Comments (25)

What did you think about this title?
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Aug 14, 2022hajia rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I finally got round to reading this book. It has been on my "to read" list for a while. The writing does not disappoint. It does drag on in some parts though. The main characters are a fine mix of shallow, self-absorbed, narcissistic,…
Feb 05, 2021FVRL_Maple_Ridge rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book from the FVRL collection was chosen to compliment the 2019/2020 season at the ACT arts centre. This book was on a list that featured literature about dance and literature to compliment dance performances taking place at The ACT.
Jun 03, 2020TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
This book my mom and I read together, and let me tell you, we have very different views on it. Personally, I felt compelled to read it, therefore already making me enjoy it less. Then after that, it just never pulled me into its rhythm. I…
Sep 13, 2018WVMLlibrarianCathy rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The complicated relationship between the narrator and her friend / frenemy Tracey is central to this book, and makes it one of Zadie Smith's best works yet. Fans of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend will enjoy this novel, which also…
Jul 29, 2018NedSu rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this book about mixed race and socio economics, written on a personal level. The narrator was never particularly insightful, but let interesting things happen to her. The most compelling plot point was the time in Africa.…
May 11, 2018
Excellent book. Well worth reading. Great writing.
May 03, 2018DBRL_IdaF rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is a novel about identity. What gives us our identity - class? race? home country? relationships? How do we define ourselves? It's about people searching for their places in the world. It's also a book about money and power and how…
Feb 01, 2018
The Armchair Books and Whistler Public Library Book Club read Zadie Smith's Swing Time in January 2018. What a divisive pick! Of the 16 people in attendance (including the facilitator), only 7 or 8 of us could finish (and really enjoyed)…
Jul 02, 2017pterry25 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
kind of a soap opera. But I can see why some have enjoyed this work. Touches upon some interesting areas. It would be interesting to find out the back story for some of the plot points (adopting an African baby, starting a school).
Jun 13, 2017xiaojunbpl12 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I was shadowing the narrator (protagonist), in her projection, to watch over various characters performing in a life-long musical, a distance kept between their stage and my seat. Mesmerizing, juxtaposed with unexpected temporal and…
May 17, 2017rcplrozkutler rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Some of the deeper aspects of the book explores corrupting influences – both of fame and by abusing money in efforts to solve social problems. Perhaps the corrupting influence of doing the wrong work? My book group was split on it three…
May 17, 2017Squid_1 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
It was disjointed, disconnected, and did not grab my interest.
May 13, 2017uncommonreader rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
A novel about gender, race and class told through the story of a friendship between two girls whose lives diverge as adults. Interesting, if a little long.
Apr 07, 2017lornagee rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Our book club HATED it. I'm giving it two and a half stars because the author is talented with a facile use of language. That being said, it left me wanting more than a "meh" or "huh?" Shame, really.
Apr 01, 2017xiaojunbpl12 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I was shadowing the narrator (protagonist), in her projection, to watch over various characters performing in a life-long musical, a distance kept between their stage and my seat. Mesmerizing, juxtaposed with unexpected temporal and…
Mar 27, 2017
My first Zadie Smith book. I very much enjoyed her prose.
Mar 19, 2017njon38 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Zadie Smith writes beautiful prose. Swing Time, set in both London and West Africa has at its heart the childhood friendship of two biracial girls in London. The narrator who is considered black in London and white in Africa contemplates…
Feb 10, 2017JCLMELODYK rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
My favorite Zadie Smith novel every is still On Beauty but I did enjoy Swing Time. If you're new to Zadie Smith you are in for a treat.
Feb 07, 2017MamaLovesBooks rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
While I appreciated the perspective of this narrator, her plight, her childhood stories, her relationships with several other characters, and her life choices as she made them, I felt like it was a long and winding road with little action.…
Jan 10, 2017
Page 69
Dec 23, 2016lukasevansherman rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The fifth novel from literary wunderkind Zadie Smith. I really liked her debut novel "White Teeth" and have had mixed feelings about her other books. I was on the fence about "On Beauty" and kinda hated "NW." "Swing Time" feels like a good…
Dec 20, 2016Margush rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Yes, writing is incredible but 62 pages all I could read. These 62 pages can be summarized in one sentence: A talented bully with a trushy mom who cares and fulfills all her wishes is full of complexes and jealousy towards her nice and…
Dec 10, 2016SarahDormat rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The thing I've always loved most about Zadie Smith's writing is her ability to zero in on culturally relevant topics in a way that I would never think of, but as soon as she says them, I know I've felt that exact thing a hundred times. …
Nov 30, 2016laphampeak rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
5 stars for amazing writing but 3 for a compelling enough story. Smith takes us in and out of life events of two childhood friends growing up in London with detours along the way. The two start out loving dance and music. They go their…
Nov 11, 2016LPL_ShirleyB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Zadie Smith is coming to Lawrence on December 1st; her new book is a Carnegie Medal nominee. This book cleverly wraps insight about race and class into a complex coming-of-age story. The 1936 musical, "Swing Time", with Fred Astaire and…