Skip to main content

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

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review - The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

There are moments when you just want to ask questions and sit beside your friend. You want someone to answer them for you even if you know the answers yourselves. When the answers come from someone you are close to, they look much easier to deal with than before. They make more sense whenever you fail to convince yourself. Such is the magic of good friends and companionship. This book is all about it. You will read all about love, kindness, tenderness, and courage. The book revolves around The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, as the title suggests. First, the boy meets the mole, and later they meet Fox. As the journey goes on, they ask each other questions which are simple but thought-provoking. You would want to sit and think about answers that you would have given or hoped for after you are done reading. It will make you wonder how sometimes the simplest of things have the most impact. My favourite quote from the book is when the boy asks, “What is the bravest thing you’ve e
2 comments
Read more

Review - The Sound of Boots by Merena Toppo and Mansi Sharma

  It is a Covid lockdown story which revolves around a father-son duo. The book depicts several stages of their relationship, from their initial lack of communication to their eventual warming up to each other. It is a simple story that touches my heart and gives me mixed emotions of happiness and grief. We all had such moments during lockdown where we found our lost love towards our family and loved ones. For some, it has been a nightmare. Yet, for some, it represented a glimmer of optimism that transformed their life. This story gives confidence that everything is attainable with equal efforts from all sides. Here, the father unveils a few secrets about his life that he has not shared with anybody, not even his wife. And this secret reconciles the bond between them. Sometimes, someone who fears judgement holds so much inside that they worsen the situation. When expressing their fears is all they need to do to release themselves. It is a lovely book that encourages you to be more acce
1 comment
Read more

Review - Starburst by Robin Pilcher

The book has multiple characters, which makes it very difficult to follow. However, once everyone has been introduced, everything begins to make sense. Set amid Edinburgh Festival makes the story more happening as every character has a specific role in the festival. It is fascinating to see how they unexpectedly cross paths. The book starts with Tess Goodwin, who works in the Main office, then moves on to other characters like Albert Deussuin, Angelique Pascal, Rene Brownlow, Gavin, etc. The best thing is each character has a unique gift and struggles to overcome, yet it’s interesting to see how they work together to support one another. Initially, you might be put off, but if you give it some time, you’ll get hooked. I believe each character represents us in some or the other way. When I first started reading this book, I didn’t have high expectations, but by the time I finished it, I was happy with how well-structured it was. If you are planning to read a light book, go for it. Ratin
1 comment
Read more