Book Review: On Beauty by Zadie Smith

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

“On Beauty” by Zadie Smith is a fantastic complex book and will make you feel seen in different ways. I read it during my undergrad and fell in love with this novel.

Buy “On Beauty“

“On Beauty” follows Howard Belsey, a British man and an Art History professor teaching in Wellington. The story follows his flailing marriage to Kiki, an African American woman. The novel also unravels on their three children Jerome, Zora and Levi as they also navigate their life, finding their own paths.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I’m so glad that I had to read and analyze this book for class because it is the type of book that I’ve devoured and kept thinking about even when I’m not consciously reading it or even thinking about it.

This book talks about so much! Social, cultural, gender and class differences. Issues with money, family, lies, cheating, religion, beliefs, art, education, self-identity, etc, etc.

THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT. IT’S DIVERSE. IT’S REALISTIC. IT’S BRILLIANTLY CRAFTED.

Every character featured was so incredibly different and yet many characters had similar traits and patterns of behaviors. All the characters had great depth, belief, and description.

The events in the story are so realistic AND the dialogue is so tangible and witty.

What sold me on this book was definitely the prose. THE FUCKING PROSE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I have so much to say but I’ll keep all my rambly thoughts for my university essay.

Overall, an IMPORTANT, BRILLIANT, and ENTERTAINING read.

“The greatest lie ever told about love is that it sets you free.”

“Stop worrying about your identity and concern yourself with the people you care about, ideas that matter to you, beliefs you can stand by, tickets you can run on. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐