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Review - Intimations by Zadie Smith

Not everyone dwells in small talks. It comes naturally to some but quite a task for others. This book is a kind of small-talk where you talk about mundane stuff, then jump on to serious matter, then come back to gossip about your neighbour next door. You will feel a sense of belongingness and might detach somewhere to maintain a distance from all things negative. But how long can you hide behind your yellow umbrella? You have to come out and take things as they are.

There are six essays in the book that talks about different issues or incidents from your day-to-day life and then compare them with how things have changed after lockdown. The author has explained very well here how perspectives take shape after the occurrence of few incidents. Each story differs from one another and is beautiful in its own way. It took me time to get accustomed to the style. I started reading this book at the beginning of April but left it in between. Then by the end, I felt I’m comfortable enough and in the right frame of mind to get on with it. Guess what? I was right.

These are simple stories; nothing over the top but shows human emotions very subtly. They speak without giving away too much, yet some are non-stop chatter. Usually, I don’t highlight paragraphs in the book while reading, but this one took me by surprise as every other page has something that caught my attention. Even while reading, I knew I’ll come back to this book later for sure. I have always wanted to read Zadie Smith, and I’m glad I picked it. This book might feel slow to some, but as it is super short, you will finish it in no time (unlike me, who took days to reach the end).

Rating – 4/5

Genre – Non-Fiction/ Essay

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