listening to audio book 'Strange Sally Diamond' simply the best book of the year so far...absolutely loved the twists & turns. The audio realyy brings the 2 lived experiences to life. Recommend this to anyone who loves a psychology thriller. Has lots of trauma issues, so take this in mind too.
Ah great! I only read Liz Nugent’s debut but I’ve been meaning to read more because I loved that.
Love Zadie Smith! I'm excited to check out her new novel. Congrats on the interview. 🎉
Thank you! 😊
Congrats on the interview!! I can't wait to read The Fraud. It sounds so interesting.
Thanks! I’ll be eager to hear what you think of it.
Congrats on the interview. I only have one of her books but haven’t read it yet - On Beauty - but I’ve been meaning to get to her and might likely start with SwingTime as I was a teen in the 80s and it brings back lots of nostalgia for me…or I may start with this most recent as I love 1800s historical fiction as well!!
Thanks! Yeah, I think you'll really enjoy her two most recent novels.
Congratulations on the ZS interview 😊 I’ve just started When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà and it’s beautiful. I’m also on a book prize panel (books in a different language) so I’m busy with that, but amazing the talented authors you come across with these things. 😊
Thank you! Ah yes, I'd been meaning to read that. And good luck with the prize reading! 📚
I'm a bit ashamed to say that I've never read anything by Zadie Smith before. The Fraud sounds so interesting, it might be the right way to start! June was a pretty good reading month for me, and I even found a new favorite: Faces in the Water, by Janet Frame. So poignant and tender, and beautifully written.
No shame! There’s loads of authors I “should” have read but haven’t yet. I’d love to hear what you think of The Fraud if you get to reading it.
I tried to read Zadie Smith a few years ago, On Beauty and White Teeth, but couldn't get into either of them. I think now that it was a case of me just not being ready for her writing and would like to give her another shot. Anyone want to recommend which book I should start with?
No intention to hijack your post, but hoped to share with fellow Claire Fuller fans that she will be doing an online "Developing Character" 2-hour writing workshop through Women's Prize on September 27. You can view it for a month after the live feed. There is a fee; it seemed fair to me. I imagine we devoted readers could also audit. I hope so!
That's great! Claire is brilliant.
I've been reading August Blue and, like you, couldn't separate Deborah from Elsa so I had a very distorted feeling about Elsa's age.
Because of you, I'm reading the Birthday Party - now I'm too scared to go to sleep!
Ah, sorry about that! It’s such a tense story. Hope you enjoy it though.
I thought I'm a Fan was brilliant and the best book of the women's prize longlist. I think every character and situation is so magnificently written that I recognised so many people in their thoughts and actions. I wouldn't say the outlook is negative at all, but realistic. If there had been some sort of positive/upbeat ending, it would have felt false to me. It didn't feel like it wallowed in misery or negativity. Conversely, Children of Paradise was my least fave of the longlist because I felt the novel just got too weighed down by the bodily fluids and the ugliness after a while.
The best thing I read for my all Pride Reading month was Stone Fruit, a graphic novel that has exceptional art and spare, devastating text about the complications within a lesbian relationship and struggles with mental health. I highly recommend it and it’s a quick, but deeply emotional read.
It sounds excellent. I'll look out for it. Thanks!
Picking up "Biography of X" after I finished Lorrie Moore's new novel. I thought "I'm A Fan" was very provocative in a good way, but ultimately the characters were so awful it was hard to empathise with their concerns. I really didn't like the Grudova novel at all, but then I'm not a cinephile
Fair enough. I’m hoping to read Moore’s new book soon.
You seem like such a nice guy Eric, I can't believe that someone wouldn't like to have you as a neighbor. You seem like the ideal neighbour to me. I suppose they wouldn't mind if you were straight and abused your wife or children.
Thank you! 😊
📕 🪱 💚